CEOs: How to reopen South Florida’s businesses

CEOs were asked: If you were in charge of re-opening Dade and Broward, what would you allow to re-open — and what would you keep closed until further notice?

Re-opening is a balancing act between epidemiology, economics and politics. To make a decision, one needs to understand the availability of testing, contact tracing, PPE and hospital capacity. Levels of infection and their severity need to be weighed against the economic damage that remaining closed has on our community and individuals. All of this while understanding the political impact on the decision makers. Fortunately, I am not in charge of re-opening!

Andy Ansin, vice president, Sunbeam Properties

As a democracy, we often fall into a trap that things must be all or nothing. We should be asking whether some businesses can take proper precautions and reopen sooner than others, rather than attempting to create blanket policies. Look first at low-risk businesses, like the ones that function primarily in open spaces and offices that have individual work spaces. Businesses that are client /customer facing will require deeper precautions, such as preparing their buildings and training work forces, controlling access, having and enforcing a social distancing plan, reducing touch points and increasing cleaning. Ultimately, we’ll have to take businesses on a case-by-case basis and provide them with a mechanism to explain how they’ll take proper precautions. Perhaps, until businesses can show they have plans in place and are able to operate cautiously throughout the work day, they should remain closed — no different than businesses needing a passing grade from the health inspector, fire department or building permit in order to be operational.

Michael Balaban, president, CEO, Jewish Federation of Broward County

I admire the leaders of Miami-Dade and Broward for making the tough decisions to keep everyone safe from the novel coronavirus. In adjusting to the new realities and charting a path forward, the issue is not necessarily what is allowed to open but rather the rigor of the safety protocols in place and their viable enforcement that should take precedence. For example, with micromobility we are seeing encouraging demand for scooters as a socially distant means of transportation as residents need to make essential trips. That said, safety is our top priority at Lime. In the cities where we’ve already reopened -- including Orlando — Lime is taking extra care to keep riders safe by enhancing our cleaning methods, increasing the amount of times each scooter is disinfected, and requiring all Lime personnel to wear masks both in the warehouse while working, disinfecting scooters, as well as while out on the field. We understand that business must go on, but it should do so only if the highest safety standards are upheld and residents can be kept safe. We're hopeful Miami-Dade and Broward can take the right steps to safely accommodate business while prioritizing public health.

Uhriel Bedoya, Florida General Manager for Lime

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I would open places in which low density of people can be achieved and controlled, this could include some offices and retail. Still due to the ongoing health risk I would recommend these places to introduce new protocols for a healthy and safe environment, such as retrofitting certain workspaces and retail areas to minimize touching surfaces and providing additional protections in common areas. It would be also helpful to implement hand sanitizer stations at key points. I would keep close any high-density places where one cannot assure social distance.

Claudia Busch, founding principal, Berenblum Busch Architects

Beyond essential businesses that are already open, I would identify businesses of every kind that do not attract dense foot traffic, ask them to certify compliance with CDC regulations, and let them open. I would like to see voluntary but anonymous compliance with the reporting of all COVID-19 incidents, by geo-location, through an easy-to-use mobile app. As for the venues that attract large, dense crowds, I’d like to see them open sooner versus later. To do this, though, we need to be thoughtful. I’d suggest that a private/public partnership expedite a certification and compliance process that is scientifically based. Of course, all of this will require ‘monitors’ to ensure the public’s safety. We should investigate the adoption of a hazard rating system that considers, first, a business’s SIC code and likelihood of transmission without mitigation, and then considers all relevant risk mitigation efforts, thereby resulting in the assignment of a secondary hazard class that credits the business for their efforts, and migrates the business out of their native class. For instance, a tavern that is largely serving alcohol would, naturally, carry a high base hazard class, but through aggressive actions to limit the transmission, would earn a secondary hazard class/rating that earns the business a reduction in their primary hazard class. The establishment would post its Hazard Class and Mitigation efforts for easy viewing by the public.

