7 minute read
By Angela Clabon
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Metro Transit has maintained service during the pandemic in spite of many logistical challenges.
Photos courtesy Bi-State Development
‘MOVING’ from cover
And to continue meeting the safety needs of riders during the pandemic Metro Transit has increased the frequency of cleaning as well as instituted varied means of sanitizing vehicles.
“Back in March of this year, we started using a new, cutting-edge sanitizer that focuses on antimicrobial technology to keep our trains, buses and vans free from harmful germs,” Roach states. “The microbe shield it creates can protect our riders and our team members from pathogens for up to 30 days.”
Riders are helping public transit keep the transit experience safe by complying with the federal mask mandate.
“The majority of our riders are compliant. They understand masks and vaccines help protect all of us,” Roach explains.
The mask mandate from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for Metro Transit consumers and operators has been in effect since May of 2020 and will continue into next year until Jan. 18, 2022. In the near future riders will be able to get masks from a dispenser on Metro Transit vehicles and MetroLink stations.
The CMT will also partner with Metro Transit, St. Clair County Transit District, Bureau of Transit Police and Metro Transit Public Safety on Aug. 26 for an event where masks were given out during rush hour and commuters were reminded about the importance of wearing masks.
The event serves as, “an opportunity to educate riders about Citizens for Modern Transit’s free Guaranteed Ride Home Program and encourage them to register,” Cella explains.
The experience of public transit riders has been a collective effort between operators and consumers with transit workers having to highly adjust to meet the demands of the pandemic.
“We see our Metro Transit operators (MetroBus, MetroLink and Metro Call-A-Ride) and their transit service managers as heroes,” says Roach. They have been out on the front line for 18 months now during the entire COVID-19 pandemic.
COMMUNITY VOICES By Angela Clabon Fighting COVID-19 is a community effort
The COVID-19 virus is again a significant threat to public health. Missouri, Florida and Texas accounted for 40% of all new COVID-19 cases nationwide, and all three states have lower than average vaccination rates.
The Delta variant is more transmissible and likely to affect children. Medical officials are reporting an increase in hospitalizations of children in critical condition with COVID. The defense among the unvaccinated is that they have a choice in taking the vaccine.
Fine. You do have a choice. The unvaccinated also seem to have the biggest gripe about wearing a mask, so tell us, what’s the solution?
Most recently, my seven-year-old grandson contracted COVID-19 from a family member who lied about being vaccinated. Now his ten-year-old sister also tested positive for COVID. I babysit my grandchildren. Fortunately, I am fully vaccinated and have not tested positive for COVID. My grandchildren have experienced fever, aching and a loss of appetite.
It angers me because my grandchildren did not have the choice of vaccination. They are too young to receive the Pfizer vaccine available to anyone over the age of 12. Children have protection from the virus by the vaccinated adults who wear masks and use social distancing strategies. Be honorable. If you did not get vaccinated, protect us all by following the simple precautionary steps.
Choices come with responsibility and consequences. In this case, the black community loses. Don’t’ look for any more shutdowns because it’s not happening. It’s too costly for businesses. The black community will once again experience the most significant impact. Our vaccination rates are much lower, and our people will die from COVID-19. What is the solution if following these simple strategies doesn’t work for you?
I encourage you to get vaccinated or follow the guidelines to protect us all. Wear your mast, practice social distancing as much as possible and quarantine yourself as needed.
CareSTL Health offers vaccinations daily at four locations. Call to make a vaccination appointment at 314-367-5820 or visit carestlhealth.org. The responsibility is yours.
Angela Clabon is the Chief Executive Officer of CareSTL Health. A native of St. Louis, Clabon obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Missouri, and later obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University. She has dedicated over 33 years to the health care movement in the city of St. Louis.
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank will observe National Diaper Need Awareness Week – a signature initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network – from Sept. 27 through Oct. 3. St. Louis Area Diaper Bank is a member of NDBN, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to eliminating diaper need in America. The week provides individuals, organizations, communities and elected officials the opportunity to engage in real talk and simple actions while drawing national attention to the issue of diaper need. To highlight the celebration, the Diaper Bank will hold its fifth annual Fill the Warehouse fundraising drive to collect 100,000 diapers during the month of September. Last year the Diaper Bank collected 90,000 diapers. Fill the Warehouse participation opportunities include hosting a physical diaper drive and bringing donations to the Diaper Bank located at 6141 Etzel Ave. on Sat., Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; hosting an Amazon online virtual diaper drive where diapers can be sent directly to the Diaper Bank; and collecting monetary donations so that, for every $1 donated, the Diaper Bank can directly purchase eight diapers for children in need. Founded in 2014, the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank collects, stores, and distributes 250,000 free diapers per month to struggling families through a network of 56 community, nonprofit, educational and health care partners serving low-income women and children. These diapers are obtained via local diaper drives, in-kind donations, and by purchasing diapers directly with donated funds. To date more than 5.1 million diapers have been distributed in St. Louis including nearly 900,000 diapers during the height of the pandemic. The Diaper Bank offers both emergency and long-term diaper distribution. This service is a much-needed resource since government programs – including food stamps and WIC – do not provide funding for diapers. Diapers cannot be obtained with food stamps and are classified with cigarettes, alcohol and pet food as disallowed purchases. “National Diaper Need Awareness Week encourages residents to support the Diaper Bank and our efforts to distribute diapers to low-income families,” said St. Louis Area Diaper Bank Executive Director Muriel Smith. “September is the perfect time to help improve the health of our community’s families, and we can’t do it alone. We rely on a collective effort to end diaper need so babies and toddlers can reach their full potential.” The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank provides diaper access to the region’s low-income families, as well as raises community awareness about the causes and consequences of diaper need. For information about hosting a diaper drive during National Diaper Need Awareness Week, call 314-624-0888.
Submitted photo
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank will observe National Diaper Need Awareness Week – a signature initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network – from Sept. 27 through Oct. 3.
City of Florissant celebrates 2020 U.S. Census results
The results of the 2020 U.S. Census shows an increase in Florissant’s current population from the last results in 2010.
In the fall of 2019, Florissant Mayor Tim Lowery met with members of his administration to begin preparations for the 2020 Census. The main goal was to ensure that all residents were counted and that Florissant retain the important status of being the largest municipality and a premier community in St. Louis County.
After almost two years of work, effor, and time invested, the population of Florissant has grown to a level not seen in the city since the mid 1980’s. There are currently 52,533 people that reside in Florissant.
Lowery thanked all of those who made this achievement possible. He expressed immense gratitude to the members of the city council, the hard-working city staff, the numerous volunteers, and all of the residents for sharing in the important responsibility of reporting population data correctly.
Lowery states, “Looking forward, we now have the collective opportunity to write the next chapter in our rich history here in North Saint Louis County. Working jointly with all citizens of Florissant, we can see even more growth in population, investment and development over the next decade.”
