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Show Viewpoints The Park Record. A-11 Wed/Thurs/Fri, June 10-12, 2020 editorial The pandemic is still raging. It’s not the time to get overconfident. et’s not get overconfident. Summit County residents deserve full-throated praise for how they’ve adapted to the coronavirus pandemic over the last few months. The response, in fact, has been nothing short of incredible. Businesses shut down for weeks. People stayed home. Residents made sacrifices for the good of the community. But now that the most stringent restrictions meant to guard against the spread of the virus have been loosened, the danger of a backslide is very real. And from a statewide perspective, at least, it has already begun. Tuesday marked the 14th straight day that more than 200 new cases were confirmed in Utah after nearly two months had passed without hitting that mark . The spike, notably, includes a day with 453 cases and another with 557, by far the most since the pandemic started. In Summit County, there fortunately hasn’t been such a pronounced surge — yet, at least — but the eight cases reported Sunday were the most since April 30 when the initial surge was subsiding. What do the numbers mean? Anyone who thinks we’re out of the woods is kidding themselves. Summit County, along with much of the rest of the state, may be in the “yellow,” low-risk phase of the pandemic response plan, but as an epidemiologist would tell you, it would be foolish to view that as reason to throw caution to the wind. That’s one reason many people were concerned when Oak- L guest editorial Oakley didn’t quit on its rodeo. But it certainly should have. MIKE BAKER Park City In the article about moving forward with the scheduling of the Oakley Rodeo over the Fourth of July weekend in the May 30 edition of The Park Record, the mayor of Oakley, Wade Woolstenhulme, is quoted as saying this of the need to hold the rodeo: “We’ve never been a city that’s a bunch of quitters.” The rodeo will allow 850 spectators each night and may attract spectators from out of the county. Woolstenhulme also states in this article that he’s worked in education his whole life and says, “I’ve been around 400 kids every day of my life, and I’ve had them spit in my face, breathe in my face ... for the first few years I was (sick constantly). But you know what, I got through it.” This sounds to me like he thinks recovering from a cold virus 20 to 30 years ago is the same as recovering from the coronavirus. Who is Woolstenhulme referring to as “quitters?” Are the quitters people who follow the directives given by our Health Department officials to wear masks when you go outside your home, and to continue to socially distance to help prevent the spread of the virus? These directives are meant to save lives! Do Woolstenhulme’s quitters also include the doctors and nurses who, after working 18-hour days, don’t hug their spouses and children when they get home because they don’t know if they were infected at work that day while trying to save lives? Many health care workers would never attend this rodeo event and expose themselves to thousands of people, some of whom will be shedding the virus, so therefore they are quitters. The article also mentions that a woman spoke at the Oakley City Council meeting in which the decision to hold the rodeo was made to voice her concerns about bringing all these people to Oakley and Summit County, and that she is worried that this event will increase the odds she and others in Summit County will contract the virus. Woolstenhulme compassionately told her (even if she maybe just was able to get back to work), that if she’s scared to go to the rodeo she could keep her family home. Obviously Woolstenhulme hasn’t taken to heart that during this pandemic crisis in our country, that we should think about the “we” instead of just “me.” Many groups and organizations have had to make sacrifices and accept the fact that they needed to cancel their event this summer (i.e. Tour of Utah, concerts, art festivals). It’s not about being a quitter — it’s about being concerned about the greater good. I am currently battling two separate cancer diagnoses, undergoing two chemotherapy treatments and, due to all this, have a weakened immune system. Whenever I go outside my home, I wear a mask and glasses and am extremely diligent about the social distancing recommendations due to their proven benefits. I would never consider sitting in a stadium with 850 strangers eating corndogs (you can’t wear a mask when you eat and drink), so maybe I qualify as a quitter? I hope that Woolstenhulme will tell the city councilors and residents of Oakley, as he dismisses concerns about holding this event, that if he becomes infected, that he’ll just “get over it” like he’s always done and that he’ll commit to staying home to heal himself. That he would never go to a hospital and possibly risk infecting those quitters, doctors and nurses. letters to the editor Stevens will serve residents well As a former chair and member of the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission, I am pleased and honored to support candidate Malena Stevens for Summit County Council Seat C. I served with Malena on the Planning Commission from 2017 to 2019, and from the beginning of her service I was impressed with her hard work, her acumen for and study of the county’s planning and growth issues and her balanced approach in weighing all sides. During challenging processes, including the Canyons Master Plan Amendment and Woodward Park City, Malena was able to quickly use her experience and education in government to contribute perspective to commission conversations. There are always difficult decisions to be made by any public agency acting in the best interests of its constituency. Malena is intelligent, thoughtful and has a steady temperament; The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER ....................... Andy Bernhard Editor ................................... Bubba Brown Staff Writers ......................Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Alexander Cramer Contributing ............................. Tom Clyde Writers Teri Orr Amy Roberts Tom Kelly Joe Lair Engagement Editor............. Jeff Dempsey Photographer .........................Tanzi Propst Circulation Manager ............. Lacy Brundy Distribution........................... Henry Knight ADVERTISING Advertising Director ........... Valerie Spung Advertising Sales ................... Jodi Hecker Lindsay Lane Director of Digital Marketing .. Tina Wismer Production Director ..................Ben Olson Production ......................... Louise Mohorn she has a holistic approach that focuses on project impacts for the community, and she is focused on mitigating impacts to produce desirable results. These are qualities crucial to serving the public, particularly at the level of a county council. As I worked with Malena on the Planning Commission, I greatly appreciated her decision-making processes: always based upon a thorough gathering of information and careful, critical analysis. For this reason, I asked Malena to serve with me as vice chair of the commission. Her approach and leadership were and are essential in commission conversations and decisions. I am confident this approach will continue and will serve well the residents of Summit County. There is a laudable history in Summit County of electing capable, competent and effective female leaders, and Malena Stevens will ably continue in that vein. Please vote for her during this month’s primary election. Beatrice M. Peck Former Chair and Member of Snyderville Planning Commission 2013-2019 Help enrich Park City I am so proud to serve as the chair of the Public Art Advisory Board (PAAB). Our mission is to enrich and connect the Park City community through visual art in public spaces. I get so much joy when I travel through one of our tunnels and see the beautiful murals or walk along Poison Creek enjoying the metal sculptures. Our vision is to inspire a complete community, celebrating Park City’s vibrant history, culture and environment by maintaining and preserving the Public Art Collection. As a board we also acquire public art that aligns with the mission of the PAAB, adhering to the selection process criteria and standards while aligning projects with city’s values and priorities. We advocate for private and public collaborations, selecting public art that reflects a sense of place while creating a cohesive and relevant collection that tells the story of our community. Howev- ley announced its annual Fourth of July rodeo would be held as scheduled this year, albeit with safety measures in place, such as drastically reduced capacity and a requirement that spectators wear masks. There’s no doubt that the rodeo is a treasured tradition. The pertinent question, though, is whether the risk is worth it, especially considering that, if the virus were to spread at the event, the danger wouldn’t be limited only to those who choose to attend. Mayor Wade Woolstenhulme, for one, offered this justification: “We’ve never been a city that’s a bunch of quitters.” Given the seriousness of the COVID-19 crisis and repeated warnings from health officials in recent months about the danger of large gatherings, that rationale does not suffice. Oakley’s elected officials would have been wise to play it safe and cancel the rodeo for one year. Likewise, the rest of us should proceed slowly, resuming activity with caution and continuing to follow the recommendations of health experts about how to reduce the chances of contracting or spreading the disease. Summit County, like the rest of Utah, has made it through the early months of the pandemic with our health care infrastructure intact. But we’ve seen in other states and countries that the situation can spiral out of control quickly. With the finish line in this marathon still not in sight, it’s not the time to get too cocky. guest editorial Student-led protest of police brutality and systemic racism left me inspired RACHEL PITTARD Summit Park Regarding the student-led protest of police brutality on June 1 at Park City High School. On Monday, June 1, my pride in the next generation of voters brought me to tears. I’ve been reflecting on where those tears came from and it is simply this: Hearing kids acknowledge privilege and white supremacy and proposing next steps is the sound of hope that systemic racism is, in fact, fracturing and doomed. Here in Privilege Mountain, there ARE kids who see beyond this bubble. Park City High School students took the initiative to organize a protest of police brutality, acknowledge white privilege and white silence. They were permitted to use Dozier field as the gathering place. They called for independent, civilian complaint review boards, more effective police training, donating to Black Lives Matter, 18-year-olds to get out and vote, and to remember that when we think about looting, we happen to occupy this land as a result of broken treaties with Native American nations. They are well aware that Utah’s largest voting block, by age, is made up of 18- to 24-yearolds. Students earned a visit from state Rep. Sandra Hollins, who reminded them that achieving systemic, racial equity is a dance consisting of two steps forward, and one step back. She reminded them to hold the line no matter what. My first ever impression of Dozier field was nothing short of an episode of Friday Night Lights, bubbling over with the “God, country, football” mantra. A house of sacrosanct football culture, in which Kaepernick knelt in protest of police er, most importantly we strive to engage the community through public art and this is where you come in. The mayor and Park City Council are looking for community members to serve on PAAB to fulfill four vacant terms. Those interested in applying must have full-time residency within the limits of Park City. As a member of PAAB you and the other board members make recommendations to the City Council regarding public art planning and expenditures. The seven-member board focuses on project identification, requests for proposals, selection process (including reviewing artists’ proposals for each project) and making recommendations to City Council. Recent acquisitions include the McPolin tunnel mural by local Salt Lake artist Bill Lewis, whose design features elements of the historic McPolin Farm in colorful, contemporary style, and