Note to Stanislaus County leaders: Try leading next time
Monday’s abdication of responsibility by Stanislaus County leaders in the coronavirus crisis is appalling.
With Stanislaus COVID-19 numbers soaring to sickly heights, California health officials recently put Stanislaus on the state’s watch list for places in danger of shutting down again, if we can’t get our spike under control. The state then gave Stanislaus (and seven other counties) one thing that we might do to show we’re really trying. Just one simple thing: close bars.
Sacramento County got the same notice, and immediately shut their bars. San Diego County wasn’t even on that naughty list, but did the same to show a good-faith effort to keep its people as safe as possible.
But Stanislaus leaders balked.
Given a chance to lead, Stanislaus officials said they prefer to follow.
Rather than take decisive action, Stanislaus officials said they’ll wait to see if the state will clarify what discretion Stanislaus might have.
Rather than making a grown-up decision — perhaps incurring the wrath of some constituents — Stanislaus officials decided Monday to pass the buck. They’re in no mood to handle a hot potato, and they’re hoping the state will do it for them.
That’s a sorry excuse for leadership.
Stanislaus COVID numbers are shocking
How close to the edge is Stanislaus County?
Since being placed on the state’s watch list two weeks ago, we have not been able to corral COVID hospitalizations or positivity rates for coronavirus tests.
In fact, our COVID hospitalizations are third-highest in the state by population, and our rate of ICU admissions is second-highest, according to state data. And Stanford University predicts those numbers will double in only two weeks.
Why target bars? Because that’s one place frequented by unmasked young adults who might fancy themselves invincible. One in five Stanislaus cases are people in the 21-to-30 age group.
Stanislaus’ inability to corral the coronavirus could lead to a devastating state-ordered reversal of our reopening, as is happening in COVID-stricken Imperial County.
Our Stanislaus leaders should be doing everything in their power to keep that from happening, to keep our economy from unraveling.
But given a chance to show the tiniest glimmer that we’re trying, Stanislaus officials essentially said, “Meh.”
“We are not going to close the bars at this point,” Stanislaus Supervisor Terry Withrow said in a stunning report by The Modesto Bee’s Ken Carlson. “We are waiting for more clarification from the state. If the state intends to do it, we will let the state do it.”
Unbelievable.
Step up with personal choices
When leaders refuse to lead, it falls to the people to pick up the standard. Now is one of those times.
You don’t need officials, elected or appointed, to keep you and your family safe in every conceivable situation. It’s time to accept personal responsibility for your health and well-being.
The Fourth of July weekend is nearly upon us. Decide now to protect yourself, your friends and loved ones by refusing to engage in risky behavior — specifically by avoiding crowds and other gatherings of any size with people not in your household.
While our officials distance themselves from an obvious choice, we can vow to distance ourselves safely from others.
If they attempt to mask their indecision, we can vow to wear masks in public.
And we can wash our hands frequently, even as they wash their hands of responsibility for our health.