New York Times features Blaine in border story

The New York Times featured Blaine in a July 18 story about the border closure’s effects on the town, titled “This Border Town Was on the Rise. Then the Pandemic Hit.”

The article calls the border closures’ economic impact on Blaine “crippling,” and focuses on the lack of Canadians crossing the border to buy gas and pick up packages.

When the U.S./Canada border closed on March 21, southbound traffic into Blaine all but stopped. In June, 12,600 people entered the U.S. from British Columbia, down from 479,000 in June 2019, the article notes.

The article quotes local immigration attorney Len Saunders, Blaine Chamber of Commerce president Michael Ebert, Mark and Steve Seymour of Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and Brant Baron of Mail Boxes International. Mike Hill, owner of the Chevron on Portal Drive, Skye Hill Station and several other Blaine properties, is also featured in the article.