Recent editorials from Georgia newspapers:
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June 24
Valdosta Daily Times on rising coronavirus cases in Georgia:
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in our community and across the state of Georgia.
More transparency regarding when, where, why and how the spikes are occurring is essential.
State and public health officials do not like to use the words “surge” and “hotspot,” but what else do you call it?
Transparency is as important now as it has ever been and, in many ways, is more important than it has ever been.
We understand the need for patient privacy, but when people who have tested positive for the very contagious and sometimes deadly virus work in very public jobs where any of us may have been in contact with them, the public has both the right and the need to know.
Public health agencies, hospitals along with state and federal government must be completely transparent with the public about the number of COVID-19 cases, the nature of those cases, the number of deaths and, because of the nature of this virus, the age of those patients.
All people need the information to make informed decisions about their own health and safety and about the well being of their loved ones.
Back in March, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said, “We understand the challenges that the pandemic may create, and we will continue working with our clients, city and county governments, members of the media and all of Georgia’s citizens to ensure that our government maintains the public’s trust by continuing to operate openly and transparently.”
Every branch of the state government and especially the public health sector must commit to the same level of openness.
Most especially during this public health emergency providing timely information is more than just the public’s right to know, it can even be a matter of life and death. The more people know, the more cautious they can be and the better decisions they can make about their personal health and keeping their families safe.
We encourage even greater transparency moving forward.
We are all in this thing together and keeping the public fully informed about the realities of what we are facing is the moral, ethical and right thing to do.
Our community has been acting like the crisis is over and nothing could be more removed from the truth.
Gathering in groups, eating in crowded restaurants, no longer social distancing, even shaking hands and hugging and, of course, not wearing masks or face coverings, are all risky behaviors.
We think if local and state government and public health officials would be more plain spoken about the dangers and more forthcoming about the hotspots, people might make better decisions regarding their personal safety and the safety of their friends and family.
COVID-19 is far from over.
Online: https://www.valdostadailytimes.com
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June 24
The Daily Citizen-News on a possible raise for some county workers amid the pandemic:
For those of you fortunate enough to have a job in this economy turned upside-down by the new coronavirus (COVID-19), how many of you expect a pay raise this year? We suspect many of you would be content with keeping your job as we ride out possibly the worst economy of our lifetimes.
Millions are unemployed across the country. Many workers have seen their pay drastically cut, their hours significantly reduced or have been placed on furlough.
In April, the unemployment rate for the Dalton Area, which is Murray and Whitfield counties, skyrocketed to 20.6% - an all-time high. The area’s unemployment rate in March was 5.2%. Whitfield County had the highest unemployment rate of any county in Georgia at 20.6%, followed by Murray County at 20.1%
Businesses are tightening their belts. On a national, state and local level, governments expect dire budget shortfalls
While we brace for the worst, members of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners are considering giving their employees a 3% pay raise.
At their meeting this week, commissioners voted to postpone a vote on the pay raise until the commissioners’ July 13 meeting. The proposed raise for 2020 would cost taxpayers about $380,000 this year since it would only apply for the final six months of the year. In 2021, the raise would cost taxpayers about $760,000.
County employees received a 2% raise in 2019. All employees got a 3% pay increase in 2017, while certified peace officers in the sheriff’s office received another pay increase that year.
While some commissioners believe county employees are deserving of a raise, some are rightfully questioning if the time is right to do so.
When giving their reasoning for considering the pay raise, commissioners are short on data. The county is losing employees, but commissioners won’t say how many, which departments are seeing the largest turnover or why their workers are leaving. The county isn’t keeping pace with salaries, but commissioners won’t say how large that pay discrepancy is.
We have plenty of questions that commissioners should be able to answer on the spot.
How does the county’s pay scale compare to neighboring counties and cities? How does the pay scale compare to counties and cities of similar size? Does the county have detailed graphs showing this?
