Every morning, we, like so many others, wake up and wonder, “what’s going to change today?” What new guidelines will we fall under? Will today be the day a loved one gets sick? Will it be a day when the virus trends move downward?
We, like so many others, know that we are not in control of this situation—but that our actions, collectively, as a society, can have an impact. We believe the public health experts in our community, who have far more training in epidemiology and health care than we do, when they set forth guidelines intended to help the community stay safe and move through this pandemic as quickly as possible, with the lowest-possible loss of life.
Every morning we wake up, wondering with some frustration what new guidelines will be in place—but you can be sure we are taking those guidelines to heart.
Under current guidelines, gatherings of 100 people or fewer can still occur. It is under those guidelines that places such as the Tower Theatre continue to press onward with indoor events, bringing a much-needed dose of culture and connection to downtown Bend. Drive-in movie events and farmers markets, taking place outdoors, also add to a sense of connection that, while somewhat intangible, bring a sense of a life well-lived to community members.
It is in this context that we have to ponder the decision by some local, public entities to continue to restrict access and events at public facilities—even when certain events fall under the guidelines set forth by the governor and the public health experts who work with her.
In a story last week, we detailed the experience of one local theatre producer, who, hoping to stage a production in Bend’s Drake Park, received a hard “no” on her plan. The producer told the Source that the plan met all the current guidelines, but Bend Park and Recreation District Business Manager Michael Egging told the Source for that article that, “avoiding large gatherings is the safest option and the fastest way for our community at large to get back to normal.”
Businesses and individuals—at least, those who care to abide by a social contract that respects the rule of law and others’ health—are looking to the guidelines from the governor as the last word on what we can do and how we can do it during this uncertain time. So if the governor’s guidance still allows for gatherings of up to 100 people, it is not up to other entities—and especially ones owned by the public—to create a new playbook for us to follow. Our public facilities should follow the governor’s guidance, but they should not be able to play epidemiologist or public health expert and impose stricter restrictions than are already being imposed upon the people who pay the taxes that cause them to exist.
To make the matter only more ironic, tourists continue to flood some of those same public facilities, largely unaccountable, unmasked and grouped up in large numbers. By all appearances, our public agencies appear willing to tiptoe around the tourists, while making it unnecessarily harder for locals to conduct business.
The governor’s guidance is enough. When it comes to the use of our publicly funded facilities, we don’t need other public entities creating a new playbook.
This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 5, 2020.
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In reading this piece, I am feeling extremely frustrated with the decisions our local leaders have been making in our city. It is now final that public school with BLS will continue to be remote learning and we are not going back to school in person. This is not the fault of BLS as they are moving forward with caution. This is the fault of our Mayor, Sally Russell and the City Manager and Council Members for not closing down bars, Airbnb’s and vacation rentals and having a plan in place to help those community members who have these investments in the community afloat. Our leaders have put children and families at risk.
Just driving downtown you can see license plates from California and Washington. People not wearing masks or social distancing. Throngs of people at the river and not a lot from here. In fact last week on a local news station they were interviewing people from out of state at the river and these people did not have masks. They were here because their communities are shut down!!!!! So let’s come to Bend and infect them!!! Seriously, did our leaders not have the foresight in reopening?
So, where are our priorities city leaders? Is beer more important than an education for our children and parents getting back to work? What are working parents supposed to do? “ Here’s your I-pads kids, I am off to work.” NO! This is not an option. This is going to cause a far more devastating economic impact on our community than loosing a few bars and people having to sell off their Airbnb or STR investments. Question, do you community leaders have these types of investments in your portfolios? I am seriously questioning your interests at this point.
Please shut down our town to tourists and close down bars so we can get our kids back in school maybe by November. We need leadership right now.
Actually, one can make a very strong case that the Governor’s guidance is not enough for Bend AND that local public entities–ie the City, Parks and Rec and the School District need to do more. Kate Brown is not here. She gets reports from Bend, but she is not here. Local elected officials are here and they can see what is happening. Nicole Perullo says it well so no need for me to repeat it. I also miss the cultural events that are produced by various local producers, including the Source through Lay It Out. But, I would rather see more limits on these events than a spike in the virus. Health needs to take precedence. As you say, our collective actions can have an impact. That works both ways. Over this past weekend there was ample evidence that the collective actions by both residents and tourists voluntarily demonstrated a willingness to be unaccountable and uncaring: one example…unmasked masses crowded together at Drake Park and they were not all tourists. I realize many are feeling what is now called “fatigue” over all the restrictions that the pandemic has brought to the world. Well, that’s just tough. Buck up. Some of us would rather “suffer” a little fatigue than be strapped to a ventilator. I’ll take less music over death any day.
It is interesting “the tourists” are the folks blamed…all the time it seems.
How do You know those not “masked up” are tourists? You (and me) don’t, of course.
It’s like the dolt who handed out “Go Back Home” notes on cars with out of state plates. How many cars with Oregon plates are actually from “Bend”?
Tourist bias is a pretty lame game to play. Especially if you’re from “Bend” and you go up to Smith Rock or elsewhere close by to “recreate”. That makes You a tourist in those locales and neighborhoods.
Wash your hands often; wear a mask as and where appropriate or required; travel as necessary; and begin minding your own business again, please?