My View – September 2021

With deference to the great Yogi Berra and in today’s parlance, it sure seems as if we’ve “been there done that” when it comes to this pandemic. Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water, the Delta variant emerged, exploded, and then wiped out any hope of returning to normalcy…for now. I was going to express “my view” this month with a very simple illustration of me pointing to the advertisement on this page for the city-sponsored Covid vaccination clinic being held at New City Hall—I changed my mind as visions of hate mail flooding my inbox came to mind. With that said, I’d like to thank Mayor Donna Bowen for her leadership in setting-up the aforementioned free vaccination clinics being held this month.

Of course I’m not here to preach, (at least not on the subject of Covid-19) but I am deeply concerned about the fate of Southern Oregon and Jacksonville as Covid-induced hospitalizations mount and our healthcare network buckles under the stress. As I recently said to an unvaccinated friend, “While I respect your right NOT to get vaccinated… I also disagree with your action.”

At this writing, it appears that Jackson County is in a more precarious position than ever before. At this very time one year ago, it was hard to imagine we could be in worse shape, but the truth is the truth and here we are. With event cancellations and business closures occurring, keeping a community calendar is a full-time gig! But that’s a first-world problem. With shifts in masking policy and other public health policy mandates, coupled with a massive labor shortage, businesses are struggling to stay open and afloat. As a small town that relies upon multi-seasonal tourism and an influx of visitor dollars, the fall/winter season is doubly worrisome. It may be a “make or break” time for many.

I sincerely hope we can all come together and that this issue of the Review finds you happy, and above all healthy, in Our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!