well good morning everybody welcome to
our city council meeting today is Friday
May 15th 2020 it's proximately 9:30 a.m.
before the end if you please join me in
the pledge of allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America for which
it stands one nation under God
indivisible with liberty and justice for
all continue statement Israel I ask
every member city manager city staff for
City Council has any known conflict of
interest on any agenda
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see noted so we have two updates the
first one's going to be the Department
of Health discussion and with us we have
dr. Michael London Morgan and Don
Sanchez so I don't know who's going to
start off of the three but thank you
very much for appearing and share with
us some information very much I believe
you have Don Sanchez or Southwest we can
do it and then social media director for
our mental health of still waiting on
that dr. Landon but what I can tell you
is that the new public health
authorities are are in the midst of
being finalized they will go away they
obviously will go into effect tomorrow
and with that comes on what may not feel
like a big change for some that is
certainly a game changer for the extent
to which should that jump we are opening
that business and open
the opportunity for people to go out to
take care of business
and we're going to see combat
potentially effects this is going to be
as we go to the public service
announcements discussion okay me yes I
apologize
the I apologize for being late I'm sorry
about that they instituted a $20 fine
between you right on so just leave that
it's kidding thank you very much for
joining us we appreciate our information
about ready to share with us and Morgan
kind of give us a little over the order
from the governor later today so we'll
turn it over to you for your for your
presentation great and I would see your
all's plan for opening up the parks and
I prepared to talk about that I can also
talk about other things if you want to
how we're doing with cases that sort of
thing or do you want me to focus on the
opening up the parks is that what you'd
like me to do
I'm sure you're welcome to share that
with you I know I for one I'm interested
in the transmission rate as to how
that's looking has it been going up as
been coming down what is it currently
sitting at right now that's what I'd be
interested in but whatever whatever you
have as far as your presentation please
feel free to share with us okay well
I'll go ahead and just do a little
overview of the data and then maybe get
into that the the parks proposal so you
know it appears you've really been
focused on the northwest and it appears
that their case rates are starting
toward case numbers are starting to drop
the rest of the state is you know sort
of at a medic load that's all or partly
dropping but in the state as a whole
looks like the numbers are starting to
drop we're not going to make any grand
conclusions about that because we we've
already been burned by that with Cobras
in the past so we have to basically be
really careful about concluding that
we're clearly moving in the right
direction or not so that's a state
perspective in terms of how New Mexico's
doing in terms of case rates for our
County
unfortunately ganya chronic case rates
is one of the counties that continues to
increase and for example well right now
we're at about 120 which is which is
below the US rate and North rates much
higher largely because in the northwest
so Johnny a County inching up there to
be have a rate that's similar to a New
Mexico rate
would you happen to have the
transmission rate currently well the one
that were the transmission rate that
we're using right now is 1.33 so that's
above the 1.15 transmission rate so
basically what is 133 means it basically
means that for every case we feel
there's transmission to let in the third
additional cases so that basically means
that the transmission will continue
growth will continue and when that
occurs if the transmission rates are
effective was below 1 then that would
mean each case is not replacing itself
fully we're having less than one
additional case for each case which
means the growth will be will be
substantially slowing so the other
transmission rates in the state are for
the entire state we're at about one
point one five which is sort of which it
was our target to get there and below in
the federal areas where it's 1.09
southeast is one point one to Northeast
is 1.05 the Northwest is one point two
and the Southwest is one point three and
the Southwest is one point three largely
because of Southern Dona Ana County for
just a quick sir
I guess I must have been of the wrong
assumption that the transition
transmission rate was the number of
cases divided by the number of people
would have been actually tested and so
that's not that good that's the
positivity rate positivity rate okay
that's the test
positivity rate so that is that that not
really one of our criteria it's an
important thing to keep an eye on
and you know the and we're looking at
for the Southeast region you guys are
doing fun on masks below 4% that's
looking pretty good
whereas in the northwest there about
around 16% 50% that just means that out
of a you know out of a hundred test what
percentage of those tests will be
positive in your area it's less than
four that's good
actually our area is 2.9 so yeah I did
the entire state because I was waiting
for that from I got a call from the
governor's office yesterday and they
