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Show Viewpoints The A-15 Park Record. Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, June 13-16, 2020 editorial Get outdoors for some socially distant fun — but please be safe A guest editorial Protest organizer: White people must listen, learn and be better LANCE ROTHCHILD Park City High School student and member of Youth Against Police Brutality As one of the organizers of the June 1 rally at Park City High School protesting police brutality against black Americans, I would like to sincerely thank everyone that attended and kneeled with us. We were grateful to do so alongside Park City Police Chief Wade Carpenter and Summit County Sheriff Justin Martinez, in solidarity. We appreciate the opportunity to provide a public platform for the speakers — State Rep. Sandra Hollins, Emma Tang, Jessica Hinojos and Evelyn Diego — to share their experiences and insights. Our role was to create that opportunity, acknowledge our own privilege and absorb their messages. My hope is that the event provided a meaningful continuation to many residents’ dedication to activism. More importantly, however, I hope it served as a launchpad for our community’s activism and commitment to fighting for black lives. Already, several members of the community have reached out in an effort to learn more about the messages our speakers delivered. One of these conversations took place on my porch recently, with a family friend I admire and respect. Some of the comments made by a speaker at the event appeared to be in conflict with my friend’s values and ideals. She came to the conversation asking me to share my perspective and to help her process the information. As we spoke, it was clear to me her shift in perspective understanding had very little to do with any information I shared, and very much to do with her desire to understand ideas that made her uncomfortable. I was grateful for the opportunity to learn from her example. To me, this is exactly the kind of conversation we should be having — with empathy and open minds. I am truly inspired and encouraged by the positive and constructive desire to learn more that is present in our community. We understand that we need to learn to develop our allyship, and in order to do that, we need to be prepared to have difficult conversations. Our comfort zones are only comfortable because they’re where we spend most of our time. We should always be seeking to make them bigger, and, by nature, more inclusive by choosing to spend our time elsewhere. This is how we can help. White people will never be able to fully understand the experiences of black people. And we can’t rely on black people to teach us how to be effective allies; that’s on us. But we don’t have to do that alone. Our group, as much as possible, wants to create opportunities for understanding and education. One of the greatest acts of nonviolent protest is education. Reach out to your friends and share what you’re learning, or ask what they’re learning. If you’re unsure where to start, seek out resources from the NAACP, ACLU, Color of Change, and Black Lives Matter. Look for black voices to amplify. The more you look, the more you’ll find. Please, use this learning to inform and strengthen your activism. We have all learned — through our education, and particularly through our participation in the Park City High School speech and debate team — leading with empathy is the first step in understanding, and it’s the first step on the path to change. My co-organizers, Noam Levinsky and Carly McAleer, and I wish to thank the Park City Council; Mayor Beerman and Jenny Diersen; the Park City Police Department and Summit County Sheriff’s Department; the Summit County Council; the Park City School District; and Mary Christa Smith for their support of this community event. letters to the editor Stevens is passionate Please accept this letter as my enthusiastic endorsement of Malena Stevens for Summit County Council. Summit County’s electorate has long been among the most sophisticated in Utah. Voters here understand that local government(s), and its policies, have a huge impact on our day-to-day lives. Consequently, it matters who we elect to serve. Malena has demonstrated significant acumen in her role at the Park City Police Department. In addition to playing a major role in strategic budgeting and planning development with executive staff, Malena is responsible for shepherding the department’s budget — to include budgetary oversight consistent with generally accepted accounting principles. Public safety budgets are the largest and most intricate budgets in county government. If elected, Malena would 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 immediately understand the complexities associated with these budgets, not to mention the political realities so often surrounding them. For better or worse, government operations are not analogous to private-sector enterprises. Melena’s extensive background in government service differentiates her from her opponent. Far too often, well-meaning candidates seek political office with little, if any, understanding of the minefield that is government. Once elected, these same folks frequently become hopelessly frustrated by government’s seemingly awkward, but sometimes necessary, ways. It has been my observation that people are good at what they are passionate about. And Malena is passionate about government service. David A. Edmunds Former Summit County sheriff Harte is the best council candidate Canice Harte listens. That was the conclusion I drew from our long telephone conversation. A lot of candidates want to hear themselves talk. Canice listened to everything I had to say about living on the east side of Summit County. His