Mayor wants Modesto to stop enforcing COVID rules and let business, life resume
Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold is calling on city officials to stop enforcing the new coronavirus pandemic restrictions so the economy and everyday life can return to normal.
“Energy spent enforcing the mandate should be redirected to engagement and assistance of those just trying to survive,” Brandvold says on a nearly one-minute video on his campaign website and Facebook page. “Our citizens should be allowed to return to their businesses, places of worship and recreation facilities with proper precautions.”
Stanislaus County reported 16,628 positive cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and 368 deaths as of Friday.
The mayor’s proposal comes as Stanislaus County is close to meeting the state threshold to safely reopen more of its economy because of a decline in COVID-19. The county is in California’s fourth tier, which has the most restrictions because the disease is widespread.
The county and its cities, including Modesto, could move to the next, less restrictive tier as soon as mid-October as long the incidence of the disease keeps falling. That tier allows for restaurants to resume indoor dining at 25 percent capacity. Movie theaters could reopen, and places of worship and gyms could resume indoor operations with limits.
“We need relief right now,” Brandvold said in a Friday interview. He said he is hearing from too many parents about their kids failing classes held over distance learning and small businesses and churches on the verge of closing. “This is a situation where the cure is in many ways worse than the disease.”
Brandvold said residents are wearing masks and following the other precautions. He said they will continue to do so even if businesses, churches and gyms reopen. ”People have stepped up, and we have brought the numbers down,” he said.
He said he does not believe a full reopening would cause a resurgence of the virus, which is what happened in the spring when some restrictions were lifted. The restrictions were then brought back to drive down the surge. Brandvold said more people are wearing masks now, and a reopening also would happen with other precautions in place.
“I can’t predict. We could have a spike without reopening,” Brandvold said. “These are uncertain times. What is certain is what is happening to peoples’ lives.”
The mayor is running for a second term in the Nov. 3 election against six challengers. His proposal drew criticism from them, who said he is politicizing a public health and economic crisis and that his proposal would reverse the progress being made against the virus.
“We are so close to opening based on science, results and testing,” said Councilwoman Kristi Ah You — one of the challengers — in a text. “My only concern is health and safety and that we don’t have to close down again.”
Mayor asks for petition signatures
The mayor asks viewers to sign a petition in support of his proposal. The video was posted to his Facebook page Wednesday, and the petition had 130 signatures as of noon Friday. Brandvold blames Gov. Gavin Newsom in the video:
“... Newsom’s threat of retracting COVID relief funding has kept many cities including ours from reopening our businesses, schools, worship centers, and recreation facilities. The governor’s threat pales in comparison to the devastating impact on Modesto’s people socially, emotionally, physically, economically, and spiritually.”
California recently awarded Modesto about $2.75 million in COVD-19 funding through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. For context, Modesto has about a $447 million annual operating budget.
Brandvold said the petition is to gauge support for his proposal. He said if enough people sign it, he could share the petition with city staff, the City Council and even the governor.
Modesto seeks voluntary compliance
Modesto’s code enforcement officers have not been heavy handed in enforcing the state’s public health order. The city has worked with businesses to gain voluntary compliance, with enforcement the last option.
Code enforcement officers have opened 143 cases since late April against businesses suspected of violating public health orders. City spokesman Thomas Reeves said Thursday the city has taken enforcement action against a hookah lounge, two gyms and two restaurants.
Besides Councilwoman Ah You, Brandvold’s challengers are co-senior pastor Rick Countryman with Big Valley Grace Community Church, community organizer and city Board of Zoning Adjustment commissioner Naramsen Goriel, Modesto Councilman Doug Ridenour, Erin Sommer Tenorio, a merchandiser, marketer and branding representative, and former Modesto City Schools board member Sue Zwahlen.
They all questioned the mayor’s plan.
Countryman said in a text: “I have to respectfully disagree with the Mayor. It’s unfortunate that he has come out with a stance that completely ignores health and safety precautions that have allowed us to make progress against the virus. We absolutely need to reopen business, and learn to live with COVID, and have a plan in place to do so, not close our eyes and pretend it’s not there.
“We need to reopen our schools, businesses and places of worship in a safe, and responsible manner, so we don’t lose the progress we have made controlling the virus ... . There is no plan put forth by the Mayor to reopen with our health and safety in mind, and no actual solution to a problem that affects each and every one of us here in Modesto.”
Goriel said in a text that “the mayor should not make the conversation adversarial between public health and the economy because of the potential harm politics can cause during these circumstances. We need to be truly committed to being consistent, diligent and disciplined when fighting against a global pandemic.”
Sowing ‘discord rather than unity’
“Our economy needs to focus on resilient adaptations ... . A nonenforcement message is counterproductive ... because it sows discord rather than unity.” Goriel wrote Modesto’s reducing the number of lanes on J Street in downtown to make room for restaurants to expand outdoor dining is a good example of adapting.
Ridenour said in a text that “the holding pattern that COVID has put on every Modestan’s life has been incredibly rough. While we are all ready for life to return to normal, any step toward that must be done thoughtfully and with the health and well being of every citizen in mind.
“I would like to see a safe, localized plan that creates a level playing field for businesses to fully reopen. This is not a measure that should be dictated by the number of likes or shares on Facebook, but by how well our community is progressing in tackling this serious public health emergency.”
Tenorio said in an interview that Brandvold is being disingenuous by bringing forth his proposal now. “It’s a political ploy he’s using because the general consensus of the people of Modesto, they do not enjoy the shutdown. ... It’s called pandering. It’s to get votes.”
Zwahlen, who is a retired registered nurse, said in an interview that everyone wants life to return to the days before COVID-19. The way to get there is for all of us to follow the guidelines, including those for business, schools and houses of worship, so the number of COVID-19 cases keeps falling and more of the economy can safely reopen.
“It’s really quite simple,” she said. “We need to wear a mask, practice physical distancing and wash our hands. Unfortunately, we have not seen our local officials do that. ... Our local government has not provided a clear and consistent message to the community.”
Bert Lippert — the city’s building safety program coordinator — also will appear on the ballot for mayor. But Lippert recently dropped out of the race.
This story was originally published October 3, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
