Seattle Policemen During 1918 Flu Pandemic

Yesterday’s front-page headline in the Observer:  Face Masks Mandatory But Don’t Expect A Ticket.  “What then?” I wondered.  “Will it be a go-directly-to-jail-offence?”  But no.  The article clarified a far worse scenario as far as I’m concerned.

Long Beach Chief of Police Flint Wright says that there will be no consequences at all.  In fact, if a merchant asks a customer to put on a mask or leave and they refuse and won’t leave, the merchant then may call the police – which, I might point out, is putting the responsibility fully on the merchant.  Hardly seems fair.  At that point, according to Wright, it would become a trespassing issue.  Say what?

How much “education” does it take?

Robin Souvenir seems to concur saying his office will be “focused on education.”  Talk about needing education… where have those guys been these last few months?  Is there  a person on the planet over the age of reason (which used to be age 7) who does not understand why it’s necessary to wear masks during this pandemic?  In my not-so-humble opinion, we are now at the point in our “education” program that consequences need to be added to the mix.

Governor Inslee  and Secretary of Health John Wiesman understand that.  Their mandate has clear consequences.  As of last Friday, not  wearing a mask in a public space is a misdemeanor which is punishable by a fine or incarceration or both.  But, apparently not in Long Beach and not in Pacific County.    And again, for those over the age of reason (which perhaps no longer exists) the decision to mandate mask-wearing and make non-compliance punishable is based on rising numbers of Covid cases because (drum roll) … too many people have not demonstrated their ability to comply with polite requests.

The Law in WA as of 6/26/20

Without consequences, some people just plain won’t do it.  That was true when I was teaching first grade; it was true when I taught sixth grade; it was true when I taught adults.  And, in case you haven’t noticed — some things don’t change.  There are always those who feel that they are asserting their rights by ignoring the rights of others and turning a blind eye to the greater good.  Consequences seem to help.

As one of ‘the old and most vulnerable,” I feel betrayed by our law enforcement leaders here.  In my mind, they are the buck-stops-here people who should be looking out for my welfare.  I not only feel unprotected, but undervalued. Shame on you, Flint and Robin!  I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who expects more of you.  It’s one thing for ordinary citizens to flaunt the law but you are paid to enforce it.  Or so I thought.