“I’m worried about making my house payment,” said Cheryl Irving, a bar manager at Rostamo’s, a bar in Crystal. “My personal income is down 40, 50 percent. I now have to work six shifts, where I used to work four.”

John Alexander, who owns Johnny A’s, a sports bar in Minneapolis, agreed. “I can’t pay my taxes,” said Alexander, who said he has dismissed his private security staff at the bar. “My business has gone down by 35 percent.”

“It’s a slow death,” he added.

Bill Nicklow, whose family owns five restaurants in Hennepin County, watched Tuesday’s meeting and then shook his head. “I was under the impression the world was created to support the people, and not punish them,” he said. “We’re losing our customers. We’re losing our help.”

Source: Startribune.com. Link Expired.

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