A RESOLUTION OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Date: June 8, 2020
The San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party’s Central Committee hereby adopts the following resolution, titled:
SLO COUNTY Democratic Party Urges Board of Supervisors and local City Councils to adopt reasonable public health measures regarding face masks
WHEREAS the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a threat to the health and lives of San Luis Obispo County residents and guests; and
WHEREAS all reasonable measures to protect the health and lives of San Luis Obispo County residents and guests should be taken; and
WHEREAS among those reasonable measures is the wearing of face masks in public spaces, both indoor and outdoor when and where physical distancing measures are difficult to attain; and
WHEREAS medical experts throughout the world, including the U.S. Center for Disease Control, have stated facial coverings help prevent the spread of COVID-19 through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks; and
WHEREAS the adjoining counties of Santa Barbara and Monterey have adopted reasonable requirements for the wearing of face masks in indoor public spaces and outdoor public spaces when and where physical distancing measures are difficult to attain; and
WHEREAS San Luis Obispo County parks, beaches and population centers are major seasonal draws for visitors from high-coronavirus infection areas of the state; and
WHEREAS San Luis Obispo County and its seven incorporated cities to date have not adopted reasonable measures requiring the wearing of face masks by the general public in public spaces, both indoor and outdoor when and where physical distancing measures are difficult to attain; and
WHEREAS the wisdom of wearing face masks has become a point of friction between those who know that doing so is an urgent matter of public health and safety vs. those who wrongly believe that wearing masks in public is an infringement of our Constitutional rights; and
WHEREAS the adoption of reasonable measures requiring the wearing of face masks in public spaces, both indoor and outdoor when and where physical distancing measures are difficult to attain, and/or allowing businesses to refuse service or admittance to a place of business to anyone not wearing a face mask, will help remove the point of friction between advocates and opponents of face masks among San Luis Obispo County residents and guests;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party respectfully and urgently requests the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo adopt reasonable measures for the wearing of face masks in indoor public spaces and outdoor public spaces when and where physical distancing measures are difficult to attain.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such measures should include one or both of the following:
1) A requirement for the wearing of face masks in indoor public spaces and outdoor public spaces when and where physical distancing measures are difficult to attain, and/or
2) A decree allowing businesses to refuse service or admittance to a place of business to anyone not wearing a face mask.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party strongly suggests that:
Once the county Board of Supervisors and the seven City Councils adopt reasonable measures regarding the wearing of face masks in indoor public spaces and outdoor public spaces when and where physical distancing measures are difficult to attain, that they take necessary steps to – and allocate funding for – a communications campaign targeting SLO County residents and out-of-county visitors of these measures; and
The Board of Supervisors commence the placement of digital advertising on social media and the printing of signs of Public Notice to be distributed to local businesses for highly visible display on entrances of local businesses to alert the public of these measures.
The Board of Supervisors ensures that said communication campaign is accessible, inclusive and culturally competent