Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Recognizing and expressing support for our first responders and frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Body
WHEREAS, the Public Health Madison-Dane County data shows that as of April 30, 2020, there were 431 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Dane County; and,
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization 2006 World Health Report defines a health care worker as an individual whose job it is to protect and improve the health of their community and to make important contributions, and who is critical to the functioning of most health systems; and,
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly intensified the daily lives of our health care workers, first responders, including firefighters, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement, and other emergency management personnel and who are facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and serve their communities; and,
WHEREAS, police officers and firefighters as first responders continue to place themselves in harm’s way and on the front lines in order to keep our community safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, grocery and food service workers are working to meet the essential demands of keeping shelves stocked and preparing food amid COVID-19, while facing a greater infection risk from higher levels of public interaction; and,
WHEREAS, our farmers and farmworkers continue working hard in the fields to harvest the produce that feeds our families every day; and,
WHEREAS, public works employees continue to conduct elections and other administrative functions, pick up our trash, keep our streets. parks and public spaces clean and functional; and,
WHEREAS, postal and delivery workers continue to keep their delivery operations working by delivering medicines, Social Security checks, and other essential goods; and,
WHEREAS, Madison Metro, other bus companies, and taxi service employees continue to provide important and critical transportation services to our community; and,
WHEREAS, all first responders and frontline workers have contributed greatly to the health and safety of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and in doing so have put their safety, and that of their families’, at risk of exposure; and,
WHEREAS, while most of us have the luxury of being able to keep ourselves safe by staying home, practicing physical distancing, wearing face coverings and other protective measures, those who have chosen public service as their calling often don’t have that same luxury. Protective measures like shelter-in-place and social distancing are not always an option for these individuals, leaving them at a higher risk for catching the novel coronavirus as they perform their critical duties,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor, the Common Council and the residents of the City of Madison honor, recognize and support the contributions of all of our first responders and frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the one way to help all of our first responders and frontline workers is to say “thank you” every chance we get; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Common Council encourage all residents to support our first responders and frontline workers by following our state’s Safer-at-Home guidelines.