were supposed to send me the transmit
and what I thought was a transmission
rate okay because I asked him I said why
do you find that all cases divided by
number tested so I just did it for that
so I actually had one was every county
here and we're below Bernalillo County
below us and the wall county below all
the Northwest counties a little bit just
about Valencia County and we're still
below Socorro County Torrance County
Guadalupe right the Downey yeah that's
not the indicator of growth
no I and depending on what time period
you you select you'll get a different
positivity rate so I'm sure your periods
right I'm my periods right there were
just different hungary's yesterday I did
last night so I took whatever the
Snead's website and I went through every
county okay very good very good
so what do we need to do to reduce the
southwest and Diana County transmission
rate are the are effective
we basically need to it looks like we
need to reduce the number of cases in
the southern part of Dona Ana County
primarily that seems to be that the
primary issue now you you are in your
are effective you are affected by the
large number of cases
that are at the taro county processing
center that's what that's a large number
of cases so that's that's part of the
the challenge here for the Southwest and
bring down the reproductive rate also
part of that was the Stampede stampede
meat processing outbreak and all those
things are very important I mean
actually when we take those two things
out of the what we call the EPI curve
which the number of cases per day and
you can sort of see whether things are
going up or down in the southwest you
know it's been going up but it's
definitely not going up as much as
reflected in our effective of 1.33 so
we're focused on you know folks are
doing increasing testing chickens in
southern Johnson County to try to you
know basically isolate and quarantine
around all those around those cases and
bring down they are effective social
distancing continuing that's going to be
very important in keeping that down and
and that's sort of you know that's sort
of a summary of some of some of the data
you guys wouldn't go to questions about
that and then and then hold off on the
parks discussion or yeah I mean that
might colleagues ask questions but can
you clarify one more time what is the
trend how do you find the transmission
rate because you said ours is about one
point three three how do you what is the
formula for that well the formula is
actually relatively complex but what it
but what it represents is the number of
new cases emerging from a case so the
goal is to get it below one which means
that things will slow down and if we're
below one ultimately then each each case
that currently exists is replaced with
less than a case no overtime the case is
just
we fade away if we keep it going in that
direction with a 1.33 for each case
there's 1.3 cases do you know doctor do
you know if that 1.33 factors in the two
things that you just mentioned stampede
and the orto County Detention Facility
yes that if you all are that it's in
your region and we're counting those in
your region did you by any chance to do
it without it no we did not we did not
do it with Adam okay okay we have a
question from counselor about the study
and thank you dr. Landon yes I had a
couple questions clarifying that
transmission rate for us in regards to
other parts of the southern damiana has
there been any independent work versus
itself on beyond those transmission
rates from any others to have done been
done primarily just for Las Cruces at
this point we have yet I mean there's
there's some John like Los Alamos
they've done some early in terms of
different ways of looking at growth so
the the growth the growth rates by
county let's see for John Yannick County
is 6% throat arrow is 15% which includes
the weather there including the Otero
processing cases at you know Terrell
County and for all other counties in the
region there much of a lot of that I
mean Katherine was a 13 percent but that
was just because in one case so it's
really
Danya and you can you know Terrell
County are really contributing to the
growth okay
growth in cases and so daayan counties
and 6% daily growth in cases in Otero
County has a 15% so that's it that's a
different type of measure but it it is
we are effective the reproductive rate
the transmission rate is it's similar in
a way so that's not the specific Dona
Ana County measure thank you and you
mentioned that we had two really big
areas that the meatpacking plants and
the county processing center that you
could pinpoint those larger outbreaks
are we seeing any of those types of
effects here in Las Cruces or mostly in
the southern part of the county you know
my sense in looking at the rate largely
in the southern part of the county you
guys are in Las Cruces
things are looking still looking
relatively relatively quiet and that's
why we were really focusing on the
southern part of the county
yeah the rate the number of cases the
case counts last seven days last 30 days
are particularly high on the southern
part of the county Sunland Park Anthony
South Valley those are the areas with
the high rates in the cabin and then
because we are connected and everything
what types of repairs and training are
we doing in those southern areas make
sure that we don't have more spread in
other parts of damiana
and here in Las Cruces you know that I
mean that's a that's a good question I
mean what we're trying to do is really I
