Local governments in Manatee are not doing COVID-19 social distancing | Letter to the editor

Our state and county governments are flagrantly defying their own demands for citizens to stay at home and practice social distancing with their workers and contractors.

On a solo bike ride today, which doctors are recommending as long as you are social distancing, I saw dozens of county and state employees and contractors working on non-essential projects as if there was no virus concerns.

We need, and sincerely appreciate, the policemen, sheriffs, firemen, mailmen, and other public employees providing essential services that are working during this pandemic. We are all deeply indebted to you for doing such.

But why are so many non-essential public projects continuing? When the beaches are closed, do we need county workers blowing sand off of beach trails and picking up trash? Do we need their contractors moving dirt around on the beach parking lots? Do we need beach lifeguards? Why are the trolleys taking people to closed beach stops? Do we need DOT workers and contractors working on non-essential projects? All this witnessed on a short bike ride.

Remember, these folks have to interact with others getting to and from work, and many of them must work closely with others when they are working. I don’t want anyone to lose their income during this crisis but isn’t their health and safety more important?

Why aren’t the counties and state telling these non-essential employee and contractors to stay home per the Federal guidance? Seems to me we have a leadership problem.

Mike Eiffert

Bradenton

This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Local governments in Manatee are not doing COVID-19 social distancing | Letter to the editor."