FEATURED COLUMNIST
Government in the Time of COVID-19
W
hen one door closes, another one may open. Since March when Dr. Gail Newel, County Public Health Officer, issued one of the first Shelter-In-Place orders in the state, local government has gone through some changes in the ways in which we connect with constituents, hold public meetings, and carry on the business of municipal government. Some of the changes have been long sought and others require us all to adjust to our new circumstances. None of us were completely prepared to shut down regular business and social activity when the shelter-in-place order was issued. The order required immediate action to limit gatherings of people and to stay close to home for all but essential activities. This early action produced great results to slow the spread of the virus and likely saved many lives. The first order of business was creating the infrastructure to handle a surge in illness that could dwarf the local medical system, like we saw later in New York City. County staff worked diligently with all our partners in health care to create the additional space and identify the supplies needed to handle the possible surge. Faced with a shortage of supplies, local residents offered their services, sewing hundreds of face coverings, donating food and other needed supplies, and replacing volunteers for programs that relied on seniors who were now at greater risk. The Sheriff reorganized his deputies to have more out in the community, prepared the morgue for deaths on a scale that we have never seen before, and worked to limit the spread of the virus in our jail. At the County government building, life also changed quickly. The County Administrative Officer was already working on a plan to increase telework options for County employees. The
By John Leopold, Supervisor, First District
issuance of the shelter-in-place order accelerated that effort, and hundreds of County employees began working at home as we shut down most services to the public. Local government meetings also changed throughout the county. Most city councils have gone to all virtual meetings, made possible by a change in state law. At the County Board of Supervisors, we have maintained a public meeting but allow participation from Supervisors who choose to participate over the web. Our chambers have also changed. We require everyone to wear a face covering and we have only about 13 socially-distant seats, but we have added a second seating area in the community room in the basement of the building that allows for another 20 people to attend the meeting and have their comments broadcast to the chambers. For the first time, we are taking public comments online as part of a commitment to provide new ways for the community to give their testimony. Most of the meetings of other boards and commissions on which Supervisors also serve are being done virtually as well. While there are several different formats and a couple of hiccups along the way, it represents a commitment to reach the public as we move our way through this pandemic. Communication with constituents also changed rapidly. Gone are the meetings in public, but it their place are increases in email communications and new formats to talk about the critical issues. I have held nearly weekly constituent meetings for the last 12 years, but quickly moved online with Facebook Live meetings at first, then telephone Town Halls, and currently Zoom Town Halls. These meetings have featured our health leaders, school leaders, and public safety professionals to answer questions
First District Supervisor John Leopold hosts a July 22 Town Hall with Dr. Gail Newel that attracted 100 attendees on Zoom with a replay on YouTube.
directly from the community. I have been sending almost weekly email updates to constituents to combine all the new information and point people toward resources. As we have seen, this pandemic is not close to being over. We are all going to need to adjust the ways in which we connect with our friends, family, and local officials. It will be imperative for County government to remain committed to inclusion and provide ample opportunities for people to participate.
If we all can change what we do by wearing face coverings, staying at least six feet away from those who don’t live in our houses, washing our hands thoroughly, and not going out when we are sick, we can beat this virus and return to the traditional ways we have interacted. Until then, join us in new ways as we continue the work of local government. n To view John Leopold’s July 22 Town Hall with Dr. Gail Newel on COVID-19, see https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G6su3ugceU
Dr. Seuss
ACROSS
1. On a cruise, 2 words 6. Horse poker 9. Deadly slitherers 13. Way to curl hair 14. *Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another ____.” 15. Islam’s Supreme Being 16. Subway coin 17. Salve for Tin Woodman 18. Grim Reaper 19. *”A ____’s s Fine-Something-ThatAll-People-Need.” 21. *”Christmas Day will always be, Just as long as we ____ ____.” 23. Structure named for 31st President 24. Indoor allergy trigger
25. Ship pronoun 28. H. H. Munro’s pen name 30. Something or anything 35. Madam, to a cowboy 37. Dr. Jones, to his friends 39. Best not mentioned 40. Not in favor of 41. Myths and legends, e.g. 43. Maître d’s list 44. France’s longest river 46. *”I Can Read ____ My Eyes Shut!” 47. Use a beeper 48. In direct line of descent 50. Italian car maker 52. Equinox mo. 53. Coral barrier 55. Not a friend 57. *”From there to here, From here to there, Funny ____ are everywhere.”
60. *”Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. ____ ____.” 63. Canine foe 64. However, poetically 66. Full 68. Up and about 69. Porridge grain 70. Say something 71. Start of a conclusion 72. Parental involvement org 73. Popular garden flower
DOWN
1. *”Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing ____.” 2. Turkey dance 3. Punjabi believer 4. Correct 5. Pause in breathing, pl. 6. *”If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is ____.”
7. “Wheel of Fortune” request, 2 words 8. Indian metropolis 9. Sheltered, nautically 10. BBQ side 11. Toupee spot 12. “Zip it!” 15. Countdown to Christmas 20. Inbox item 22. Chowed down 24. Middle of a torso 25. *”A person’s a person, no matter how ____.” 26. Capital of Vietnam 27. Dine at home 29. *”You’re on your own. And you know what you ____.” 31. Pipe smoker’s tool 32. Letter-shaped girder 33. Polynesian kingdom 34. *”Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is ____ than you.”
36. Bog down 38. Sasquatch’s Himalayan cousin 42. Elevator passage 45. Breadwinner 49. Race part 51. 50-50 54. Bar by estoppel 56. Related on mother’s side 57. Baloney 58. Rwanda’s majority 59. a.k.a. The Islamic State 60. Itty-bitty bit 61. ___ von Bismarck 62. Not quite an adult 63. Latissimus dorsi, for short 65. *”It’s a shirt. It’s a sock. It’s a glove. It’s a ____.” 67. Wine quality © Statepoint Media
Answers on 31 »
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / August 2020 / 25
