Ep. #10: What the Heck is Greg Abbott Doing? And How Can We Respond?

Antoinette and Lucas look at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to allow some businesses—including restaurants and malls—to re-open at 25% capacity on Friday, why that’s bad for workers and for business owners, and how we can respond.

First, Antoinette catches us up on her own activism this week, highlighting a Zoom meeting she participated in between her Congressman’s constituents and one of his staffers, and we discuss the highs and lows of grassroots activism, which is now more important than ever.

(Lucas would also like to note that when he said he called Ted Cruz's office to follow-up with a staffer "every day for a month for six months" he meant to say he called "every day, once a month, for six months." He is intense, but not that intense).

Then we jump into the big news of the week here in Texas: Gov. Abbott’s partial "re-open" of the economy. This comes despite the fact that Texas is still 48th in the nation on testing. Here in Austin and around the state, many businesses are choosing to remain closed, both for safety and for economic reasons. So why is Abbott doing this? 

One reason is because once a business has re-opened, its employees can no longer stay on unemployment insurance, even if they do not feel safe returning to work. A recent Forbes piece by Chris Westfall offers an explainer on this and other “real reasons for re-opening the economy.”

Are you a waiter, or a movie theater employee scared to return to work because the state hasn’t provided adequate testing? Gov. Abbott has a simple message for you: it’s not his problem. 

One important note: in the few hours since we recorded this episode, Gov. Abbott has relaxed the guidelines on unemployment benefits, allowing certain Texans to remain on unemployment even if the places they work re-open on May 1st. Those affected include people over 65; those with a household member who is over 65 or high-risk; and those without access to childcare. Might’ve been nice if he’d thought about this when he made the initial announcement! 

So what can we do about it?

1. We are in this mess because of Donald Trump and Greg Abbott’s failures on testing. So don’t let up. Call the governor, your Congressperson and your senators and demand to know #WhereAreTheTests. After you call, send your reps letters or postcards; tag them in social media posts. Don’t be afraid to get creative. The surest way to get the economy back on track is to get serious about testing. Force your representatives to get serious. 

2. Support the businesses that have decided to prioritize the safety of both their employees and their customers by remaining closed. If a restaurant is keeping their dining room shut while still offering curbside or take-out, support them. Use social media to let responsible businesses know you’re with them. And when this is all over, financially reward businesses that put your community first. 

This episode was recorded on Thursday, April 30, 2020.