In the past five years, how many county employees have left their jobs? Which departments has the highest turnover? Where did they go? Why did they leave? Did any return to the county? Does the county conduct exit interviews with every employee who leaves voluntarily?
Does the county survey current employees? For example, among current employees, how important is salary? Do other factors (benefits, work schedules, etc.) outweigh pay?
Can the county afford the pay increase? How are sales tax collections tracking? What about hotel/motel tax collections? How are budget projections looking for the rest of 2020? Can the county take an approximate $760,000 hit next year?
Commissioners should be able to justify all spending with data and statistics.
A blanket answer that employees “deserve” a raise demonstrates commissioners haven’t done their homework.
They shouldn’t wing it.
This is our money they are spending.
Online: https://www.dailycitizen.news
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June 19
Savannah Morning News on preparedness during hurricane season:
Don’t wait for the 2020 hurricane season to ramp up before you get ready. Earlier this month, Cristobal - the third tropical storm of hurricane season - came ashore in Louisiana with gusty winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding.
Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. We’re already a few weeks into the start of the season, but we’re seeing significant activity, so there’s no better time to get prepared.
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season produced two named storms before June 1, which can be a harbinger of an active season ahead. Ongoing climate change can intensify hurricane threats as a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, allowing hurricanes to dump more rain. Warmer water also fuels stronger, more powerful storms. In addition, sea level rise can elevate storm surge destruction in coastal communities.
ABOVE AVERAGE ACTIVITY
This year, every major storm forecasting operation is predicting above-average activity because of warm Atlantic waters and other favorable hurricane development conditions. And, of course, this year’s hurricane season comes with an added complication that is terrifying for individuals and emergency managers alike: the COVID-19 pandemic.
FEMA has updated its typical hurricane guidance to add information about social distancing, face coverings and enhanced cleaning procedures. The Chatham County Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) includes face masks, sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer as recommended items to pack in your hurricane preparedness kit.
The increased risks are significant and not easy for any community to deal with. Hurricane evacuations don’t allow for much social distancing, and shelters are typically crowded places. Plus, communities that use transit and school buses to move vulnerable people out of danger ahead of a storm - including nursing home residents and people without their own transportation - already scramble to find enough buses without reducing the capacity by 50% to allow more space between passengers.
There is concern among coastal emergency managers that some citizens will choose to stay put in dangerous conditions in order to avoid exposure to the virus, which could lead to greater loss of life in the event of a major storm. Emergency managers along the Gulf Coast are trying to line up more shelter spaces; some are even turning to hotels and motels left empty by a virus-evaporated tourist season. The costs are sure to push state and local budgets already stretched thin by the pandemic-related economic downturn.
COMPLICATING FACTORS
It almost goes without saying that those who are most vulnerable during the pandemic, including the economically and socially disadvantaged, are also most at risk during hurricanes. They may not have vehicles to leave town when a mandatory evacuation is issued or the money to reserve a hotel room further inland.
It’s hard enough to keep basic food on the table if you’ve lost your job due to pandemic shutdowns and layoffs, or if you’re trying to make ends meet while being an essential but underpaid worker or a furloughed employee. Keep a couple of extra weeks’ worth of prescription medication on hand in the event of a hurricane evacuation? That can be challenging for individuals who have no medical insurance or have lost their jobs because of COVID-19.
Be sure to take steps to protect yourself and your family during hurricane season. Emergency agencies recommend having enough extra food to feed everyone in your household, including pets, for three to five days and having enough bottled water on hand to meet drinking needs for the same number of days. In addition, you’ll need extra water, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies for pandemic-related sanitation needs.
Each year, hurricane season reveals how close to the edge many in our community live. The pandemic has revealed the same fragility within the Coastal Empire. Neither hurricane season nor the pandemic is likely to be over soon.
Prepare now for hurricane season because it might be a bad one. And, as you get ready, reach out a hand to help your neighbor, for whom the 2020 hurricane season might be an even bigger and more daunting challenge.
Online: https://www.savannahnow.com
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