Fresh off of two years with on again, off again social and public restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic, whispers have grown louder into conversations regarding climate lockdowns to combat dire forecasts for Cinniapolis. According to sources, the city government has held several private meetings at an undisclosed off-campus site to debate the very real possibility of enforcing restrictions to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

Measures such as planned rolling power outages, bans on personal gasoline automobiles, and reducing red meat production are being considered in an attempt to fix the growing threat of severe weather due to climate change. The Mayor’s office has declined to comment on this story.

The situation has the potential to widen the current division between Cinniapolis citizens and their perceived tyrannical city government. The city avoided major confrontations after widespread public demonstrations led to the end of pandemic mandates. Now, citizens fear the government has adjusted its sights on climate to maintain their grip over the city.

“First, they murdered small businesses with paranoia and back-breaking regulations. Now, it sounds like they are ready to nail the coffin shut on small business, encase it in cement and sink it to the bottom of Lake Sinnissippi,” said Waldo Penney, owner of Penney’s Fish Market. “How am I suppose to preserve my product if they shut off my electricity?”

While the climate lockdowns are just hearsay at this point, a feeling of déjà vu has blanketed Cinniapolis reminiscent of early March 2020 before the unpopular pandemic restrictions were put in place.

“If the reports are true, it’s very sad. The people of Cinniapolis deserve a more considerate government,” Penney continued. “We gave them an inch with the virus mandates and now they are looking to take a mile with tyrannical climate lockdowns. They had a taste of power and now they need a constant fix.”

The rumored climate restrictions will certainly be top of mind when Mayor Gondola presents the State of Cinniapolis as he looks to balance community needs versus the increasing public demands to scale back the presence of government in their daily lives.