4. ORD 20-017 Second Reading and Action on Ordinance 20-017, an Ordinance Amending Ordinance 20-010 to Extend the Provisions Regarding a Public Health Crisis and to Revise Certain Measures which have been deemed necessary to slow the Community Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the City of Brookings, South Dakota.
Good evening, I am a citizen of Brookings & have been since 2003. I want to give my support for the proposed restrictions. I had a senior in the class of 2020, she lost so much of her year. She now attends FAU (Florida Atlantic University) in Florida. I have also been temporarily furloughed since March 27, 2020, & not sure that my company I work for is going to be able to come back to Brookings & since June 1 I have been actively searching for a job...
Please do all you can to protect the health and safety of your constituents by adopting the proposed amendments to Ordinance 20-010 tonight and extending the Ordinance next week.
Please disregard the recommended ammendments. The rise in cases was expected as people from separate communities come together. These recommendations are stemming from a place of panic and are being made too soon. They are blatant targeting of certain demographics/situations. People will just move/shop/gather in a new county. The current ordinance is more than enough.
Frontline Doctors recording data have said enough already! We will no longer shelter-in-place and hide behind masks, inevitably lowering our immune systems to the point we get the virus or something much worse. It's no longer about science it's about responsibility, self-governing, and our freedom to do so. Nothing but local overreach!
Vote to oppose or YOU will be voted out!
Bringing thousands of students back to town is no doubt going to raise our Covid numbers, that is to be expected. Most people I have heard about that have tested positive have had minor or no symptoms (especially the younger folks). Hospitalizations should be the most important metric. The 4 proposed amendments seem to me to be knee-jerk and overreaction.
The proposed amendments are similar to what many college towns have successfully implemented & are designed to limit the spread of a virus. These kinds of measure don't need to be permanent if people act responsibly. The most common place for this virus to spread is in indoor spaces, unmasked. Leaving the decision to the community has resulted in a 34% positivity rate which left unchecked will result in a rapid overwhelm of our medical facilities.
Please think of our health, and the health of our economy, and adopt the amendments to ordinance 20-010. The proposed amendments follow public health guidelines to protect our citizens and keep our businesses' doors open--even if they have reduced hours. Let's protect the most vulnerable members of our community and let's keep our economy strong. We're in this together. These restrictions are a small price to pay to ensure that Brookings comes out of COVID-19 stronger than ever.
This is overreacting with government overreach (again) trying to control people now that college students are back in town. This ordinance is not the solution. For the most part, citizens of Brookings have been very responsible and self-governing.
I’m including a link to a petition started in opposition of the ordinance to make the signatures and comments part of the record for consideration by the council.
http://chng.it/9LpR88Gkgz
Is the city council suggesting that they will take law officers away from real crimes to break up birthday parties and peaceful assembly despite the fact that the SD health system has remained under 5% capacity? Unfortunately small businesses and city tax revenue will suffer as my family and many others will no longer shop in Brookings if the city chooses to enact this sort of political overreach.
I've never worn a mask and I will not start now. Stop dictating who I can have in my house or not. Stop putting fear into people. If people want to wear mask, to each their own, but do not force them. Keep washing your hands and sanitizing and most people will be fine. The flu is a lot worse. If I want a social gathering in my home, you cannot stop me or any other citizen of Bookings. Stop with the Communism, because that is where this is all heading.
This proposed policy is an overreach of public health policy. Who I invite into my home and how many is my private business, and I cannot support an ordinance which seeks to improperly extend public health policy into my home. The Council needs to move away from this plan which will only push SDSU students to go to other nearby communities, such as Volga or Burke, which is even less safe than having them stay here in town.
I support your effort to curtail interactions that have caused an extreme increase in local cases. It's devastating as a homeowner near the university to see students flocking to house parties, knowing the impact. Our children are learning from home this term. We always wear masks everywhere in public--even our kids. We still shop more locally now than we did pre-COVID. Please find ways to use CARES money to support small businesses impacted by these safety measures.
Tonight, please think about the long term goals of your plan. What do you want Brookings to look like when this is over. Your fear may lead us down a path that we cannot come back from. And quite frankly, that is significantly scarier than this virus. Please keep the power in the hands of Brookings Citizens to make their own choices. You are not the chosen few. Put the power in the hands of the people. We will prosper.
I believe that many SDSU students would travel to surrounding areas, such as Sioux Falls and Vermillion, if they are not allowed to purchase alcohol after 10pm. This would cause an even greater rise in COVID numbers as students would be interacting with people they would not normally see. In addition, Sioux Falls and many surrounding towns do not have any limits on bars and restaurants. I would recommend extending the current ordinance. I do not believe any additional measures are required.
