The rush to re-open

It is June. Gov. Jay Inslee’s March Stay Home Stay Safe emergency proclamation expired at midnight on May 31. The Safe Start 4 Phase, metric-based reopening plan is in its fifth week, with 27 of Washington’s 39 counties approved and in Phase 2. Skagit County may move into Phase 2 this week. Already casinos on tribal lands – managed by sovereign governments – have opened for business at reduced capacity.

La Conner’s business owners are a diverse lot, like any community of any size. Some restaurants have been completely closed since March. Others never stopped serving coffee and ice...