After reading the previous letter to the editor regarding the town of Black Mountain and its perceived noncompliance with state mandates adherent to the COVID-19 outbreak, I couldn’t help notice some discrepancies between the town manager’s denial of any such negligence and the concrete facts of the situation [“Goodbye, Old Friend,” July 8, Xpress].
Josh Harrold is mistaken when he claims that Black Mountain has been following, to the fullest extent, all mandates thus far enacted. I, personally, along with other residents here, have seen a number of government officials ignoring safeguards. These include, but are not limited to, patrolling police officers performing their duties without masks and clearly without any masks on standby for use, and officers walking into small, confined business places devoid of masks or any other such personal protective equipment. On one occasion, I actually witnessed, right on the town square, a small group of officers and firefighters standing around in close proximity, not one of them wearing a mask, gloves or anything else except their normal uniforms.
In fact, as was stated in the previous letter, the vast majority of businesses in the area are showing little to no acknowledgement of the necessity for safety modifications in order to mitigate the current health crisis. Specifically, one small business has just now installed a much needed protective sheath in a small, confined checkout area, only after months of the pandemic being in full swing. Still, the majority of clerks do not don masks or sanitize hands between customers. This behavior and attitude is more the rule than the exception and it has spread rampantly, much like the virus itself, into the consciousness of the local citizens. Conversations have ensued regarding this matter, and storekeepers are actually frightened to take decisive action against consumers who seem bent on violating the rights and safety of others. The proprietors fear unknown, quite possibly violent or at least equally aggressive and unreasonable retaliation if they were to enforce the mask requirements clearly listed upon entry.
One notable exception has been Hopey & Co. of Black Mountain, whose owners and employees have, from the beginning, strictly followed all health and safety practices thus far enacted. Another is the Blue Ridge Biscuit Co., similarly compliant, among a few others. But again, this is, by far, the exception to the vast majority rule.
To be fair, the first responders, shopkeepers/vendors and law enforcement of Black Mountain are easily among the finest, friendliest and most fair-minded staples of the community that I’ve ever had the privilege of encountering.
Still, on a perhaps more administrative level, it is one thing to harbor disregard for the validity of this pandemic, but to contest such heedless resistance among one’s community is a more serious matter. For it could possibly infer a certain contempt for a large portion of humanity itself, nullifying any chance for further discourse or negotiation on the key issues at hand. During critical times such as these, before assuming or declaring a population to be in full accordance with safety guidelines, one must conduct a proper survey and inventory of their direct surroundings.
— George Bazley
Black Mountain
Editor’s note: Xpress contacted Josh Harrold, Black Mountain’s town manager, and Black Mountain Police Chief Shawn Freeman, but they declined to offer a response.
There you go again with the deliberate lies. I hope you are going to all of the places and spending enough money to cover all the rest of us who are staying away because of bio-terrorists like you. If businesses want to recover abide by and enforce the rules. Otherwise we will assume you ignore all the other laws that protect us like washing your hands. I have a good list of places that will never get my business again. Now I can avoid an entire community. Good luck with the economic recovery.
While I both appreciate and share your concerns, to be fair, I have to mention the fact that while not the majority, perhaps, there are still some who are abiding by safety guideline to the best of their ability. Also, it’s quite possible that some individuals/businesses may simply not have been taking the situation that serious on account of there not being tangible evidence directly presented before them (i.e. you walk down the street, visit family, etc..and they’re not ailing from or dying from covid19, so it must simply be a hyped-up flu and not much to worry over). However, as such evidence is becoming more and more prevalent and all the more visibly apparent, and with enough awareness raised, I think/hope people will enact safe changes accordingly. Most, if not all, people that comprise our local communities are quite good at heart, lack maliciousness, and are considerably intelligent and fair-minded enough to change such matters for the better and well being of all, if given enough information and opportunity to do so. I don’t think writing off any one or community entirely will alleviate such concerns and may, in fact, exacerbate certain obstacles to the detriment of us all, collectively. At the same time, of course, exercising caution and minimizing exposure during instances if/when it is clearly unsafe to do otherwise is by no means an imprudent or misanthropic response. Again though, I believe that many instances of non-adherence to safety guidelines do not stem from a bad or deviant source; that our people are good-natured and capable of adapting safely to the upheaval and obstacles that this pandemic has stirred within us all.
The customary insults, name calling, call for discriminatory (and thereforth exclusionary) action, and a heap of ageism and sexism to boot, which are all characteristically typical components of a reactionary, hobgobbled vantage in the most Emersonian variety and sense…I must defer here to Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945). creativeconflictwisdom.files.wordpress.com –“On…” Letters and Papers from Prison. Perhaps some semblance of a mirror, if not meaning, could be teased from such past, vast follies yet.
Thank you George, I also have avoided all contact with Black mountain vendors and I still see lots of people walking down the streets and through town with no mask, no social distancing, nothing. It has become a way I fear, for small-minded people with very little power in their lives to buck the system so to speak. In a particularly disturbing incident that happened recently, a friend of mine was verbally assaulted by the brother of the owner of the Black mountain laundromat after she inquired as to why no staff were wearing masks. This began a rant on his part regarding his freedom and the hoax that Democrats we’re employing, as he continued to advance towards her while she asked him repeatedly to please stop and maintain distance since he was not wearing a mask. When she reported this to the police, the group of three of them, including Chief Freeman, treated her complaint as insignificant and none of them were wearing a mask. When she asked them about that, they stated that it was not a requirement, only a suggestion. This kind of behavior from the city employees that we pay with our taxes is not acceptable. To turn this horrific pandemic into a political weapon is not acceptable. To continue to ignore the threat to all of us to appease a few is not acceptable. if you really want to hurt them where it matters, continue to avoid their businesses and be sure to leave a review of Black mountain administration on their Facebook and other social media pages. People need to know what’s happening.
Thank you, Lou; I’m quite sorry to hear about that experience. I wish some more common ground could be established, as our community is comprised of really good people; at the least, perhaps certain proprietors who are against safety guidelines could place a sign on their doors/windows to let the public know their stance on the matter, similar to the way many places put a sign for folks to wear masks. At the least, maybe this would help minimize stressful encounters as you’ve described, for both parties involved.
Thank you. Yes, that is an excellent idea. I will pass it on! Stay safe!
PS…one has to wonder what kind of ignorant person would give a thumbs down to anything on this post. Hmmmm….MAGATS perhaps?? Also, Mountain X, how come the thumbs down is available but when I try to give a thumbs up I get an error message??
You as well Lou, thank you again for reading and for your considered response and input; take care.