Swine flu crisis affecting business ...

Laredo area business leaders are watching potential economic losses hit as a result of the swine flu crisis.
Bob Zachariah, president of the Laredo Hotel and Lodging Association, believes this public escalation might have something to do with bureaucrats feeling itchy. His belief is their itchiness comes after how the federal government responded to Hurricane Katrina.
“Ever since Katrina, there’s this whole feeling that if bureaucrats don’t escalate potential disaster-like situations and do this at a certain level, then the bureaucrats get hounded,” he said. “Now everything is getting escalated in a very public manner.”
That's his opinion.
Zachariah, though, also added he understood a need to inform the public about situations like the swine flu crisis. His hope would be that it's done in a calm, orderly manner ... not driving citizens into a panicked frenzy.
Business owners were hopeful for a shot at some extra income this weekend with a long Labor Day holiday in Mexico. Mexican citizens might not be coming across into the Gateway City and shopping in droves this year. Yet again, they might come over in decent numbers, too.
Who knows?
There will be more swine flu business reaction throughout the coming days here at Coffee Talk Live.
Feel free to leave a comment, too.

-- Joe Rutland