the EmPOWERment Utility Box project, which engaged the community in City Council’s critical priority of energy, and by soliciting art from local producers of any age, background or ability. For more details, visit the Public Art Advisory Board page on the city’s website, which includes links to the Strategic Plan, Public Art Master Plan and policies documents atparkcity.org/ government/boards-commissions/public-art-advisory-board. The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Monday, June 15. To submit applications or for questions, please contact Jenny Diersen at jenny. diersen@parkcity.org or 435-640-5063. Beth Armstrong Park City Public Art Advisory Board Mask up for others Editor, I suggest you use The Park Record to remind us of the reasons for wearing face masks and social distancing in public. The utility is limited for the wearer. The real benefit is in how a face mask and social distancing protects others should one unknowingly be infected with a disease such as brutality and as a result suffered blacklisting from teams. On June 1, we ALL knelt for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on the turf. On that afternoon, Dozier was a house of youth power. During those nearly 9 minutes, I became conscious of how many thoughts and decisions I was making. “My right knee is getting a little uncomfortable, should I switch to my left? Yes let me switch. Now my left quad is feeling strained. Think I’ll distribute my weight more to my calf. Yes that’s better. Why is rioting more outrageous than incidents of black men and boys dying in police custody? Because, black lives don’t matter more than property in our culture. Where are these students headed in life? Anyone need a written recommendation?” On and on. Nine minutes, was therefore, plenty of time for that officer to acknowledge that he was cutting off airflow and circulation to George Floyd’s brain, and make the decision to remove his knee. It was plenty of time for the other officers to recalibrate and do the right thing. There was plenty of time to assess for the need for CPR. It was pure evil and disregard. So what can older adults do in this charming little community? We can act upon what students called upon us to do on Monday. We can ensure they have space to deconstruct systems of oppression, examine internal bias and turn viewpoints upside down for deeper understanding. We can help them dig deeper. We can help them hone constructive proposals for change. And, when they speak, we must listen. Electeds, appointed officials and candidates must include student voices and expertise on policy decisions. The young adults who organized Monday’s gathering are no doubt empowered by their abilities to mobilize voters (and press) for the purpose of changing conditions they find unacceptable. COVID-19. Most citizens are wearing face masks and glasses but many are not. It seems to me there has been insufficient emphasis by public health and political authorities that wearing a face mask and social distancing is a act of concern for others. One remains an individual and is complemented as one when one respects the needs of others, as we must now to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19. Bob Becker Pinebrook Every person counts The Leadership Park City Class 26 “Census 2020 Awareness” project team has been working hard to help our Wasatch Back community become aware of the importance of participating in the census, despite the fact that our country has seemed to be in a constant state of crisis for the past several months. The truth is that, because of these crises, participating in the census is more important than ever. Data collected from the census determines the distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds to be used for education, transportation, infrastructure and other public safety and social programs that are critical to help us recover from the pandemic. Each individual counted in the census adds $20,000 per year to our community. If Summit County has a low turnout of 55% that we had in 2010, we will lose more than $45 million that we desperately need to recover and grow. The unrest we are experiencing right now requires that we have the political representation we deserve. The census determines the number of representatives we get in Congress. The census also guides district boundaries for Congress and the state Legislature. In the 2000 census, Utah missed out on a fourth U.S. congressional seat by just 857 people — showing the importance of counting EVERY individual. As of June 2, Summit County is at 34.6% and Wasatch County is at 51.5% participation rate. Park City is only at 19.2%. Many are uncomfortable participating in the census because of privacy and security concerns. It is important to let everyone know that there is no citizenship question and, by law, all information gathered by the census is confidential. Answers can only be used to produce statistics with no personal identifiers. There are two ethnicity questions which can be ignored. The census can be taken online at my2020census.gov, by phone by calling 1-844-330-2020, or by returning the questionnaire by mail. Those who use P.O. boxes did not receive a questionnaire by mail. However, census takers have begun to personally distribute information directly to household doorsteps with important information. If you have not yet taken the census, what are you waiting for? If you have, thank you, and please share this information. We only have one chance every 10 years to get this right. Let’s do this. Sue Ann Kern Leadership Park City Class 26 Not ready to return What a role reversal. Your paper was filled with edicts from Park City and Summit County: If this area is a second home for you and you’re here, leave. If you’re not here, don’t come. I’ve paid taxes on my second home since 2006 and I’m guessing that included in my share were budget items for schools, fire, EMS, police and parks. The message was to go home! So, it’s gonna be a while before I’m back in Utah and even longer before I’ll feel the urge to spend money on Main Street. Park City has to go way beyond saying come on back and spend your money here to get me back in Summit County. Bill Eshenbaugh Thonotosassa, Florida |