Bel Air Reacts to Shutdown: ‘Making Me Sick to My Stomach’

For the many Bel Air residents left without work and mounting frustrations, the reaction to the government shutdown can be summed up in a few simple words:

“This is making me sick to my stomach,” Crystal L Parker said on Bel Air Patch’s Facebook page.

Lots of area residents chimed in on Bel Air Patch’s Facebook page with their reaction to the sundown, which began just after midnight on Tuesday when Congress could not pass a resolution to fund the government. 

The shutdown has forced national parks to close, and has left 97 percent of NASA’s employees facing furloughs.

Local resident Amber Torgerson commented that she and her family are coping the best they can for now.

“Our household is effectively without 100% of our income indefinitely.....and since we don't know a time frame we can't go get part time jobs or anything to compensate,” Torgerson wrote. “I guess I will get my fall cleaning and yard work done sooner than I had planned. Not much else we can do since we will be staying home as much as possible to save as much as we can.”

Another Facebook user is asking why? 

“We are a family of five and we have to feed our family and pay our bills,” Colleen Casey Morrissey wrote. “What did we ever do to deserve this? We spent the whole summer on furlough and now this." 

Other people said they headed to work this morning, only to be told they were no longer "essential" employees and had to go home.

"I was told I was essential. Until I got to work. I was there 2 hours. Then got sent home," Jane Gill wrote. "I'm stressing a little. There's no way my family can live on my hubby's salary alone!"

Kathy Mehalic Przybyla wrote, "We are a two person [government] household. Right now enjoying a beautiful day at home after having to drive in to receive our official paperwork."

To join the conversation, or to see how others are coping with the shutdown, visit Bel Air Patch’s Facebook page.