Good evening, I am a citizen of Brookings & have been since 2003. I want to give my support for the proposed restrictions. I had a senior in the class of 2020, she lost so much of her year. She now attends FAU (Florida Atlantic University) in Florida. I have also been temporarily furloughed since March 27, 2020, & not sure that my company I work for is going to be able to come back to Brookings & since June 1 I have been actively searching for a job...
Please do all you can to protect the health and safety of your constituents by adopting the proposed amendments to Ordinance 20-010 tonight and extending the Ordinance next week.
Please disregard the recommended ammendments. The rise in cases was expected as people from separate communities come together. These recommendations are stemming from a place of panic and are being made too soon. They are blatant targeting of certain demographics/situations. People will just move/shop/gather in a new county. The current ordinance is more than enough.
Frontline Doctors recording data have said enough already! We will no longer shelter-in-place and hide behind masks, inevitably lowering our immune systems to the point we get the virus or something much worse. It's no longer about science it's about responsibility, self-governing, and our freedom to do so. Nothing but local overreach!
Vote to oppose or YOU will be voted out!
Bringing thousands of students back to town is no doubt going to raise our Covid numbers, that is to be expected. Most people I have heard about that have tested positive have had minor or no symptoms (especially the younger folks). Hospitalizations should be the most important metric. The 4 proposed amendments seem to me to be knee-jerk and overreaction.
It’s time to move on. The curve has been flattened. High risk individuals can be cautious and make their own decisions to stay home.
The proposed amendments are similar to what many college towns have successfully implemented & are designed to limit the spread of a virus. These kinds of measure don't need to be permanent if people act responsibly. The most common place for this virus to spread is in indoor spaces, unmasked. Leaving the decision to the community has resulted in a 34% positivity rate which left unchecked will result in a rapid overwhelm of our medical facilities.
Complete overreach of government!
We as a community need to move on, Facts over Fear
Please think of our health, and the health of our economy, and adopt the amendments to ordinance 20-010. The proposed amendments follow public health guidelines to protect our citizens and keep our businesses' doors open--even if they have reduced hours. Let's protect the most vulnerable members of our community and let's keep our economy strong. We're in this together. These restrictions are a small price to pay to ensure that Brookings comes out of COVID-19 stronger than ever.
This is overreacting with government overreach (again) trying to control people now that college students are back in town. This ordinance is not the solution. For the most part, citizens of Brookings have been very responsible and self-governing.
I’m including a link to a petition started in opposition of the ordinance to make the signatures and comments part of the record for consideration by the council.
http://chng.it/9LpR88Gkgz
Is the city council suggesting that they will take law officers away from real crimes to break up birthday parties and peaceful assembly despite the fact that the SD health system has remained under 5% capacity? Unfortunately small businesses and city tax revenue will suffer as my family and many others will no longer shop in Brookings if the city chooses to enact this sort of political overreach.
I've never worn a mask and I will not start now. Stop dictating who I can have in my house or not. Stop putting fear into people. If people want to wear mask, to each their own, but do not force them. Keep washing your hands and sanitizing and most people will be fine. The flu is a lot worse. If I want a social gathering in my home, you cannot stop me or any other citizen of Bookings. Stop with the Communism, because that is where this is all heading.
This proposed policy is an overreach of public health policy. Who I invite into my home and how many is my private business, and I cannot support an ordinance which seeks to improperly extend public health policy into my home. The Council needs to move away from this plan which will only push SDSU students to go to other nearby communities, such as Volga or Burke, which is even less safe than having them stay here in town.
I support your effort to curtail interactions that have caused an extreme increase in local cases. It's devastating as a homeowner near the university to see students flocking to house parties, knowing the impact. Our children are learning from home this term. We always wear masks everywhere in public--even our kids. We still shop more locally now than we did pre-COVID. Please find ways to use CARES money to support small businesses impacted by these safety measures.
Tonight, please think about the long term goals of your plan. What do you want Brookings to look like when this is over. Your fear may lead us down a path that we cannot come back from. And quite frankly, that is significantly scarier than this virus. Please keep the power in the hands of Brookings Citizens to make their own choices. You are not the chosen few. Put the power in the hands of the people. We will prosper.
Justin Palmer
I believe that many SDSU students would travel to surrounding areas, such as Sioux Falls and Vermillion, if they are not allowed to purchase alcohol after 10pm. This would cause an even greater rise in COVID numbers as students would be interacting with people they would not normally see. In addition, Sioux Falls and many surrounding towns do not have any limits on bars and restaurants. I would recommend extending the current ordinance. I do not believe any additional measures are required.