GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Mayor of Green Bay is taking aim at the President of the United States after President Donald Trump signed an executive order designed to keep meat plants open as part of the larger food supply chain.
Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich laid into President Donald Trump during a virtual news conference Friday afternoon hosted by hosted by two left-leaning groups that oppose the President’s policies: Opportunity Wisconsin and Protect Our Care Wisconsin.
“He’s turning his back on reality and he’s turning his back on the workers who live this reality every single day,” said Genrich.
Genrich was speaking particularly about the executive order signed this week that Trump says clears legal hurdles so meat packing plants can keep operating.
“In my opinion what this President has done, giving meat packing conglomerates legal carte blanche in the middle of a pandemic is reprehensible and indefensible,” said Genrich. “It’s reckless and it’s dangerous and it speaks to this President’s complete and total inability to relate to or care about regular people here in Green Bay.”
Nearly 500 Green Bay meat packing workers are now confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19. 290 of the confirmed cases are for workers at JBS, which recently closed. 203 are at American Foods Group.
Wisconsin Republicans Senator Ron Johnson and Congressman Mike Gallagher believe Trump made the right move in trying to protect the country’s food supply. They also say more is being done to protect workers.
“I’m very sympathetic to President Trump pulling the Defense Production Act to make sure America has an adequate supply of food,” said Johnson.
“JBS has shut down at least the last time I checked,” said Gallagher. “There are other plants like American Foods Group that I think can continue to operate safely. We absolutely should continue to monitor the situation. I’m glad the CDC has come to evaluate the situation.”
Across the country, state and local governments are putting their own protections in place for workers. Genrich says Green Bay is working on two things.
On Tuesday, the city will vote on a “resolution in support of communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.” The resolution the city is considering specifically acknowledges Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, who were targeted in recent graffiti crimes. The city’s Latin community is also mentioned for increased economic and social insecurities.
