NC: Six Months Into HB2, Small Business Owners Feel Economic Impact of Law

[G_j]

http://wunc.org/post/six-months-hb2-small-business-owners-feel-economic-impact-law#stream/2

"That is a lower volume store for us, so we're largely dependent on events that come to the coliseum and tourism and people that come to this area," said the restaurant's Operations Manager Ziad Fleihan. His parents started the business 41 years ago, and Ghassan's now has five locations and a food truck.

Because of HB2, Bruce Springsteen canceled a concert in April in Greensboro. Earlier this month, the NCAA and ACC canceled nearly two dozen games that would have been played in the coming year. Fleihan said his restaurant has already lost $20,000 in revenue.

"It's scary to think about how much more we're going to lose especially with the NCAA and the ACC pulling out," he said. "It makes us reassess and think about, you know, if this thing doesn't get repealed how long can we last here and when is it time to maybe make hard decisions as far as closing up shop."

The General Assembly passed House Bill 2 six months ago this week. House Bill 2 requires people to use the bathroom corresponding to the sex listed on their birth certificate. This applies to government buildings, public schools and universities. The law also bans municipalities from passing a non-discrimination. Since March, North Carolina has been at the heart of a national debate over transgender rights, government powers, and perceived safety issues.

The state's economy has been affected by the law – with plans for hundreds of new jobs abandoned, concerts canceled, and major sporting events relocated out of state. The fiscal damage is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, according to multiple economists. Throughout this contentious time, small business owners have tried to carry on as usual...more..

[Gothmog]

1. This homophobic law has been bad for business in NC

[Orrex]

2. Fortunately an election is coming up.

Perhaps the good people of NC will take this as a call to action.

[patricia92243]

4. I hope so. The only reason the fool that is in there now wanted the bill is he thought it would

make him popular and he would win votes. Obviously, it has backfired in his face.

Hubby gets a NC pension and we are afraid the fool is going to wreck the economy of NC so badly that hubby's pension will stop.

[gratuitous]

6. That's the cure for this ailment

North Carolina Republicans would really like the kerfuffle over HB 2 to go away, as if this repugnant law just dropped out of the sky on an unsuspecting state. Rev. Barber has done a good job of tying this millstone around their necks, but it should be mentioned again and again at every opportunity how damaging this law has been and who promulgated it.

[we can do it]

3. Elections do matter.

All of them.

[G_j]

5. Absolutely!

perfect example, these people are destroying our state.

[randome]

7. "The law also bans municipalities from passing a non-discrimination."

Does no one proofread what they write any longer?

I'm glad, however, that business owners are speaking up about this. I hope North Carolinans do the right thing and tell McCrory to take a hike. Once more, Republicans prove they are bad news where budgets are concerned.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]The truth doesn’t always set you free.
Sometimes it builds a bigger cage around the one you’re already in.[/center][/font][hr]