Editor’s note: This commentary is by Laura Chapman, who is on the Putney Selectboard.
Dear Gov. Scott,
I have started and scrapped this letter to you several times, each time hoping that it would not be necessary. The last few days and a few experiences have changed my mind.
A while back, I spoke with a local business owner who shared they are not opening back up because they could not handle the extra burden of being the mask police, having to argue with customers about mask wearing for everyone’s safety. The business owner expressed feeling it is easier to just continue business online even at a loss of income. We have likely lost one of the few brick and mortar businesses we have in Putney, not because of the direct impact of Covid-19, but rather because they could not get the health mandate needed from you. They said that if they were able to put up a sign with a state mandate, they would feel empowered to enforce it, which would assist them in reopening.
Recently, I responded to an online post I was tagged in as a Selectboard member. The writer directly called out a local business for not mask-policing customers and then went on to shame our Selectboard for not having written a strong enough resolution on mask-wearing. When I explained to them that we as a Selectboard recognized that we have no ability to truly enforce any resolution, only you do, the writer shared that this was their biggest disappointment in how you have handled things throughout this entire crisis. I must admit that I, sadly, share this opinion.
Yesterday, while walking from a store back to my car an unmasked woman stepped towards me to spit angry words in my direction. She carried on about the store not letting her in without a mask, saying, “all of you are destroying society for a stupid mask.” I actually stepped off the sidewalk and onto a busy road to avoid her continuing to get closer to me.
The study “Community Use Of Face Masks And COVID-19: Evidence From A Natural Experiment Of State Mandates In The US.” draws a strong correlation to statewide mandates having a positive impact on the reduction of Covid-19 cases. While I realize that our numbers are currently low, with the increase of tourism, reduction in safety measures and my personal observations, I fear a drastic uptick.
When one strings all of these experiences together, what is clearly lacking is universal leadership on this one issue. You want towns to decide, but towns are not empowered with the ability to enforce. You want individuals to decide, but they are not all interested in what is best for the majority. You want businesses to decide, but they are drowning and need a life saver to hold onto. Please be their life saver. Be our life savior. Mandate mask usage in public spaces for all that are able to wear them so that we can fall back on your decision and be as safe as possible during these very scary circumstances. This is what a good leader does. They take the heat so that those they lead do not have to. I would happily take this heat for my town if I had the power, but I do not, so I am humbly asking you.
