Letter to Huntington Beach City Council

To: Lyn.Semeta@surfcity-hb.org
CC: jill.hardy@surfcity-hb.org, Patrick.Brenden@surfcity-hb.org, Kim.Carr@surfcity-hb.org, barbara.delgleize@surfcity-hb.org, erik.peterson@surfcity-hb.org, mike.posey@surfcity-hb.org

Subject: Letter to HB City Council - Prioritize Reducing COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Mayor Semeta,

As we approach another weekend under the California shelter-in-place order, many Huntington Beach residents are focusing on doing what’s best for their community¹. They are following the California Stage 1 guidelines, gathering with only members of their household, and maintaining safe physical distancing. They are exercising and enjoying outdoor activities in responsible ways. They believe in a science-driven approach to reopening California.

Now we enter the fourth weekend with protests scheduled at Main Street. Protesters commonly don’t wear masks or follow healthy distancing guidelines. They seem to have little regard for the police and healthcare workers they endanger by potentially transmitting coronavirus. The message of the protests seems to be to reopen California now and with no regard to medical recommendations. These appear to be anti-public health protests. These protesters do not speak for us.

Since these protesters may be getting more attention than the heroes staying at home, I wanted to communicate to the Huntington Beach City Council that there is a large contingent of us who:

1. believe in an orderly, science-based, reopening of California
2. want to see the County of Orange focusing its energy on reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations, which have been rising since the beginning of this crisis²
3. want Huntington Beach to support businesses that prioritize their workers’, and customers’, safety
4. want Huntington Beach to stop fighting the state and drop its frivolous lawsuit (Case 30-2020-01139512-CU-MC-CJC), which is now moot since the beach closure was lifted on May 5th, and is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Dana Point dismissed their involvement in the case on May 7th. Huntington Beach should do the same immediately.³
5. want Huntington Beach to actively enforce health guidelines at the beach, while allowing responsible use

Now that California is entering Stage 2, opening non-essential businesses, we need clarity on whether the city is really pro-health. Without health, there is no business. The state is asking for all counties to provide readiness plans. I hope Orange County and Huntington Beach leaders agree that flattening the COVID-19 hospitalization curve is currently our highest priority.

Thank you,

Richard Kelly
Huntington Beach resident

“The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of the world but those who fight and win battles that others do not know anything about.”
— Jonathan Harnisch

• Emailed to Huntington Beach City Council on May 9, 2020
• Posted to Nextdoor on May 9, 2020.
• Submitted via web form to Los Angeles Times on May 9, 2020
• Emailed to Orange County Register on May 9, 2020

References

Case Id: 30-2020-01139512-CU-MC-CJC
Case Title: THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH VS. GAVIN NEWSOM
Case Type: MISC COMPLAINTS - OTHER
Filing Date: 05/01/2020
Category: CIVIL - UNLIMITED