COVID-19 State of emergency Public Comment from JJ AndersonFrom:Jj Anderson
To:Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL] Agenda Items Tonight
Date:Monday, April 6, 2020 7:07:48 PM
Greetings All-
Concerning the agenda items tonight b/c I'm struggling with the conflicts which come up in
the agenda items. First and foremost, the state of emergency and potential of curfew I believe needs to be
addressed. The State of Montana has called a State of Emergency and I realize it's only amatter of time before every city jumps on board in order to "protect the people" and "get
access to extra funding". What I don't understand is why the city can't enact and prepare adisaster plan in the event we actually have a disaster, prior to having a disaster. Prior to
panicking the people more. Though, from a business perspective, I can understand how extrafunding is tempting, though at the cost of people's rights? At the cost of laying down what
could be considered martial law? At the cost of what could be considered an abuse of powerfor an "in case of" situation? Again, most of those I understand, however, right now though
there are upward of 300 cases in the state of Montana there are only 27 hospitalizations. Thecatastrophe being pushed on Montanans is the fear of overwhelming the hospital system, yet,
most people are being sent home to quarantine. In the entire state only 27 people arehospitalized, this does not create a state of emergency for Kalispell, MT. Unless I'm terribly
wrong, it doesn't show a risk for not having enough ventilators in our hospital. It does not justify forcing a curfew on already stressed and alarmed people. People who have
been forced to close their business and lose their way of life and financial stability will nowhave one more thumb coming down on them. Most businesses are closing early, others have
been forced to, evening activities have been shut down due to lack of businesses, and thesunsets about 8ish. Why on earth does the city feel the need to force people to stay home?
What gain is created except to exercise power? This does not build trust in our city council. To add to this, after declaring which business are essential and forcing those deemed none
essential (Which essential is different to everyone) to close down, suddenly taking away theirlivelihoods and financial stability, another item on the agenda is discussing raising essential
utility rates. Right now, not only are people being forced to close their businesses, quit theirjobs, and try to find another way to make ends meet you are now requiring them to pay more
when they have less money in their pocket. Meanwhile, the city is going to declare a state ofemergency to get more funds (opening power to limit freedoms) and then also squeeze the
populace a little more in the meantime. Yes, the rate increases will take some time to implement, but, how long will it take people to
bounce back from the set backs imposed on them? $13 is quite a lot when you're trying tomake ends meet, the ramifications of the actions already taken are unknown. Though I'm sure
there are professionals to state otherwise. In the world of business you've shut down thriving businesses as none essential, yet the
extensive plats and permits in the agenda seem to indicate the building process of newdevelopments doesn't seem to be an issue. How are any of those essential in this potential
state of emergency? How many contractors and workers out there are interacting on levels thatothers of us were forced to quit work because, despite precautions and a very controllable
environment. How are those developments essential when people can't make any money rightnow to buy houses or start businesses? How can we justify pushing out developments which
will only add to the cities coffers, but make decisions (based on a few complaints) about otherbusinesses which were providing needed services? Who was deemed to have the power to
declare what was essential and none essential? The developments are pretty none essential tome right now, yet, while the city wants access to more funds and is worried about keeping
people in their homes they're encouraging building. This is confusing to me. Maybe theperspective is a bit skewed here.
We're also looking at handing out money for Grants, for none essential, closed businesses. Ina thriving fully functional economy, I'd fully support this. However, seeing as the first part of
the agenda is about a potential state of emergency and those are none essential businesses,perhaps we should refrain from just handing out money for businesses which aren't able to be
up and running. Things which might be more appropriately discussed at a later date. Right now, as a Kalispell resident, I really want to be able to trust my city council is taking
into account everything. Yet, to see them taking actions to limit the people, while taking actionto get more money out of the people they're trying to care for makes me doubt whether they're
looking at the big picture, or just the dollar sign potential. At some point adults need to havethe ability to mitigate their own risks and make their own decisions. Our constitutions were
laid down to protect our ability to make our own decisions. State of Emergency is one thing, todo it for the money is another when we're not in a state of emergency. To pick and choose
what is essential by the definition of what the city wants doesn't take into account what is bestfor the people.
A concerned citizen.
Jj
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