Coronavirus and the Woes of the Small-Business Owner

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/opinion/letters/coronavirus-small-business.html

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To the Editor:

The Payroll Protection Plan has failed small businesses. Substantial amounts of money from the P.P.P. loan have been gobbled up by big business. Most of the small businesses that received the loan are closed at this time. The result is that their employees will not be returning to work anytime soon. Therefore the employer does not benefit from the employees receiving their pay from the loan while the businesses are not operating.

The P.P.P. loan requires the borrower to spend the funds in eight weeks or lose loan forgiveness. Therefore the borrowers cannot spend the loan when they feel it would benefit the business the most, but instead the business owner has to adhere to a prearranged schedule.

Another concern is that a substantial number of employees will be earning more money collecting unemployment, which is a disincentive to come back to work. An additional negative aspect of the P.P.P. loan is that payroll taxes will continue to have to be paid, which decreases the economic benefit of the loan for the small-business owner.

Big businesses will still be here after Covid-19. But be prepared to see “For Rent” signs in your neighborhood stores. Substantial number of employees will eventually use up their unemployment insurance and unfortunately will find that the small businesses for which they worked for no longer exist.

Gary ZaretskyNew Rochelle, N.Y.

To the Editor:

Re “The Small-Business Aid Program Has Been a Fiasco” (Op-Ed, nytimes.com, April 21):

Thank you to Tim Wu for speaking out. My son owns a small business in Los Angeles, a digital marketing company that was mostly tied to the entertainment business. He has worked long, hard hours to grow it. His first concern when his business was hit hard by the fallout from Covid-19 was for his employees. He took a drastic pay cut so he could continue to pay them.

And then he set out to get creative, mining possible ideas for who might still need his services. As a result of hard work he is treading water, but aid from the government would really help. Instead he was disgusted to find that hotel chains and restaurant chains with other loan options were snapping up the money supposedly intended for small businesses.

Another disgrace from the government. Greed just doesn’t seem to let up. Nor does incompetence.

Terry ShamesBerkeley, Calif.

To the Editor:

Re “We Need the Postal Service,” by Kirsten Gillibrand (Op-Ed, April 27):

The U.S. Postal Service is essential to our democracy. For many residents in the small historic town where I live, a post office box is the only place to receive mail. In addition, it is where we congregate as a community, sharing local news, greeting neighbors and holding the door for each other. This is not a partisan issue.

Compared with companies like FedEx and UPS, the Post Office provides excellent service at much lower cost. Therefore, it is very important to small-business owners as well as people from every political party. It is the place we all trust to handle our mail in a secure, private way; to make sure that we receive a ballot and can easily apply for a passport.

Inexpensive banking services would be a valuable addition for those who can’t afford typical bank fees and a great way to revitalize this foundational American service.

We shouldn’t forget that the U.S. Postal Service was created by the Continental Congress in 1775, before even the Declaration of Independence. There’s a reason it did that 245 years ago and put Benjamin Franklin in charge, because freedom to communicate is the lifeblood of a democracy.

Blaise Simpson DuganMattapoisett, Mass.

To the Editor:

As Covid-19 ravages the population and affects many of us who provide and receive health care, general dentistry is experiencing a nearly complete shutdown that is likely to be followed by essential changes for both dentists and patients. The almost overnight closing of most dental offices nationwide — except for emergencies — has virtually ground to a halt the routine care obtained by roughly 60 percent of the population annually.

In the current environment, these issues are worth noting:

How will dentists and their staffs prepare themselves to take on new risks of exposure to Covid-19?

Will adequate testing be available for dentists and their staff when they return to work, and how will patients be assessed?

Will dentists have access to enough N95 masks and other forms of protective personal equipment?

Dentists, who already work in a sea of aerosols and droplets while adhering to rigorous standards of infection control, will undoubtedly face a higher level of risk. They will have to rely on new forms of personal protective gear for their own safety and for that of their patients, who will need to be assured of a safe environment.

Almost certainly, both the reality and fear of Covid-19 will transform the delivery of dental care for the foreseeable future.

Roger Hirschberg

Bondville, Vt.

The writer is a dentist.

To the Editor:

Re “It’s Your Dog’s Hair, So Pay Attention” (Thursday Styles, April 30):

I don’t have a dog, but I do have a husband who needed a haircut during this crisis. Needless to say, it did not go well. But I’m going to take your tips for the next try: better instrument, better preparation, sympathy for the customer and patience with him and myself!

Jan AlscherDobbs Ferry, N.Y.