Beating the “Global Invisibles”

EDITOR: Many global forces are threatening our coastal community. We need to have teamwork to deflect them. Humor me for a minute and let’s explore the word “team.” Let’s think of this as a baseball game between us, the Mendocino Northcoasters, versus the Global Invisibles. Our tourism industry is our shortstop, and the natural resource industry (e.g. loggers, fishers, and cannabis) is our second basemen. The star player of the invisibles is COVID-19. They have other formidable players such as fear, and despair. We are the home team. The top of the first inning was tough — it was the shut- down in Spring. We lost many businesses. After the top of the first, Invisibles One, NorthCoasters coming-to-bat … To read more and to see who else is playing what position (and to write the next section), you can go to https:// covidresponsenetwork.net/thenorthcoasters-versus-the-invisibles/. You play a position on the team. Now, we are at another critical point in the middle innings. Our Coach, played by the Consensus Common Good, has called a conference on the mound: “OK Team, we can count on this being a contested election in other parts of the country, with violence likely. And COVID is starting to spike in rural counties. The Invisibles are going to win in many places, then they will win here if we let national politics drag us down. We need to stay strong and united! Neighbors will tolerate neighbors and even work together. Family bonds. And we are all neighbors and family on this Coast. OK, let’s go Team!”

— John A. Gallo, Inglenook, CA