ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley is supporting independent hardware stores in a bid to reinstate the 1C Essential Status.
Mayor Buckley sent a letter to Governor Hogan at the end of January saying that he was "surprised and disappointed that the Maryland Department of Health decided to exclude hardware store employees from the 1C vaccination group."
Buckley says that certainly older Marylanders, front line staff, educators etc. should be vaccinated first, but once supplies are replenished, there is no reason to exclude these employees from the list of essential business.
"The COVID-19 pandemic required a renewed public-private partnership to safely care for all of our communities and neighborhoods," Buckley said. "Retail hardware stores in Annapolis responded to the challenge and we need to make sure they can continue to serve the public throughout the region's upcoming recovery and renewal period."
The Mayor's letter follows a previous letter from the group of House Delegates urging the Governor to revise the vaccine rollout plan to reinstate hardware store employees as 1C essential workers.
"The essential nature of hardware stores is undeniable," the delegates wrote. "Pandemic or no pandemic, sinks leak, roof shingles fall, windows break and these repairs are clearly essential."
The stated that there is "no policy justification to distinguish between hardware and grocery store employees."
The full letters from Mayor Buckley and the House of Delegates can be read below.
