by Star Jameson, Hamilton
Even though you have been empowered by the legislature to a stronger status, I am urging you to
l. Replace the current chair in a timely manner. She has served tirelessly through crisis after crisis, tried to resign, and has graciously stayed on.
2. Do not replace her with a person who has no professional medical background. I understand the opportunities for nepotism at this point, but the lives of 45,000 women, men and children are in your hands, and deeply affected by your choices.
3. Let your politics rest in the background as you hire the new person. Allow him/her to use professional, established medical criteria for issuing guidelines and establishing authority. Many folks have died in our county, leaving families in mourning and financial straits. You and some of your supporters may be tired of the word “covid,” but covid isn’t tired of us.
4. Stand behind the medical folks in our county who have worked tirelessly to save lives, prevent more illness and reduce symptoms among us for 22 months without a break. Focus on other topics. There’s plenty: climate change mitigation, economic earthquakes from the national picture, small businesses closing, the worker shortage, a huge influx of new citizens, ad infinitum.
I understand what a difficult year this has been. We have a vocal and angry population trying to influence school boards, the health board, the general public and social media. But common sense must prevail here, not wild assumptions based on superstition. In our County, there is a strong majority who believe in taking care of one another, and caring for the land, the children and families. Don’t let us down.