mean the testing is critically important
and we're focusing some testing in
Sunland Park
we are trying to be as aggressive as we
can around the case investigations in
the contact tracing for those counties
we're working I mean you've got a lot of
pieces and like two-thirds of the cases
for Stampede the Stampede outbreak they
were among residents of Texas who worked
at Stampede and so we're happy we're
working very closely and a few lived in
Juarez weren't working very closely with
those health departments to make sure
that cases that have worked in New
Mexico that we know about all their
their contacts and that sort of thing so
so we're doing all those things I mean
what we really we probably need to step
up and we've had a lot of what are
called sort of Paso del Norte efforts
where they're there there's a public
health collaboration between Diana
County El Paso and Juarez we really need
you know I think we've been I mean some
of that's going on but I think we can do
more of that and I think we'll need to
do more of that to sort of view it as a
common a common issue cases in in Dona
Ana County or southern Banyan County or
an issue for El Paso and vice versa
so we really need to pick up some of our
efforts along those lines okay Mike
somebody else come first okay mr. mayor
Mike this is John I just want to mention
real quickly that we had a conversation
with la clínica de familia this week and
they're interested in helping with
testing so we're going to work with them
this coming week to get them set up for
testing to at their sites you know in
the southern part of County as long as
helping with some of the events that we
have going on just one let you know that
so we are increasing the testing thank
you thank you and that was for the
record Don Sanchez from the Department
of Health and thank you I actually have
quite a few questions regarding that
increased testing with the new kind of
message from the governor's office that
everybody can get tested you know that
that puts a lot of strain on
your department in those departments
that have been testing and giving this
at the very beginning when we all talked
we had your department doing testing by
acquaintances and then we had the
drive-through clinic that was stationed
at MMC what other areas alongside those
are we going to increase to allow for
that to be able to provide that service
when we say that he can get tested so
what what plans do we have in place for
that so mr. mayor Councillor studi I
couldn't like I just mentioned we
reached out to our partners with la
clínica to assist so that's going to be
a huge help for us excuse me Don can I
get you to identify yourself please
because unfortunately okay I'm sorry mr.
mayor so this is dawn Sanchez Southwest
Regional Director here in Las Cruces for
Public Health just briefly we are as I
mentioned we're working with the clinic
they're going to work with us this
coming week to stand up testing at their
facilities we've also started to partner
with the county with their resource
centers and so impart a state to do some
events when they have some their food
distribution at some of their county
resource centers we are going to open up
a testing site come May 22nd with some
in park casino to to kind of really
focus in on that area and send the
employees there with that facility so we
have several events coming up over the
next two weeks to to increase the access
an opportunity for anyone to come get
tested we still have our appointment
based testing in our offices but
literally people just walk in and show
up and we test them so it's not
necessarily just tied to being
appointment based I think we had 26 on
her schedule morning and we had we saw
like 56 in the morning they just are
showing up so I think that the message
is out there to just come over and get
tested we are it is a lot because we are
also having to respond to do testing at
Stampede and ice detention centers so
that also attacks some of our staff so
we're happy to have a clínica come
or the National Guard is also helping
sending some medics down here we have
some medics working with us too to help
provide some extra support we've also
reached out to by Pamela angel with the
community of Hope if they can provide
some additional testing so we're trying
to beef up I think those other partners
that can do some additional testing as
well and that outreach alongside us
thank you
you still be providing the drive-thru
clinic at MMC still will that also be
still available yes I'm understanding
that is still available
no we provide them through our state lab
as well and we help coordinate if they
are short on resources we see what we
have and we share with them so we were
in communication with them daily to make
sure that they can continue to do their
stand-up drive through they see close to
200 people a day in their drive through
MMC we extended any lease or anything to
make sure that is still secure it's
necessary so kind of first do that I can
follow up with you on that that's coming
out of one of our bureaus let me follow
up on that make sure that we can secure
that on a continual basis thank you for
that reminder to be did you mean
specifically yes between 150 probably
250 and 200 a day to accommodate okay
and yesterday our site here in Las
Cruces it you know I didn't varies if we
have a drive-thru side we can do
50 we've done up to 350 our normal day
with you through appointments it's
typically about 60 to 70 potentially
more new partnerships that we have what
do you think might be or what is the
