More than meets the eye

Ifelt compelled to write in response to the front-page article from the Jan. 6 edition addressing concerns over community leaders prematurely receiving COVID vaccinations.

There is little debate over the merit of vaccinating our healthcare workers and first responders in the initial deployment of the vaccine. Those serving the community on the frontline of the current pandemic are heroes and absolutely deserve the first vaccines. The whole community benefits from their being kept healthy. Those workers deserve to be vaccinated for their protection and the protection of their families. Our community cannot thank these workers enough for their sacrifices.

Of specific concern in the article was the singling out of IID Director Alex Cardenas. Mr. Cardenas is a personal friend of mine whom I know to be an honest, fair and upright individual. Mr. Cardenas has served our community on many different levels, some of which have been high profile and very evident such as his time on the El Centro City Council or as an elected official on the IID Board of Directors.

Some readers may not know about some of the humbler ways that Mr. Cardenas has served the community. Mr. Cardenas has served as a children’s ministry director at Christ Community Church for over eight years. Mr. Cardenas currently sits as the director of CASA, where he advocates for the often overlooked and forgotten children of our community. Mr. Cardenas serves as a volunteer for Vo Medical Clinic delivering hot meals to COVID patients currently living under quarantine. This is a necessary service for our community as it ensures that COVID patients remain quarantined,

Which in turn limits the number of people they may expose to the virus by leaving their homes for food. The media and social media often cover the high- profile positions in which Mr. Cardenas serves. The work he does behind the scenes is what really makes the man.

I would agree with the insinuation that IID DIRECTOR Cardenas receiving the COVID vaccination ahead of first responders and elderly would be in poor taste and selfish. However, that would be an inappropriate narrative. Mr. Cardenas the volunteer, serving COVID- positive patients received the vaccination.

Mr. Cardenas did not receive the vaccine due to favoritism because he is an elected official. Mr. Cardenas received the vaccine because he is a volunteer, working on the front lines in relief service of those who are suffering the most from the disease. As a frontline worker, delivering meals to COVID positive patients, Mr. Cardenas should have absolutely been considered for the vaccination. His life and his family’s lives are put at risk each and every day he chooses to selflessly serve the sick in our community.

Again, thank you to all of our local heroes who are selflessly serving our community. You have my utmost gratitude. May the Lord watch over and protect each of you and your families.