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From: Dawn Pia <dawnpia@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2020 1:42 PM To: Nicol, Colleen <CNicol@riversideca.gov>; LGonzales@riversideca.gov Subject: [External] Officers and Masks Good Afternoon Honorable Council members, Mayor and Chief Gonzales, Yesterday was the highest day of deaths in the United States due to Covid - 19 and the total number of deaths has exceeded 140,000 in the United States. Riverside County is a hot spot and as each day passes the number of cases increase and the situation seems more fraught. Today I observed several police officers walking through the parking lot at Canyon Crest Town Center and several did not have masks on and talking very loudly to each other. I would like to add that they did this as they walked by two hair cutting and one nail salons what were open and doing business as usual. Feeling frustrated with the growing numbers, individuals who decide to ignore and make "adjustments to the rules" and businesses ignoring the mandates... I decided I would ask the officers why they were not wearing masks. The response was that they had the masks in their pockets but were 6ft apart and didn't need to wear them. I challenge this statement. Mandatory face covering was enacted on June 18 by Gov. Newsmen after Riverside County's experiment in dialing back the regulation miserably failed. Our city and county had became a Hot Spot in the nation and the numbers have continued to rise. In addition to citing inaccurate information and being dismissive, what bothered me most was the caviler message these officers were sending to the residents of Riverside. Cherry picking the mandatory regulations, that could assist in lowering the numbers is not working. As leaders in our community I think it is important to walk the walk and be the change we need to see. During one of the Governors news briefings (July 2, 2020) he was asked about groups who were not following self isolation. He said that he was raised in a household and was told a 1,000,000 times that just because everyone else is doing something that doesn't make it right. That we all know the right thing to do. Such a simple concept. Do the right thing. So I drew upon Gov. Newsome's point of view and asked the officers to "Do the Right Thing" ti be a good role model and leaders for our community. Their reply was that they didn't have to wear them and I should have a "nice day". So the officers dismissed me and my concern. To which I felt the need to write and ask the elected members of the Council, the Mayor and Chief of Police would ask officers to "Do the Right Thing"...well maybe it would help. I also would ask that businesses that are operating outside of the guidelines be cited by Code Compliance. Thank you for your time. Dawn Pia 550 Via Zapata Riverside, Ca 951-743-8299 i cc Mayor City Council City Manager City Attorney ACMs DCM PW Director