To the Menlo Park City Council, San Mateo County, and California Governor's office, I'll state at the outset, that my husband and myself are physicians. For the most part, we appreciate the efforts of all throughout the state with regard to safety and health. There is so much unknown, it is indeed very difficult to always discern the wisest course of action. We would like to mention just one small corner of the current milieu that might be spared and provided some relief - gardeners and perhaps even garden nurseries. We call it gardening in the time of Covid. Gardening has been deemed non essential and is finable by law. There are some gardeners still working, but if someone calls law enforcement on them, they are warned, and second time fined. Many gardeners are not working. We fail to understand the risk imposed by a gardener that is all by him/herself cleaning a yard. The most contact that person may have would be at the gas station. There is social distancing built into the job. Having more than one gardener on a job could be defined as illegal and fineable - but single gardeners.....! And we feel that yes, this specific of a law can be implemented. If the argument is that just by being out, they are posing a health risk, this is nullified by the allowing of DoorDash and restaurants to continue to exist. These continue in large part in order to try to continue to provide jobs and there is much more potential contact in that job sector. Peets and Starbucks do not need to be open- they are not essential. Food can be provided and delivered by grocery stores. The Governor's call is to eliminate all non essential business. One could make the argument that gardening is essential - plant growth and waste can impose on structures, power lines, line of sight, and can clog/clutter gutters, sewers, drains, and roads. Allowing gardeners to work is at least one job sector that should be continued. How does it increase risk of spreading the virus? Please thoughtfully reconsider. With appreciation for your work, Susan and Bruce Benedick, MDs Received on Tue Apr 28 2020 - 11:15:32 PDT
