Time to release the PFD

To the editor:

Over the last week, social distancing has transformed from washing your hands, refraining from shaking hands and staying 6 feet from one another, now, to closing down businesses and other commercial public places. With all the social distancing measures being taken by the Federal, State and Municipal governments, wage earners and families will be hurt financially, as will our entire economy, for a minimum of two weeks, probably longer. President Trump himself mentioned that the national economy may be headed for a recession.

It is time to take steps to protect our economy.

Alaskan families need the Governor and the Legislature to team together to appropriate and release the PFD immediately in response to this crisis. With so many jobs being impacted by the COVID-19 virus, it is imperative to infuse some of those lost wages into the economy so that people can meet their never-ending financial obligations.

Flatting out the curve of the COVID-19 virus is a necessity. Equally important is the financial security of our citizens, their ability to pay the mortgage/rent and their ability to put food on the table.

Only addressing the threat of the virus is only doing half the job. Some people say that the PFD has always been designed as a rainy-day fund, well guess what, the rain is beating at the doors and windows now. Please urge the Governor and your legislators to make an emergency appropriation to release a substantial portion of the PFD now.

— Dan Mayfield,

Big Lake