LETTERS EDITOR TO THE
To the Editor:
On July 21 El Dorado Chief of Police Kenny Hickman publicly announced via this newspaper that his department would not even nominally enforce the Governor’s Executive Order 20-37, mandating the statewide use of face coverings in order to mitigate the rising number of COVID cases. In so doing, he has given the general public carte blanche to defy a health care directive. Executive Orders of the Governor have the force and effect of law. Executive Order 20-37 further states that cities shall not impose any measure that is in conflict with this directive. It appears that Chief Hickman is purposefully disregarding an Executive Order issued by the governor, and apparently feels that he has the right to pick and choose which orders he’ll follow. Ordinary citizens do not have that right. He was quoted as saying that he doesn’t want to “criminalize something that has been a freedom,” but I fear he has it backward- societal freedoms will be restored only when the pandemic is mitigated in the short term, and that will not happen absent the universal use of masks. The Chief says he doesn’t have the manpower. I say it doesn’t take many citations to get the public’s attention. Chief Hickman furthermore appears uninformed regarding the mitigating effects of face coverings, which significantly inhibit transmission of respiratory viruses FROM the mask wearer TO others in close contact. I had the opportunity at a BLM march to suggest to the Chief that he should be wearing a mask. His response was, “I haven’t been wearing one and I haven’t been sick.” That’s not the point. In contrast, the Union County Sheriff has said that although his department will not be actively searching for offenders, he will take action if things “get out of hand,” and he himself was wearing a mask at the same march. I have discussed this with the Civil Service Commission, which is the non-elected body providing oversight of the police department. The Commission was timely and appropriate in responding, but gave me no indication that Chief Hickman’s public comments would be edited, clarified, or walked back. I would encourage interested parties to make similar complaints to the CSC.
Steve A. Jones M.D. El Dorado
To the Editor:
I understand China has been stealing research and intellectual property from American colleges and universities, for their own economic and military gain. (This means stealing from American taxpayers who fund such research.)
There is a bipartisan bill before the Senate, the Safeguarding American Innovation Act, which will save US intellectual capital and improve our national security.
Alex
Sokolow
Santa Monica, California
To the Editor:
Today a icon in history will be laid to rest. Representative John Lewis of Georgia. He played an important role back in the 1960’s. He helped the African Americans a great deal. The Freedom Riders, Help getting voting rights, worked along side Dr. Martin Luther King and crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, in Selma, Alabama. He received physical blows, but he wasn’t a violent man. During the last years he made several stops in Selma and walked across the Bridge. When he passed last week, his body was carried across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. At his funeral service today, Former President Barack Obama will deliver the Eulogy. All of the Former Presidents will be present including Former Vice-President Joe Biden. He will be missed, but not forgotten.
Donald Putman El Dorado