Dear City Council and senior staff,
In this message I urge you to follow state and county guidelines on reopening. I remind you about vaccines and the current limited supply that is prioritized for those who work in person. And I encourage adequate time for public input on the spending of the American Rescue Act funds.
Let’s reopen city buildings in alignment with state and county guidelines. It’s time for families to quietly browse books at our libraries. For friends to share a masked conversation at the senior center. For teens to get out from behind their screens.
Vaccines and good hygiene practices make in person interactions possible.
Vaccination is a personal choice that affects the rest of us. Vaccines are safe. They are keeping people alive. Side effects of the vaccines can be uncomfortable- remember it is temporary and shows that the body is responding.
I encourage everyone to check with their doctor and to visit the state’s vaccination appointment website at myturn.ca.gov
It is likely that the date everyone over 16 is eligible (April 15) will coincide with a dip in the vaccine supply— you’ll notice limited numbers of appointments available. Please bear with this - in the coming months supply will be steady.
In the meantime- you’ll continue to see pop up community vaccination clinics in the Belle Haven neighborhood. These are designed to help families who don’t have access to the time, cars, and computers to take an appointment father away.
Please be mindful of the commitment from San Mateo county to help those who need vaccines and live in areas where there isn’t a pharmacy or a medical facility. More vaccine supply is coming to everyone soon. Honor the intent to vaccinate our most exposed first.
Recovery Funds: For those families who have been decimated by COVID-19, support from us, as a community, as a city, and as society is a marker of our shared humanity.
Please allow for time and discussion about how we allocate the American Rescue funds. We need to use them to help and heal.
Sincerely,
Julie Shanson
Oak Court
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-- Julie