Anita Byer, CEO, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk

The proposed phasing and gating recommendations issued by the federal government are well thought out. The gradual reopening of businesses in each phase is properly controlled by gating thresholds that must be met and appear reasonable, and mitigation for each business segment at each phase are governed by specific capacity guidelines, personal protection requirements, social distancing guidelines and limited hours of operations for each. The issue is having held back Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties from the Phase 1 reopening. The tri-county area is the heart of Florida’s economy, and our small to midsize business sector simply cannot continue to stand idle. Taking all of Florida to Phase 1, as well as approaching Phase 2 with a greater sense of urgency as gating requirements are met, must happen sooner rather than later.

Carlos R. Fernandez-Guzman, president, CEO, Pacific National Bank (PNB)

The answer is not an easy one. People are eager to go back to work and start generating income, but we all understand that the health threat is beyond our control. The key here is how. So following recommendations, we will all keep respecting social distancing, wear face masks and wash and sanitize our hands frequently. Room capacity, regardless of the place, should be limited and people who are at high risk or don’t feel well should stay home. Then follow closely how we are reacting to this new normal and make decisions based on this. The idea is to move toward the new normal while we have a vaccine.

Yaeli Merenfeld, president, Anny’s Bread Factory

First, I take my hat off to our local officials as they are tasked with making difficult decisions within the context of a global situation defined by variables and uncertainty. A phased approach to reopening businesses and other public venues is obviously correct and works when everyone does their part. As we’ve seen, parks, marinas, and other outdoor spaces have been opening in most cases successfully. I agree with this. With social distancing and masks, people can enjoy being outside. It is an amazing outlet and necessary for both physical and mental health. As far as indoor spaces, it is definitely a more complex situation. Any business that is enclosed and convenes 10 or more people during normal operations, including employees, should have a proper “protection plan.” Unfortunately, Miami-Dade and Broward are still not where we need to be as far as the numbers go. It’s not until we see sustained declines in cases and fatalities that we can start considering the opening of larger venues — schools, theaters, concerts, sporting events, etc. These businesses are still quite a way away from even entering the reopening discussion. This will take a while and will all depend on how we take care of each other through the responsible use of masks and social distancing. It’s really up to us. Let’s be patient and considerate. It’s essential for the health of our community to pause, weigh all our options, and get this right.

Bernie Navarro, founder and president, Benworth Capital Partners

In 1968-1969, about 100,000 people died in the United States due to the Hong Kong flu without a lockdown and we survived. Thanks to the internet and social media, we are much more aware of our current pandemic (which is clearly stronger and more dangerous) and our government (federal, state, local) and health systems and professionals have responded to the crisis as best as they could with available information.

I would support opening in a phased approach, starting with a gradual opening (25% of pre-COVID capacity) of retail, restaurant, other service businesses, all dental, medical and other critical services not previously open. Also, requiring masks on everyone in any building while the government continues refining, testing, and working on a vaccine. If the number of deaths and folks infected continue to drop, then in a few weeks they go to 50% capacity, and so on.

Local government will have to monitor and issue citations for violations of citizens not wearing masks. All employees and management providing products and services should be tested to make sure they are negative. The cure cannot be worse than the disease.

Julio Ramirez, president, CEO, JEM Global Consulting

At this time, I would only reopen areas, such as parks, where people can easily maintain social distancing, and medical / dental offices where testing is in place. Until hospitalizations, cases, and deaths are on a definite downward trend and we can test a high percentage of the population to allow tracing of people in contact with both symptomatic and a symptomatic patients, opening up businesses at large, including restaurants, malls and bars, will only lead to a surge in additional cases, putting us back where we were in March. It will not improve the economy because most people will stay away until conditions are truly safe.

Stuart Singer, administrative partner, Fort Lauderdale office, Boies Schiller & Flexner

Early education programs are considered essential and were never ordered closed. Of the more than 1,300 early learning programs that contract with the Early Learning Coalition, about 75% closed voluntarily due to the financial strain caused by low attendance and COVID-19 concerns. The 25% that remain open continue to provide early care and education to children (many between the age of 0 – 5) of first responders, health care workers and other essential personnel. I remain very concerned about the loss of learning gains children are experiencing during the months they are not in an educational setting, so I would certainly prioritize offering additional resources and financial support to every early education program so they can reopen. Without adequate child care, it will be difficult to fully restart our economy because parents need a safe and nurturing place to leave their children while they go back to work. I can’t recommend that anything remain closed, but understand the challenges our government faces.

Evelio C. Torres, president, CEO, Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade and Monroe

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