Dear Silver City Town Councilors:
I'm concerned about the Silver City Town Council's proposed ordinance requiring masks when in public in Town. This concern is based on our Grant County population (28,061), the numbers of people actually infected (72) and the deaths (2). All we hear about is numbers. We don't hear about percentages. The percentage of those currently infected is 1/4 of 1%. The percentage of deaths is even less. Grant County has a land mass of approximately 3,960 square miles. The states of Rhode Island, Delaware and DC will fit in Grant County with three separate ways of treating COVID-19. Yet we are being treated as if we live in northwest New Mexico. Ten northeastern states will fit into New Mexico, the fifth largest state in the union. Almost 3,000 square miles are left to put Rhode Island and Delaware in a second time. The 10 states' populations total 35,646,060 compared to 2,095,428 in New Mexico. There is no common sense in these mandates.
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota did not lockdown her state, did not mandate masks and did not close down businesses. She said, "The people themselves are primarily responsible for their safety." The proof is they have been responsible. She makes policy by relying on science, facts, and data and then governs by demonstrating consistent leadership. Even though Governor Noem suffered some persecution for her decision, South Dakota has come out on top with a $19 million reserve as of the end of June. They have a population of 882,235 in 75,790 square miles.
I voluntarily wear a mask and practice social distancing to protect others. Why take that responsibility away from me? This is a slippery slope. What is next? Dr. Fauci has mentioned wearing goggles, permanently eliminating hand shaking and continued social distancing. Yet he was smiling on national TV sitting in a stadium between two people with his mask around his neck, not social distancing and not wearing his mask. Does it make sense to make a car mechanic wear a mask when he is leaning over a motor underneath the hood of a car? Does it make sense if he is on his back on the floor under a car working on it?
Several ordinances currently in place already overburden our police with enforcement. One prohibits produce being sold in the Town limits if it isn't locally grown. Will the FFA be prohibited from selling green chili the end of this month? There is a hands-free cell phone ordinance and a Jake brake ordinance against semi-trucks in Town. Not many tickets there.
We do not need another unenforceable ordinance when the Town budget is already being cut and businesses are closing. Now Freeport is extending furloughs and perhaps commencing layoffs. How can the police fight crime, drugs and violence with one more paper tiger? Where are the gross receipts taxes coming from to enforce this unenforceable ordinance? We are told by the federal government, the state government, and the county to wear masks and do social distancing. Will adding a fourth layer make any real difference? I don't think so. Grant County people care about others. The majority is responsible and act that way. Those very few people won't obey no matter how many layers of laws are in place.
I encourage everyone to use common sense. Please protect yourselves, your friends and families by wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Please contact the Town Council asking them to vote against Ordinance 1293, titled "Regarding the use of face coverings by employees and customers when inside places of business and by all members of the public when in public places." Contact them at http://townofsilvercity.org/Directory.aspx?DID=22.
Judy Ward
Silver City, NM 88061
Population and square miles figures from U. S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey – 2018.
Article on Governor Noem, Newsmax Magazine July 2020 pages 48 – 56.