Mask ordinance not handled right by Town Council on Hilton Head | Letters
While I applaud the mask ordinance passed by the Hilton Head Island Town Council, I abhor the political “smoke and mirror” stratagem used to enact it.
The Council posted notice of an emergency meeting to make face masks mandatory for customers in grocery stores and pharmacies. It was posted on the town’s website and the public was invited to submit comments on the “limited” ordinance until Sunday noon.
Without any public notice, the Council instead voted to enact a substantially revised “all commercial” ordinance, acting as if the “limited” one had never existed.
It removed the “limited” proposal from its online agenda and replaced it with the “all commercial” one that promotes the illusion the “all commercial” one had been proposed ab inito. The Council disingenuously claims 80% of the people who left comments were in favor of the mask mandate without noting this approval was for the “limited” proposal.
The Council claims residents wanted a stronger ordinance but results do not indicate a majority urged such enactment. Many individuals simply checked the “approved” box for the “limited” ordinance without comment.
The Council may feel its action justified due to the current crisis.
However, the Council should not have exploited its “emergency ordinance” powers to enact a drastically changed ordinance as a fait accompli.
In the interest of good governance the Council should have acknowledged the substantive changes and reopened the comment period. The delay would have been negligible and made enactment of the ordinance more open, transparent and accountable.
Helen Kemp
Hilton Head Island
Why I cover with a mask
The reluctance to wear a mask would be funny if it was not so serious.
Our economy cannot bounce back until COVID-19 is under control. Until a vaccine becomes available, our scientists tell us the best way to prevent spreading the disease is to wear a mask.
Confusion arises because our president has said that Americans who wear a mask do so to show their disapproval of him. I wear a mask because Jesus tells us to “Love our neighbor as ourselves.”
I don’t like wearing a mask. It is hard for me to breathe in it, but certainly I can wear it for the short period of time when I am out in public. We are told the mask gives the wearer little protection but that we wear it so that if we have the virus we will not pass it along to others.
The thing about this virus is that you can have the virus and not know it but still can spread it.
I wear the mask for you. You wear the mask for me. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Kathleen Sheil
Bluffton
Nov. 6: The choice remains clear
I read a recent thoughtful letter about Joe Biden’s behavior. It says he may be suffering from dementia. Most of the examples are where he is in a fast-paced verbal situation. It’s nice to have a fast mouth, but it has little to do with being a good president.
But let’s say the writer was correct, and Biden is suffering with some level of dementia. So the comparison is between Biden with dementia and President Donald Trump with whatever makes Trump, Trump.
For me, this is a slam dunk. I pick the guy with the dementia.
Ed Macho
Hilton Head Island
Get ‘MAD’
Each of us should get “MAD” at the coronavirus. “MAD” stands for “mask and distance.”
Wear your mask and keep your distance. It’s something everybody can do to fight the virus. Please, get “MAD”!
Larry Sauer
Hilton Head Island