They call it “the new normal”
The latest results, from Public Health officials, have the City of Lawrence, amongst cities and towns of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as the highest percentage of positive COVID-19 cases in the state. There have also been 130 deaths related to this virus in Lawrence, only Boston has more death than here.
In the meantime, we can’t find one person in the City of Lawrence who has been fined for not wearing a facial mask. One has to just stroll through the city to find thousands of people without mask. We’ve seen organized sports of young people supervised by adults without wearing a facial mask. We have constantly seen cookouts, parties and get together throughout the neighborhoods and people are not socially distancing.
Massachusetts state government employees won’t be back into their offices/buildings at least until early September as will most school employees throughout the Commonwealth. However, Mayor Rivera has opened up City Hall and is placing all city employees into danger by having in-person service. I went there on Tuesday and, although I had an appointment to see someone specifically, many visitors stopped me along the way to chat.
Back in February, Mayor Rivera was stating that the virus was a low risk. Playing Monday morning quarterback, the signs were clear back in February. Every elected official wants to downplay this disease to save their economy or continue looking strong. But in the end, it has cost this city lives and the number of people who have had to hospitalize and retuned home will forever have PTSD or health issues associated with mental scars or lung damage.
Children becoming sick are having issues like Lawrence is one of the cities of Massachusetts with a high asthma rate (an underlying condition that could be detrimental if positive for COVID-19). The Mayo Clinic has reported that children positive for COVID-19 develop Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) a serious condition in which some parts of the body — such as the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, digestive system, brain, skin or eyes — become inflamed.
However, what we do know is that Mayor Rivera has stripped, and continues to strip, local government employee benefits for the sake of keeping some rat-tat control on sums of money and budget during this time. Just as every other city, concerns are common of the funds that they will receive from the Commonwealth. It could be a disastrous year for Lawrence as far as receiving funds to run the city.
But it should also be said that it will be just as disastrous for the people who live in Lawrence and continue to suffer due to deaths, illness, lacking work, money and assistance.
Most city employees have not had any real increases since before 2010, and others have had no increases since beginning their jobs. People are leaving local government jobs creating a brain drain for Lawrence. It’s OK to demand work and results to make you look good Mayor Rivera, but it’s also good to reward people that go above and beyond – not just for your hobbies and campaign staff.
In the meantime, most city council members just want their friends and relatives in jobs and continue to blindly vote for many of the Mayor’s projects as people in this city continue to die or get sick.
Mass. Police Chiefs press conference
The Police Chiefs of Massachusetts held a press conference on Tuesday, July 22, in opposition to Senate Bill S2800 and how its approval was rushed through. There was no public hearing and unless the public insists, the House may do the same.
I am appalled about the way the media is dismissing law enforcement’s input. I read S2800; we are all going to be worse off and most people don’t even know what it means.
I am very concerned that cannot trust the media to educate us. This legislation is mighty important and there is no information provided to the public. It will hurt every community because reducing authority of police officers will cause potential applicants to refrain joining the force.
Please take the time to look over the House Bill 4860 and call the members of your legislation with your opinion.