comments showed he understood the issues I put forward, empathized and made suggestions about how to approach my concerns. These are not simple issues. I sit on a committee advising the South Summit school board about whether to ask the voters to bond again in November to meet the needs of our growing student population which includes the large developments in Silver Summit and Promontory. I’m confronting condominium expansion at a major intersection near my own home and I want to preserve the green belt on the eastern side of the county — the ranching way of life as I know it. Canice has the ability to meet citizens s the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage through the summer, many residents will be flocking to the Uinta Mountains and Summit County’s other outdoor areas in search of an escape. That’s a good idea. Health experts have said recreating outdoors, where wide-open space makes social distancing easy, is one of the safest ways to get out of the house for some fun during the crisis. But that doesn’t mean we can be careless. While the threat of contracting the disease is generally reduced in the outdoors, the coronavirus has made the dangerous service Summit County Search and Rescue members provide even more risky. The nature of performing rescues requires close contact with others, potentially putting team members in danger of getting the disease. “Every time we go out, there’s a risk,” Summit County Sheriff’s Lt. Alan Siddoway recently told The Park Record. That’s something everyone — even people without COVID-19 symptoms — need to think about before heading into the wilderness and taking any action that could re- sult in the need for the Search and Rescue team to respond. The coronavirus danger is on top of the typical hazards that concern the Search and Rescue team and other emergency responders when people begin heading outdoors in large numbers. For one, the fire outlook this summer is concerning after an exceptionally dry spring. An ignored campfire, or even an errant ember, could spark a blaze that taxes firefighting resources or endangers buildings or, in a worst-case scenario, lives. Officials are also quick to note the danger of rushing water this time of year as rivers and streams swell with the snowmelt. In a summer marked by the health threat of the pandemic, residents should seek refuge in the outdoors. Doubtless, we could all use a few days in nature to clear our heads after a stressful spring. Go camping. Take a hike. Explore the beautiful wilderness we’re fortunate to have in our backyard. But, please — do it safely. In addition to protecting yourself and those around you, acting with caution this summer could also ensure you’re not putting anyone else at risk. guest editorial Park City Hospital, residents have worked together to respond to coronavirus pandemic LEE GERSTEIN Park City Hospital board chair As chairman of the board for Intermountain Park City Hospital, it’s been my privilege to witness how both the hospital and residents of Summit County have come together as our community was hit hard and fast by the novel strain of the coronavirus that led to the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus brought with it a new range of health concerns that required careful precautions to protect not only the health and safety of people in the community, but also our patients, physicians, nurses and other caregivers. As part of the Intermountain Healthcare system, which has always focused on emergency preparedness, Park City Hospital took early steps to help prepare for and work to identify and contain the virus. These efforts were led by our administrator, Lori Weston, who rapidly facilitated early COVID-19 testing, reorganized and increased staffing in our Emergency Department and implemented visitor restrictions inside the hospital. As the number of patients with respiratory symptoms increased, our emergency department medical director, Mike Dbeisi, M.D., and nurse manager Jennifer Lundberg worked to physically re-configure our emergency department with separate entrances and areas to treat respiratory and non-respiratory patients. As COVID-19 tests became available, Intermountain set up drive-up testing at the Park City Ice Arena. As demand for testing increased, we joined with University of Utah Health. Early in the pandemic, the hospital adapted caregiver protocols for wearing masks and personal protective equipment, increased cleaning and housekeeping services and began to implement temperature checks for all who enter the hospital. To free up beds for a potential surge in patients, the hospital canceled non-urgent surgeries and re-deployed staff to help with testing and in other areas. on their own ground and make intelligent, constructive responses. We need that ability in Summit County because the perception of our east-west differences can divide us, even though our strengths are interdependent and mutually beneficial. It’s been that way from Day 1 and I realized that Canice sees that clearly. Some of my friends say they’re concerned about keeping a “woman’s perspective” on the County Council. I point out an important thing to them: Roger Armstrong, Glenn Wright and Canice Harte are married to strong, intelligent, accomplished women who are contributing to our community big time every day. I’m sure these amazing women inform their husbands about the “women’s perspective” on a daily basis with no holds barred. My support of Canice Harte is about voting for the best candidate for County Council at this point in time, right now, when the economic stakes are so high. I’m voting for the candidate who has demonstrated that he listens, has a deeper knowledge of both sides of our county, and has the wisdom to lead us through the toughest