Pullman leaders optimistic for future

PULLMAN– On Thursday, April 16, Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson, Police Chief Gary Jenkins, City Administrator Adam Lincoln and Washington State University President Kirk Schulz hosted an online coronavirus town hall.

The town hall addressed previously submitted questions in regards to business updates during COVID-19, police reports, upcoming summer events and WSU football.

Mayor Johnson gave an update about the City of Pullman before COVID-19. He said before the coronavirus hit there were a lot of positives going for the city. Some of those positives included Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories planning to build a new event center, a Hampton Inn being built next to the Holiday Inn Express off of Bishop Blvd., etc.

Now where it seems like business is at a standstill, Johnson said there will be a point when businesses will begin opening back up on a stratified basis.

“We are trying to do our best as a city to let the businesses know what resources are available to them,” Johnson said. “We are doing our best to get these businesses going again.”

On the Pullman Chamber of Commerce website, there is a list of 12 grant and loan resources for small businesses during this time. Some of these resources include US Small Business Administration Disaster Loan, United Way COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund, Washington Federal Bank offering business relief, etc.

“One way to support local businesses can be buying gift cards; this is a great way to help and keep these businesses afloat,” Lincoln said.

Jenkins said in his 40 plus years of being in law enforcement, operating under the COVID-19 pandemic has been the most unprecedented. He said during this time Pullman Police Officers will still be out patrolling and working.

“They (Pullman Police Officers) are there for the community and apart of this community,” Jenkins said.

Since Gov. Inslee’s proclamation of the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, the Pullman Police Department has seen an impact in call volume this past month.

“Compared to this time last year, our calls are down 43 percent. Last year in March we had 893 calls, this year 503,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins added that while in some areas there has been an increase in domestic violence calls, he hasn’t seen that in Pullman. He said compared to last year, domestic violence calls are up, but compared to 2016 and 2017, calls on domestic violence is down.

Johnson said that while the city is looking to see what businesses can be open during this time, they can’t do a free for all opening right away.

“We can’t let it all go too quickly because we could bounce back in COVID-19 cases and we are concerned about that,” Johnson said. “We can all get through it.”

During the week of April 19, Johnson said there will be meetings in regard to summer events in Pullman. He said the main event that will be under discussion will be the 4th of July celebrations.

“Summer events won’t have a decision until this meeting,” Johnson said. “Right now, I know finances aren’t there. With businesses closed, people unemployed, etc., I would want the money to go to those people instead of blowing it up in 20 minutes.”

Johnson said the prospect of the Lentil Festival in August is looking good.

As summer transitions to fall, WSU is planning on getting back to its normal schedule. Since March 23 WSU has been operating classes on an online-only format and had canceled all spring sports. WSU President Kirk Schulz is planning for fall in Pullman to be like previous fall semesters.

“Right now we are planning in-person classes for the fall semester,” Schulz said. “None of us know exactly what the future is going to look like. It’s all going to depend on citizens, students, faculty and staff complying with rules and regulations.”

Schulz expressed that he believes it is important that football starts this fall. He said while he believes there will be football, it may not look like football events in the past.

“There is a good chance that it may be different than years before,” Schulz said. “The season may start later, first few games not played in front of a full crowd, who knows. We will continue to work with the Pac-12 as well as other conferences. This isn’t just an us decision it will be implemented across the board.”

Schulz said he knows how important football weekends are to the surrounding communities and economies on the Palouse.

“Everybody working together is what is going to get us through it,” Schulz said.