Mailbag: The politicization of wearing face masks

June 25, 2020 12:50 PM PT

One message that came through loud and clear in the Father’s Day commentaries and letters of June 21 is the politicization of wearing face masks in protecting us from the coronavirus. I am astounded that political leaders of one party have not only capitulated to the irresponsible behavior of the president but have abdicated their responsibility in protecting the public health and welfare of our citizenry.

Let me make this perfectly clear. You cannot support the ravings of President Trump and represent the people of Orange County effectively, fairly and safely. One commentary writer, my state assembly member Cottie Petrie-Norris (AD 74), pleaded with her constituents and others to wear face masks in public and take other health precautions that are only common sense.

And yet, her Republican opponent cannot distance herself from the president and his partisan pandering to voice a similar message. Her Newport Beach stronghold is still partially in denial about the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to actively contain it.

This one issue separates our candidates across the county and our country. We need competent, independent and effective leaders to guide us through multiple threats to our health and well-being. It is clear that one party has them and one party doesn’t.

Tim Geddes
Huntington Beach

Re: Newsom Orders Mask Use in Public

Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel has no business being in public office. An L.A. Times article, “Californians must wear face masks in public under coronavirus order issued by Newsom,” quotes her as saying, “I think our Orange County residents are very smart. If they feel sick, they’re going to wear a mask. It doesn’t really have to be mandatory.”

Clearly she does not understand or is astoundingly ignorant of the basic aspects of transmission of the pandemic-causing coronavirus, i.e., that asymptomatic infected persons can spread the infection. Or she is simply making a political calculation that placating the anti-mask mob will help her career (she is running for Congress)? The irony here is that she is pro-business but doesn’t understand that public mask-wearing is the only way we will be able to open more businesses. Michelle Steel is not a leader; she is a politician who somehow senses opportunity in denying the current knowledge about this coronavirus, and she is willfully contributing to the danger we face from the pandemic.

Hildy Meyers, MD, MPH
Huntington Beach

Bob Taylor mentions that in 2015 there were 8.8 million premature deaths in the world due to carbon pollution in his commentary, “Join the Costa Mesa council and members of the O.C. delegation in supporting climate bill,” (June 17). The International Monetary Fund has found that, in the same year, fossil fuels around the world were subsidized $10 million a minute.

Since it will be politically difficult to eliminate all the subsidies that are found at every level of government all over the world, a price on carbon pollution provides the quickest and most effective way to bring down that death toll while at the same time drastically reducing the severity and cost of dealing with climate change.

The Energy Innovation Act before the U.S. House of Representatives, HR-763, does just that. And, it leverages the strength of the U.S. economy to pressure the world to follow suit. It can cut CO2 emissions 40% in 12 years and 90% by 2050.

HR-763 is good for our health, our economy (it is expected to provide over 2 million new American jobs in the first 10 years), and our future.

Tom Hazelleaf
Seal Beach

On March 30, President Donald Trump said, “Nobody is more worried than me about the country.” Back then, COVID-19 had claimed approximately 2,400 lives.

In early April, when Americans still were sheltering in place, the president publicly urged people to begin returning to their “normal” lives by Easter.

It was soon after that some states began reopening businesses, beaches and more.

By the end of April, the U.S. had hit 1,000,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. On May 9, Mr. Trump tweeted “TRANSITION TO GREATNESS.”

Today, the numbers are staggering. More than 2,000,000 cases of the virus have been confirmed along with 120,000 deaths. If those numbers are great, then I’d hate to see the alternative.

Many health experts are now sounding the alarm about a second wave hitting our shores, but the president steadfastly is refusing to reorder new stay-at home-directives.

Sir, you once referred to yourself as a “wartime president.” If you truly are worried about the country, then stop rejecting out of hand the idea of shutting down states again.

Denny Freidenrich
Laguna Beach

We shouldn’t condemn all police

As the drumbeat continues to roll within our media and the protesting community, the idea of defunding the police appears to be a knee-jerk reaction to the tragedy in Minneapolis.

For those of you who may be onboard with this idea, might I suggest you sign up for the Newport Beach Citizens Academy. This is a twelve-week program, one day a week, designed to give you a better understanding of what our police deal with on a daily basis. Topics include SWAT, K-9, traffic, narcotics, CSI, firearms and detective investigations, and you are given the opportunity to go on a drive along with an officer.

Police are people, and just like priests, doctors, lawyers, etc., we have good ones and bad ones. To treat so horribly members of one profession, who literally put their lives on the line and who have done so much for their communities is disturbing and sad.

Our police are trained individuals, and until you step into their shoes, condemning or criticizing police as a whole is simply wrong.

Juli Hayden
Newport Beach

Origins of the human dignity policy

Your article about the June 15 meeting of the HB Huntington Beach City Council mentions that the council voted to reaffirm its commitment to the Declaration of Policy about Human Dignity. I served on the council when that resolution was originally passed in 1996. Little did I realize how important that resolution might prove to be over the decades that followed.

It originated with former Mayor Shirley Dettloff who saw the need for a clear, bold statement that Huntington Beach was dedicated to respect for all people. Then-Vice Mayor Ralph Bauer was a co-author and co-sponsor in bringing the document to a vote. We all owe a debt of gratitude to those two individuals for their prescient leadership back then and also for their many years of volunteer service to our community ever since.

My thanks also go to Councilwoman Kim Carr for introducing a reaffirmation of that resolution. In the troubled times we are experiencing today, it is more important than ever and deserves widespread recognition. Perhaps the Daily Pilot might print it in its entirety?

Victor Leipzig
Huntington Beach