IN TOWNHALL, LOCAL LEADERS ANSWER QUESTIONS OVER COVID-19 AND REOPENING LOCAL VENUES 2.7K
Total Views: 44 By Miriam Raftery May 12, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) – Supervisor Dianne Jacob hosted a virtual town hall last Thursday along with El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and Poway Mayor Steve Vaus. They provided updates on the COVID-19 pandemic locally, addressed ideas for more businesses, churches and other paces to reopen, and fielded questions submitted by constituents. Health updates and testing Supervisor Jacob opened with a “shout out to all the nurses” on National Nurses Day, thanking them for their efforts to help COVID-19 patients. “What we know is this virus is highly contagious. It spreads very easily,” she said, adding that to date, there is no vaccine or drug proven to treat the disease. But she added, “Here’s what we know that’s positive: the mitigation measure, the safety measures put in place are working.” As of Wednesday, San Diego County has had 4,319 cases and 158 deaths, with 882 hospitalizations due to COVID-19. Over 55,000 tests have been done, double the number since a town hall meeting two weeks earlier. Hospital capacity is 6,000 beds with 3,600 occupied, of which 363 are due to COVID-19. The goal is to test over 5,000 people daily. There’s capacity for 3,500 but at most 2600 have been tested in any one day so far, so there’s a gap to fill. Some people are not showing up for tests, Jacob says. Tests are available at hospitals, community clinics, labs and the stadium with a doctor referral or call 211 if you don’t have a doctor. The state has also opened three free test sites including Grossmont College in El Cajon; you can get a free test by appointment by calling 888-634-1123. Reopening the county Supervisors this week adopted a framework to reopen. Jacob encouraged businesses, churches, recreational facilities and others shut down to read the criteria and put together a plan to reopen, even if your facility is not in phase 2. “Send it to my office,” Jacob says. She will forward to Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego’s public health official,who must approve any plans and in turn, submit those plans to the Governor, who has the final authority during the public health emergency. You can find guidelines at www.DianneJacob.com including a business safety check list. Supervisors plan a special meeting next week to take action toward loosening restrictions and have asked the Governor to allow San Diego to have total control over decisions on reopening locally, but it remains to be seen if that will be granted. Mayor Wells says El Cajon has 228 COVID-19 cases, of which 165 are in nursing homes, which skews the overall picture. He offered cautious praise for Governor Gavin Newsom. “I’m encouraged by what’s happening at the state level now. I actually think Governor Newsom has done a very good job acting quickly to try and keep us all safe.” But he adds, “I do think the time has come to allow a little balance and scale back some regulations that don’t make a lot of sense…Hopefully he will do just that.” Wells’ background is in mental health. “I worry about the body count with COVID-19 but also body counts for people suffering from depression and anxiety. We don’t know yet how many suicides, or how many will become addicted to alcohol or drugs, or fall into domestic violence” due to the stay-home orders, he noted He stressed that it’s important to stay safe from the virus but also bring back some balance. “I’m seeing people fray around the edges.” Vaus says business represents jobs. That’s why Poway passed an Emergency Assistance Recovery loan program using $2 million from reserves as a hand up, not a handout to help businesses. He says it’s had a “tremendous responses” with some funs already distributed. Some business owners who had loans approved later said they didn’t need them since other loans came through. “That’s the spirit,” said Vaus. Poway kept most parks open and has recently been able to reopen Blue Sky, Lake Poway including the trial to Potato Chip Rock and Iron Mountain, thanks to the state. Vaus also started the website AngelsWIllHelp.com for people to print a handout for neighbors offering them help such as picking up groceries. He says if he had a magic wand, he would have “more local control” over reopening decisions. Jacob observed, “Out of every crisis, and we’ve seen it in fires too, comes some good–people helping people.” Questions and answers Taking temperatures at work: Asked about a requirement for employers to take employees temperatures daily, all three politicians voiced skepticism. Jacob says she isn’t sure that’s practical and said the county needs to “push back on the thermometer issue.” Vaus said he wants to be sure the rules are the same for mom and pop businesses as for large ones such s Walmart and Costco. Wells noted that the virus can be carried for two weeks before anyone shows symptom, so taking temperatures would have only limited value. He wants people to take responsibility not to go to work if they have a fever or other symptoms. Opening churches: Asked parameters to reopen places of worship, Jacob says these are in phase 3. But she urges churches to submit a plan for reopening safely. “The goal is not to spread the virus,” she said, but notes that churches are essential for meeting many needs. Wells said, “I’m a big believer in freedom of religion, but it’s also not a good idea for people to be gathering in large groups.” He suggests allowing drive-up church services, but says the Governor so far has not allowed this. Vaus also wants drive-up religious services. “We don’t want this to explode again, but we also need to make sure constituents are getting spiritual needs met.” Little League: Asked when Little League might resume, Jacob said she doesn’t have the answer but encouraged sports groups to submit plans that would allow for social distancing and other safety rules. Wells quipped, “I’ve been
2.7K viewsTRAIL LINKS PLANNED BY COUNTY AND CITY OF POWAY 2.4K
Total Views: 34 Source: County News Center April 15, 2014 (Poway)–San Diego County and Poway are teaming up on an ambitious proposal to connect the region’s vast network of hiking and equestrian trails and other popular outdoor attractions. The Poway City Council and the county Board of Supervisors, in separate votes last week, agreed to work together to seek grant money and other funds to buy as many as 800 acres of open space near Iron Mountain, on the eastern edge of Poway. Supervisor Dianne Jacob says, “We have a tremendous opportunity to close a crucial gap in our trail system and open up more of our beautiful backcountry to the public.” The land acquisition would allow officials to link Iron Mountain, Dos Picos Park, Mount Woodson and Lake Poway via trails that would include a pedestrian and wildlife bridge over state Route 67. The bridge would tie together existing paths spanning the length of the county. Poway Mayor Steve Vaus observes, “For decades there’s been a missing link between far flung trails, parks and open space.” Connecting these treasures would be hailed by hikers, equestrians, and nature lovers now, and for generations to come, as a masterstroke.” The land purchase would preserve additional wildlife space in the Poway area and expand recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. The ambitious vision includes a bridge is built over Highway 67 to allow people to hike and ride all three of Poway’s storied peaks: Blue Sky, Mount Woodson, with its famous Potato Chip Rock , and Iron Mountain, all in one day without ever leaving the trail, notes Poway Councilman Jim Cunningham. The Poway City Council approved its partnership with the county on April 7. The Board of Supervisors backed the agreement the next day. The pact says they will “pursue funding sources to purchase additional open space in the Iron Mountain vicinity.” “I’m confident we can work together to find a future funding source or grant money that will help make this a reality,” said Jacob. Printer-friendly version
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