HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-06-20 Public Comment - A. Sophir - Mask Mandate what are we waiting forFrom:Abby Sophir
To:Agenda
Subject:What are we waiting for?
Date:Monday, July 6, 2020 9:53:12 AM
Dear Bozeman City Commission,
I would like to express my strong support for a mask wearing mandate in Bozeman and
Gallatin County. Though I wish a mandate was not necessarily and individuals aloneunderstood what's at stake right now and took it upon themselves to do what's best for the
greater good by wearing a mask, this has sadly not proven to be the case. I drove down mainstreet last night around 7pm. It was busy and I did not see a SINGLE person wearing a mask. I
think it could be a grave mistake for our community to wait any longer to take action.
Requiring masks be worn in public spaces is an easy decision with little to no consequences.Mask wearing should not be thought of as a “restriction” but an opportunity to save lives. The
arguments I've heard against a mask mandate do not make sense.
For instance, the argument that it would hurt the economy... The business I work for (in thehealthcare industry) is currently teetering on survival. As cases go up, business gets worse.
Patients cancel. As cases go up, I myself am less interested in going out in town and spendingmoney. The risk is simply not worth it. If anything, requiring masks and preventing
community spread seems to help the economy. We can fight this virus WITHOUT closingdown our economy.
Another argument I have heard from opponents of a mask mandate is that this would be an
"overreaction". However, I do not see how requiring masks while we wait for the science tobecome more clear, is an overreaction. I understand that the goal back in March was to flatten
the curve and buy time for hospitals, businesses and individuals to prepare for the new normal.I am not advocating for closing businesses or the elimination of the virus. However, we are
seeing across Montana that the curve is no longer flat and it feels like we are sitting back andwatching other states make the same mistakes and suffer the consequences as we wait our
turn.
Is it uncomfortable and unideal to wear a mask all day long? Sure. But it is the very least wecan do. It is hardly a sacrifice. At the very worst, in a few months we admit "Okay, maybe the
masks weren't necessary." The downside of neglecting to require masks, if they do in factmake a difference in transmission, is much more somber.
Montana was proactive in March and it paid off. I felt proud to be a Montanan at the
beginning of this pandemic and now I am disheartened and embarrassed. We can do better. Iurge you to please step us as leaders who choose to do what is best for our community as a
whole, especially the most vulnerable populations. Unfortunately Montanans have shown thatwe are not taking this virus as seriously as we should. It has become clear that we cannot trust
individuals to stay informed and make decisions for the health, safety and economic viabilityof our community on their own. In my opinion, this is when the government must step in.
What are we waiting for? Our hospitals to be full? X number of deaths? Or are we simplypretending this isn't happening until we can pretend no more? This does not seem like a wise
approach to public health.
I hope you will consider these things when the issue is discussed at tonight's meeting.
Sincerely,Abby Sophir