Marek Warszawski
Shelter in place? Don’t tell that to these publicity-hungry Fresno politicians
Did four members of the Fresno City Council not get the memo?
We’re supposed to be sheltering in place during the ongoing coronavirus siege. Not convening gatherings in public spaces for the sole purpose of calling attention to ourselves.
Last week it was Councilmembers Miguel Arias and Esmeralda Soria holding a joint press conference in front of a Tower District restaurant to announce the winners of the city’s small business loan program.
Monday, it was Councilmember Mike Karbassi, taking to the plaza outside City Hall, to make his case for small businesses (like his) to reopen.
Not to be undone, Councilmember Garry Bredefeld has requested the media’s presence Tuesday morning inside City Hall to help him air his latest grievance against the apparently tyrannical rule of Mayor Lee Brand.
Have these people not heard of Zoom?
Look, I get it. These last seven weeks of COVID-19 quarantine have been rough on everyone. And while most of us miss seeing our friends or slurping margaritas at a crowded Mexican restaurant, local politicians miss seeing their faces on the local news.
Still, that’s no excuse to violate the city’s shelter-in-place order when a media release and video conference would suffice.
Emergency Order 2020-13, in effect through May 6, is clear: “All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited.”
There are exceptions, certainly. One of them falls under the heading of Essential Governmental Functions, defined as “all services needed to ensure the continuing operation of the government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public.”
‘They did it, so why can’t I?’
Hmm. Health, safety and welfare? I don’t see how any of that applies to councilmembers giving themselves public pats on the back or promoting their personal agendas.
Karbassi was asked about this subject during his press gathering. Without mentioning Soria or Arias by name, his answer amounted to, “They did it, so why can’t I?”
Which is the kind of response you might expect from a fourth grader, but hope for better from an elected official.
“Some of my colleagues who are urging the continued shelter-in-place, closing businesses and costing families their jobs, are willing to disobey the shelter-in-place order for the sole purpose of congratulating themselves,” Karbassi said.
Don’t know about yours, but my irony detector sure is flashing.
Councilmembers set bad example
Right about now, we should be thankful the three remaining councilmembers — Luis Chavez, Nelson Esparza and Paul Caprioglio — haven’t called their own coronavirus-themed pressers. (Although in Caprioglio’s case, it would be a sign he actually cares.)
It’s not that the press conferences themselves are a public health risk. It’s more about the example they set – at a time when Fresno’s curve doesn’t seem to be flattening.
Over the last couple weeks, Fresno has started to bristle against shelter in place. You can just tell by the cars on the road and long lines at places like Walmart and Home Depot. For most people, it’s getting harder and harder to stay home.
You know what doesn’t make it any easier? Seeing our elected leaders openly flout rules they put in place and that the rest of us are trying to live by.
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