Do we really have to close all non-essential businesses in the departments reconfigured since March 19? If you ask Olivier Clodong, mayor (without label) of Yerres, a town of 30,000 inhabitants (Essonne), the answer will be unambiguous: out of the question. Friday, the city councilor issued a decree authorizing the opening from all local shops in Yerres.
In the town, this Saturday morning, fifteen out of 200 shops which, in theory should have kept their curtains down, opened: jeweler, clothing and shoe merchants … I made this decision for the sake of clarity. Nobody understands anything anymore. On Thursday, so-called non-essential businesses were all due to close. On Friday, the government authorized exemptions for hairdressers, then shoemakers, then florists, then chocolate makers … There is only a tiny part of shops left to close
, observes Olivier Clodong. And the city councilor to wonder: How would it be more dangerous to go and buy a pair of shoes than a book from a bookseller?
“Breach of trade fairness”
The mayor who had already taken a similar decree the last when supermarkets were authorized to remain open when small businesses had to close, is already aware of the objection that the authorities will oppose: closing a certain number of businesses makes it possible to reduce the number of trips by the same amount . In one of the main streets of the town, there are sixteen shops. Thirteen are allowed to remain open and three are expected to close. Do you really think that for three businesses, there will be a lot more trips?
The city council made this decree on the basis of a violation of commercial fairness. Friday, the prefecture of Essonne indicated to consider an appeal to the administrative court. The previous decree had lasted six days. This time, on this notion of commercial unfairness, I hope that the administrative court will retain the argument and that its decision will set a precedent.
To be continued …
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