Sacramento, CA – July 1, 2020 – California Retailers Association President Rachel Michelin issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement today for “dimming the switch” in regard to new closures in targeted counties.

“As the association representing all aspects of retail in our state, it is imperative that we as Californians follow the latest health and safety guidelines issued statewide and nationally. 
We are at a critical time with the ongoing public health crisis. 

California’s retail industry’s top priority is ensuring the health, safety and well being of employees and customers. CRA urges everyone visiting retail stores and venturing out in public to follow current CDC guidelines: wear a mask, maintain physical distance of at least six feet from others, repeatedly wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds and keep hand sanitizer with you at all times. These mandates are for everyone’s benefit.

CRA has developed a number of best practices that we continue to share with retailers large and small as well as consumers to protect from the spread of COVID-19. Our members are committed to working with the Governor’s Office and local governments up and down the state to provide local leaders, businesses and their communities with safe shopping guidelines. It is imperative that we continue to protect the health and viability of not only each other, but our economy.”

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The California Retailers Association is the only statewide trade association representing all segments of the retail industry including general merchandise, department stores, on-line marketplaces, mass merchandisers, restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets and grocery stores, chain drug, and specialty retail such as auto, vision, jewelry, hardware and home stores. CRA works on behalf of California’s retail industry, which currently operates over 418,840 retail establishments with a gross domestic product of $330 billion annually and employs 3,211,805 people—one fourth of California’s total employment. The state of California collects $48.5 billion in revenue from retail sales and use taxes, representing more than 25% of the state revenue. For more information, go to www.calretailers.com.