HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment Mask - 11/18/2020 9:40:07 AM
Deborah Lovejoy
From:Ty Walker <ty33@me.com>
Sent:Wednesday, November 18, 2020 9:01 AM
To:Customer Services
Subject:Mask Mandate Ordinance
Hi City Council Members,
I want to reach out and share some frustrations I have had yesterday and today. It started yesterday morning
when I received a message from my daughter Ava’s coach stating that we are no longer allowed to attend her
city recreation basketball games. She is 8 years old, and is very active in all sports. She feeds off the energy of
seeing me and my wife in the stands cheering her on. After every basket she makes, steal she gets, or good pass
she immediately looks over to me with a huge smile on her face waiting for that thumbs up or good job from
me. I have handled the shutdowns and mandates fairly well over the last 8 months that this has been going
on. This morning is when I said enough is enough. They limited games to only allow parents in the gym 3
weeks ago as long as we wore masks and spread out. I can tell you that I have complied and wore a mask each
game over the last 3 weeks, and now to hear “Sorry you can’t attend and watch your child play ball and cheer
them on”. This is absolutely RIDICULOUS!!!! I have heard for months now “It’s just a mask, why can’t
people just comply?” So what happens, we comply and then bang, this is now the next thing. I understand that
COVID is real as it went through our entire house along with my in laws who have health challenges. I don’t
understand how allowing our children go play ball with one another and then come home is any different than
allowing parents to watch their child succeed. I have also heard “This is only short term” This has now been
going on for 8 months, it’s not going away any time soon, and when we get a vaccine what happens if people
refuse to get it? Then it will be “It’s just a vaccine!” I believe it is time to stand up against those who are
making these rules and mandates and let us live how we wish to live. It is someone’s choice if they want to go
to a game and watch their child play. If they feel that they are at risk then they don’t have to attend. ENOUGH
IS ENOUGH!!!! Where does it end? It will never end or never be enough. More and more of our rights are
being taken away every day for a virus that has a survival rate of 99%. I understand that people are dying and
that the virus is real. I feel bad for those who have lost a loved one due to COVID. But we cannot shut in
ourselves and say if we can only wait until there is a vaccine. A vaccine is NOT going to solve our problems.
I also wanted to share with you my feelings on the ordinance that you are going to propose tonight at City
Council. It is ridiculous that you are proposing to fine businesses who don’t comply with a mask mandate and
taking it as far as to say that you may receive a misdemeanor if you fail to comply or are in violation three
times. REALLY??? And that you go as far as to say that you will take away our business license.
REALLY??? This is CRAZY talk! This is doing nothing but dividing our city and community even more
against one another. If a patron believes in wearing masks then let them wear a mask. It is their choice to come
to your business or not. Nobody is forced to go inside a business that doesn’t require masks. Not even the
governor put a state wide mask mandate in place. Numbers are dropping in our community and we are now
asking for a mask mandate with significant repercussions if we don’t comply. REALLY??? I find it interesting
how the City of Rexburg has chosen what they will allow and what they won’t. I believe if it brings revenue to
the city, the city officials turn the other way and allow large gatherings to happen. If it benefits the city
financially then it is allowed. The perfect example is July 4th firework celebration and parade. When all of the
surrounding cities cancelled July 4th celebrations, we said “Come to Rexburg and help us celebrate with a
parade, activities, and a firework show to end it all.” SO BIZARRE!!!! AND, this was during a time when
COVID was running wild throughout our country. We allow the college students back into the community
without requiring them to quarantine. IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE!!! The city picks and chooses when and
how they will follow. Why wasn’t this done when our cases were almost 400? Why now that our cases are
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going down? How about someone take a look at the mental health of those within our community? I know
several therapists/counselors who say they are six months out to get an appointment with because they are
seeing so many individuals. How many people die from lung cancer per year? We still allow them to purchase
cigarettes and tobacco, because it’s their choice, just like a wearing or not wearing a mask should be.
This city, community, and nation are being divided more and more everyday because they believe their rights
are being taken from them. It should be each persons choice of how they will comply! NOT MANDATED!!!!
Thanks,
Ty Walker
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