Navigating Our New Normal - Greed in the Face of the Coronavirus

As a small business owner whose business at the Atlanta airport has been directly impacted by the coronavirus, I am alarmed and disappointed by the headlines of GREED from publicly traded companies who have stepped in and accepted money that was meant for small businesses like mine.

I read a recent article that stated that 71 publicly traded companies - valued at $100 million or more - received over $300 million in emergency loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). This was corporate greed at its best. Though they initially accepted the funds, I was pleased to see some companies, such as Shake Shack, return the money back to the SBA program. This is a good start, giving the money back, but it does not absolve nor make up for them resorting to the ugliest sides of themselves - GREED -in the face of this pandemic.

Harvard University also received funds and initially said that they were not going to give back the $9 million in stimulus money. Harvard, one of the richest institutions in our country - with an endowment of $40 billion - applied for these funds. WHY? What drove them to do this –GREED?

Prior to returning the funds, Harvard officials had said that they planned to use the money they “improperly received” for their students, while colleges like my alma mater, Benedict College, as well as other HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) are struggling to stay afloat and keep their doors open to educate disadvantaged students.

Harvard failed to factor into their “well-prepared” response that there are no students on campuses of colleges and universities because of the coronavirus. With that as a backdrop, what students are being served at Harvard at this moment? Harvard had no need – immediate or otherwise – to step in line, put their hands out, and collect these funds, yet they did so because of that ugly side of themselves – was it GREED?

If I were advising these 71 companies, I would suggest that they create a fund to benefit those that truly need it, such as the students at the HBCU's of our country. Since Harvard brought up students, maybe they can lead the other companies in establishing this fund to keep these students with real need in school. This would be a good way to make amends for their earlier missteps of accepting money from this fund. It will also go a long way in benefiting students whose learning institutions do not have access to a $40 billion endowment or over $100 million in their business portfolio.

Yes, greed is rampant on a national level, but there is greed occurring right here in our community of South Cobb. As the coronavirus hit, we had some who were driven by GREED as they held themselves out as charitable organizations – asking unsuspecting people in the community to give them money - instead of directing these honest people to donate their funds to places like Sweetwater Mission, Must Ministries, or H.O.P.E. Family Resource Center. I was applauded when I was forwarded these emails asking for money. How many of you got similar emails and letters asking you to give money directly to them instead of to one of these charitable organizations? How many of you good souls gave money, not knowing where or how the funds would be spent? We also have those who are preying on innocent hard working people right now by trying to steal their stimulus checks through whatever scheme they can conjure up. We have others holding themselves out as subject matter experts on matters where they have absolutely no expertise. Please be cautious and reject anyone who tells you they can help you with anything related to this coronavirus in exchange for money. Do not allow yourself to be taken advantaged of by someone's GREED. Rest assured, our community will hold these scammers accountable at the appropriate time.

Another form of GREED is occurring in our local grocery and drug stores. Instead of buying what we need, some of us are not being good neighbors. Instead, we have taken to stockpiling – over buying items and not leaving any for our neighbors. Why has civility and courteousness abandoned us at this time? A crisis can bring out the best in people and it can also bring out the worst, as we are witnessing. Stockpiling and hording are not the answers. The dictionary defines greed as a character trait, not a sin. We must reset our moral compasses now and allow common sense and decency to guide us out of this crisis, not the love of money.

Soon, we will be able to put this virus behind us. We will take an assessment of the damages, swap captivity stories with our friends and coworkers, and talk about those who showed the worst of themselves when we were going through the most terrible tragedy we have ever seen and those angels who showed the best of themselves when it mattered. When we emerge from this pandemic, we will all be able to judge for ourselves who allowed us to see their better selves and who resorted to GREED. I do not know about you, but my view will forever be clouded by the decisions by some to resort to the worst of themselves during this crisis instead of governing themselves by acceptable standards of morality, respectability, selflessness, and common decency.

As for me and my small business, I will apply for the SBA loan and I wait patiently to see what the Atlanta Airport plans for me - and other businesses like mine who have been impacted by this crisis – as We Navigate our New Normal.

As Always - Be Safe And Be Well

#Shelia4Cobb