HomeMy WebLinkAboutMask mandate (10)I have been told that the city council will be meeting online tonight to discuss a mandatory mask mandate and that our opinions could be emailed here in order to be heard. I can only
imagine the pressure that our council members have been dealing with over the last few months to ensure our community is prepared and safe regarding anything concerning the COVID virus.
I am also well aware of the extreme differing in opinions on the matter. Despite the seeming unlimited amount of resources available sparking the debate of masks vs no masks I am basing
my opinion on what I have been told by local doctors here. Between our family doctor, a cardiologist and oncologist there opinions and advice have all been the same......if you are
considered high risk, by all means take whatever measures you feel necessary to protect yourself. Just as new moms are advised to stay home with their newborns during flu and rsv season,
or cancer patients during chemotherapy treatments when their immune systems are severely compromised. However....for those that do not fall into the high risk category (which is most),
it is vital to stay healthy and keep our immune systems up by being out in the world and around others. When you start sheltering and sanitizing to the extreme, our bodies lose the
good bacteria and immunities that are necessary to protect us from every day illnesses (such as the common cold, seasonal flu, strep throat, etc. all of which can develop complications
in certain Indviduals). I am not against people wearing masks if they have concerns about their health. However, I absolutely have concerns about being dictated that I am required to
wear one, especially to the extreme of being fined or charged with a misdemeanor. There is a very fine line between protecting your citizens and controlling them.....I believe most
people are good and kind and considerate of others. If a business chooses on their own to make masks mandatory, I am ok with making the choice to mask up to go in, or to have the ability
to take my business elsewhere. If my family members are sick, I have no problem staying home and away from others. Please take into consideration exactly what you are asking/demanding
of your city. There is a solution here. Those that are high risk, fearful or unsure have every right to mask up no matter where they are, but those of us who are not have every right
to go without. I was born here and have lived here almost my entire life and there is nowhere I would rather be. From the beginning of this pandemic, I have never been more grateful
to be living here and a large part of that is due to the fact that I feel things have genuinely been carefully and considerably been thought through to ensure the best possible outcomes.
I appreciate all of the time that has been given, and that will continue to be given to the people here. Thank you for all that you do, and for being willing to hear my opinion.
Nicole Peña
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