HomeMy WebLinkAboutMask ordinance (4)
I was able to watch the meeting from tonight and I appreciate the thoughts and comments that each member was making. My biggest concern about the ordinance is what Tisha Flora began
to touch on. We don’t know what we don’t know. If you see the path that California has taken trying to enforce masks it is not hard to see sadducee and pharisee type rules emerge in
a way to maintain said control over their original rule of mask wearing. Each county enforcing different levels as they try to adjust for unforeseen circumstances. We need to ask How
will this affect our children in school, Gyms, Rexburg Rapids, and other important businesses that support physical and emotional support for children and families. Are you going to
ask people to wear masks while the exercise, swim, rock climb, trampoline jump, bowl etc? If the expectation is that families must be wearing masks during these physically active times
you risk them abandoning these activities completely causing these businesses to suffer and creating another health risk for kids and families that desperately need to get out and enjoy
physical outlets. This may seem like a complete stretch of the imagination, but my sister came from California to visit for this exact purpose. She is fatigued from the restriction
on her and her children and she was so grateful to be here in a community where her kids could experience a normal childhood, even if it was just for one week. I noticed someone mention
that Jackson had a huge jump in tourism and I can tell you exactly why. The Idaho Wyoming area has become a sanctuary for stressed out tired families trying to find a small moment of
peace. I was in Jackson hole on July 6th and I talked to many tourist from the west coast that were so happy to be in a place where the mask restrictions were not nearly as harsh. California
counties started with a simple mask ordinance that has quickly gone through many amendments with some counties requiring masks to stay on right up until your food is served or masks
being mandated at parties with extended family. I know by the way that each member spoke, that this is not what they hope for in our community, but I believe if we don’t apply a few
boundaries now we cannot avoid reactive emotional responses in the future. I ask that you consider putting a hard timeline on any mask mandate and that you seriously consider other
boundaries that will help prevent members of our community from becoming fatigued and seeking their own sanctuary down the road. In psychology it is believed that humans cannot sustain
stressful experiences without any resolution for more than about two months. As a nation We are going on four months in this pressure cooker we call 2020. Please consider the fragile
emotions and broken spirits as you place exemptions and boundaries. Please think about our kids who deserve to have the most normal and healthy childhood we can provide for them.
Thank you,
Brittany Ericksen
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