Dear D4 residents,
As we close in on our 15th week of Sheltering in Place, and pass the 100-day mark, I think about how we are going to move beyond the current Shelter in Place mode, what needs to be accomplished in order to do that and what safety nets need to be stood up in order to do so safely.
My office responds to dozens of calls and emails from all of you, our District 4 residents, daily. We have heard from those who want to remain at home to stay safe. We have heard from those who are afraid of being forced back to work before they feel ready to do so. We have heard from those who want to reopen to be able to get back to work to generate money to pay for their family’s home, food, and daily necessities. We have heard from our elderly population wanting hair salons to reopen so that they can have their hair washed in order to avoid having to step into their showers and potentially fall, leading a simple desire for personal hygiene to end in a trip to the hospital. We’ve heard from small business owners who are at risk of losing it all – their business and subsequently their homes and livelihoods. We have heard from parents who are concerned about the upcoming school year, childcare needs and how to balance risk there. And we have heard from our residents who want us to reopen so they can fulfill their spiritual needs.
And all are real concerns and fair asks. So as I work with my team on how to get us there, I push. I push for transparency around the process. I push for accountability from our County administration, your public servants. I take every opportunity, at board meetings, on calls, during committee meetings, and every day from my home office, to take what I hear from all of you, and amplify those concerns, questions and opinions to those in charge of executing Dr. Cody’s order, our administration.
To be clear: I am not pushing for a premature re-opening. I am not pushing for an override of the orders of the Public Health Officer. I am pushing for a transparent, fully accountable system that directs every available resource to putting into place the tools we need to safely re-open and to manage the spread of the virus through a community that is yearning for vibrancy, productivity and connection.
Getting through and out of this pandemic safely and responsibly is my number one priority today and every day
.
But I need your help
. While I work to get us reopened, I need every one of you, my D4 residents, doing your part: wearing your masks when out in public, socially distancing yourselves – at least six feet – from others, getting tested every two weeks if you are an essential worker, washing your hands, and, most importantly, staying home if you feel sick or are at a higher risk of contracting the virus. If you need support in any of these areas, please reach out to my office. We are here for you.
There may be no vaccine yet, or a cure, but we have the power to slow the spread. Together.
-Supervisor Susan Ellenberg