economic problems Summit County has faced since the 1950s. Please join me in voting for Canice Harte for County Council. Lola Beatlebrox Brown’s Canyon Cast gubernatorial vote for Huntsman I am writing this letter to enthusiastically endorse Jon Huntsman for governor of the state of Utah. Jon is running as a Republican and it is important that he be elected as the party candidate for governor. Jon is incredibly qualified for the position; former Utah governor, ambassador to China, ambassador to Russia — his list of accomplishments When Summit County was identified as a state COVID-19 hot spot, Intermountain dispatched its mobile testing unit to bring asymptomatic testing to people living in neighborhoods identified most at risk. Testing was conducted over five days at locations including Park City High School, the Ecker Hill Park and Ride, the Summit County Library in Kamas, and the Summit County Fairgrounds. In addition to these efforts by Intermountain and the hospital, I’ve seen unprecedented support from our community during the pandemic. Some have sewn medical grade masks for the statewide initiative Project Protect, or made or donated cloth masks for community use. People have put signs outside the hospital celebrating our health care heroes. Still others have generously donated funds earmarked to help with the pandemic in creative ways such as providing hospital caregivers with meals, basic grocery supplies or offering alternate housing for those who may need to isolate. Most of these donations have been unsolicited. These donations prompted the creation of Intermountain Healthcare’s new COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, which continues to accept donations. The hospital receives calls from people daily, asking how they can help. For more information visit intermountainhealthcare.org/together. We need people to continue to get tested if they have at least one symptom, and follow medical advice to stay home or seek care. A physician’s order is not required for drive-up testing at the hospital. Please call the Intermountain COVID-19 hotline at 844-442-5224 or visit IntermountainHealthcare.org prior to arriving to facilitate your visit. The entire Park City Hospital Board would like to thank the Park City community for the extraordinary support the hospital has received during this unique time. Dr. Lee Gerstein currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Intermountain Park City Hospital. He is a retired anesthesiologist who lives in Park City year-round. is not easily compiled. He is uniquely qualified from a world-wide perspective and exactly the person to lead the state of Utah through these critical times we face ahead. Utah is poised to lead the nation coming out of COVID and the breadth and depth of international attention being brought to Utah at this time is off the charts. Personally, I have had several interactions with Jon and I know him to be completely ethical, intelligent, contemplative and a truly decent and kind individual. I cannot say the same for his opponents. Please join me in voting for Jon Huntsman in the Republican gubernatorial primary election. Rory Murphy Prospector Favero can make a difference Support Randy Favero for the District 54 seat in the Utah House of Representatives. Randy is a native of Utah with experience working as an executive in the technology sector in other states before returning home almost two decades ago. He knows and loves our community and state. Education and jobs are top priorities. As a political newcomer with deep local knowledge and a fresh perspective, he says we have done many things well. However, we can do better and must develop and consider new ideas in the face of changing times. I have known Randy about five years, meeting him initiating and leading a community volunteer effort to establish free sing-a-long concerts. That is the kind of citizen he is, dedicated to improving our community including educational and cultural opportunities. Observing his dedication, competence and effectiveness was just my first introduction to a man of intellect and common sense who considers the views of others and convinces those who agree and disagree to follow. Even if you are among those Republicans disappointed with some national Republican politicians, you can make a difference in our community and state by supporting and voting for Randy Favero. I urge you to vote. Charles Neal Park Meadows Keep it local If there was ever a crucial time to shop local — it is now! Before you click the purchase button on your computer, please consider shopping local and supporting local neighborhood businesses. When you see something in a catalog or online, ask yourself if you could do a little research and purchase that item locally. If the exact same thing is not available, perhaps there is a local substitution. There are many options for purchases right here in our community. Those of us that are open or getting ready to re-emerge have scrubbed, cleaned, sanitized and have adhered to the strict rules and regulations imposed by our county. These rules are for our health and wellness and enable us to be open. Our rents are high and we are working hard to stay in the game. Now we need your support. Retailers, grocers, restaurants, Park City Municipal and Summit County need your support. The taxes on your purchases go towards supporting our community. Take a moment, analyze where and how you spend your dollars. Ask yourself, “Can this item or activity be purchased locally?” How you choose to spend your discretionary dollars will help our community. In time, your spending choices will become a habit. Now, more than ever, is the most important time to keep it local! Marion Boland, Cindy Matsumoto and Eileen Mullane Park City |