— from Christopher Evans —
The County Council’s application to move into Phase 3 has been put on hold by Governor Inslee in his state wide pause on advancing phases at this time. For the moment, we have a reprieve. The County should now withdraw its application for advancing to Phase 3 and Stay in Phase 2!
In my conversations and informal poling on Orcas Island, I have found a large number of people in favor of staying in phase 2 for the remainder of the summer, residents and businesses alike. The vast majority of people I’ve talked to are ready to dig in, take this year as an opportunity, support each other and keep each other safe. Moving from phase 2 into 3 lifts the non-essential travel ban into our community. We are all well aware of this ban already being violated in phase 2 by tourists. Imagine what phase 3 would look like? Staying in phase 2 is the only way to moderate the amount of off island visitors at this time. There is no other mechanism to control this. The county council, The San Juan Island Visitors Bureau, and Airbnb establishments would like to have it otherwise for motives other than our community health.
The ferry system is powerless to police or control the flow of visitors regardless of which phase the state or county is in. They are running on a decreased service schedule with staffing shortages all summer. The sheriffs office is unwilling and understaffed to enforce travel or social distancing violations. An increase in visitors ultimately delivers its biggest risk and impact on front line healthcare and essential workers. Our only defense as a community is to vocally support and demand that San Juan County remain in phase 2 for the remainder of the summer.
We have a deep safety net, Washington’s highest concentration of non-profits, an extremely well connected and wealthy community, and some of the most brilliant minds I’ve ever met. We can come up with solutions other than business as usual. (Maybe, I don’t know, redirect money from an ill conceived Eastsound street light project that nobody seems to want.) Forget about “moving forward” and let’s Think Forward!
‘Cause there is no amount of Will that is going to outwit this situation ultimately out of our control. (ahem….A Pandemic). There are many sensitive and wise people in the islands. A lot of them learn in life when it is time to push, to pull, or to be still. Right now is not a time to push.
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I agree!
I couldn’t agree more, but the real question is: what mechanism would be effective for bringing the county council in line with prevailing community sentiment when:
a. they personally stand to benefit financially from moving to phase 3 and
b. are for the most part entirely insulated from the resulting risks.
Bravo, Christopher! This was to be my first season using AirBNB as a platform to, in a very limited fashion, rent part of my home while I am here. I would have acted as onsite manager and guest “monitor.” However, with Covid effectively ending the season I realized how non-community-focused AirBNB is, and I have decided to not use my extra space as a rental for visitors. I’ve felt nothing but relief since making that decision. Who cares if I’m a little poorer — I sleep better at night.
Tracy, hurrah!!! What a well considered and thoughtful choice you have made for you and for our community at large. THANK YOU.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, Christopher. And I’ve been arguing that we should remain in Phase 2 for almost a month now, ever since Rick Hughes began pushing to move prematurely to Phase 3 the second week in June, when the ink was barely dry on the state Department of Health’s consent to let us move to Phase 2.
This pause is now even more urgent, as the coronavirus resurges throughout the South and West, with case counts hitting new highs almost daily, even in Oregon and Washington.
As Dr. Anthony Fauci said, yesterday, “I think we need to get the states pausing in their reopening processes.”
Time to hit the PAUSE button!
I totally agree with Christopher and the other commenters. We are now in Phase 2, but there is little or no enforcement of even its meager safeguards. Progressing to Phase 3 and beyond will only give more license to those who are already too incautious.
I also agree. Given the amount of tourists on the island I was assuming we did already move to phase 3. I cant imagine the nightmare if we actually do. We have to think in the long run here and learn from all the places that already reopened and are now suffering worse than ever.
Thank you, Christopher. Remain in Phase 2. It’s the right thing to do.
Agree. Let’s put the priority on medical issues, not commercial issues!
“Forget about “moving forward” and let’s Think Forward!”
I wholeheartedly agree with other commenters that we should error on the side of caution with a reopening. I am running for Council to stop the headlong quest to promote more tourism without taking a serious look at the consequences. The Covid environment we live in now could be devastating to both our health and our economy. Not all businesses can survive at half staff without assistance from the community. Now more than ever we need to shop locally when possible and help out struggling community members however we can.
I agree that it would be foolish to think we can safely move to Phase 3 with cases accelerating in Washington State. I do think the Ferry System could curtail off island ridership with very clear signage as you approach the ticket booths.
We agree with you all. Stay where we are in Phase 2 and stay safe.
Louellen and Miles McCoy
After going into town to the farmer’s market yesterday I think we are deluding ourselves if we think it matters what official phase we are in. There were dozens of out of state license plates. According to phase 2 it is supposed to be “ limited non-essential travel near your home “. I also saw a lot of people who were not taking face covering all that seriously. The line at the business on the corner was long and tightly spaced. I am not theoretically in a vulnerable category but it certainly felt like I was increasing my risk substantially to support local commerce.
Yes, totally agree. I live near the ferry landing on Lopez and the lines of visitors leaving after the Fourth were incredibly long, almost like a normal year. I did not see a lot of these people in line wearing masks while they were milling around out of their cars. Unfortunately, that is understandable; the people who are downplaying the seriousness of this and willing to travel as usual are also going to be the very ones who may see no need to wear a mask or take other precautions. It is absolutely crystal clear, from what is happening in other states like Florida, Texas, Arizona, etc., that reopening too soon is undoing any progress we have made in controlling the pandemic. I think of the old saying, many people have no concern until they see their own coffin.
Shouldn’t the council be made up of people in the community that don’t have conflicts of interest? Our community would be better served and perhaps the move to Phase 3 would be averted.