OCEANSIDE–The Oceanside City Council Wednesday, during its scheduled council meeting gave direction to staffers to prepare a letter to be sent immediately to San Diego County Health and Human Services Officer, Dr. Wilma J. Wooten, demanding an amendment to county health orders surrounding COVID-19 to permit local agencies to decide when beaches, parks, harbor, and local businesses can open.
The demand comes after weeks of economical shut down required by the current health order including thousands of businesses deemed as non-essential to close and public amenities that lack enforcement of social distancing to be off limits
The letter clarifies that Oceanside residents and businesses are fully capable of practicing social distancing and sanitary policies that current essential businesses follow.
A motion was made two weeks earlier by Oceanside City Councilman Christopher Rodriguez to the city council. All of the council members, except for Council member Esther Sanchez, agreed with Rodriguez 4 to 1 to support the amendment to the county orders.
“Oceanside has put forth extraordinary efforts to flatten the curve but as we push down the curve, like a large balloon, a new curve is created. In this case it is an unemployment and loss of essential revenue curve,” Rodriquez said before making the motion Wednesday.
The letter demands changes to County Health Order be made immediately, but no later than May 1.