target range that you guys are going for
I don't know to have you're like max
capacity testing in our community per
day councilors today that's a good
question I mean we're trying to hit you
know we would like to get I would hope
we can hit close to with all the
partners involved maybe five hundred
tests a day or more I mean we're trying
I don't have a quite I think there was a
clinic obviously to see how many clinics
they will be able to set up the most out
that they have etc so that's we haven't
quite estimated on that but I think
we're gonna shoot for you know as many
as we can get so I can definitely once
we follow up with that I think at the
very beginning you talked about when
surge and peak is and we're sort of
hitting that time I just want to make
sure that we have all the resources
available for us to be able to test and
with that notion that everybody can get
tested if they do have limitations of
500 a day for a county which is pretty
widespread I just want to make sure that
we are able to worship and if we ask at
the state level to bring in more
resources that we can be doing it
especially if we do have some sort of
you know kind of outbreak spots in our
southern region to you know if we we
have a notion that everybody can get
testing I really just
make sure that we're able to follow
through on that in all the different
ways and there's always going to be a
capacity of some sort but just to make
sure that you know we are still fairly
large so if we had everybody wanting to
come in all at once to get trust and
even divided throughout the county it
may not be enough if you had really big
hotspots in certain areas that surgeon
peope are we still on track for those
original numbers that we had gonna get
our peak before it was May 25th was sort
of a time that was kind of projected or
was still on track with that and our
numbers that we are seeing both are they
in line with what we were expecting with
that surgeon peak you know that's all
based on modeling and bottling is a
guess it's an estimate it's a it's an
educated guess but it's based on
different parameters and putting in data
and the modeling the most recent peak
for the New Mexico model was you know
about May 18th and you know that that
changes based on the different data that
comes in Los Alamos which is doing
models nationally they're on the CDC
website they're there models are there
as well
Los Alamos has predicted that there's an
88 percent chance that the state has
already seen its highest number of cases
so that's that's sort of a that's sort
of a very practical definition of a peak
and that's and that would be for the the
first wave but we're talking about so
but again you know I think you know a
couple weeks ago
we announced that we had plateaued which
you know we had but then it went back up
again so I think we have to just be very
careful and give it some time
it's not an exact science with a new
virus like Cove at 19 - once the right
start going down they'll keep going down
that's not an exact that's not that
there's not a scientific basis for
knowing that that's going to happen the
models are also emphasizing and these
are models and these are estimates the
models are also emphasizing that the
with hope with people moving around more
social distancing decreasing more people
at work but that's going to that's going
to increase the case counts so that's a
that's a consistent estimate that's
coming from pretty much all the models
that when you when people move around
more reduce social distancing case
counselor in our old heart it's it's
it's predicted that they will go out
based on the models so we have we have
the case information which is appearing
to start going down and then we have the
modeling information which is saying
well there's a lot of activity people
are moving around social distancing is
decreasing case counts are going to go
up so you have sort of those two things
to wrestle with so this is modeling it's
not definitive it's an estimate the case
counts are the definitive part of this
and they're starting to and they're
starting to to decrease and based on Los
Alamos is look at the numbers they have
they've concluded that there's an 88%
chance that we've already hit hit the
highest case count Tunnel Daly case
count total to this first way over to my
colleagues I've been in
strong advocate for asking to test
processing here in Las Cruces is that
and I've know there's been talks about
working with partnerships is that
something that we are doing now and
thinking long term that you know we are
living with co-ed for you know quite a
while now it's in our environment what
steps are we doing to make sure that we
have those capabilities here in the
southern part of the state and that we
don't have to send our kids either
up north even I know some places have to
send their kids out of state to get
processed the job you wouldn't would you
like to talk about that in terms of the
capacity locally you know I'm sorry this
is done such as Southwest Region
director counselors do they mr. mayor I
I just know that there was they were in
communication with I think our ear the
mic was it with the Rd in communication
with the biomedical lab at NMSU to
potentially be a site for lab testing
but I have not seen anything recent on
that development I'm aware of some
communications along those lines but
yeah I think that might have been our
state lab in communication with them but
okay if I make sure this and I think I
mentioned I may not have mentioned the
council but are we seeing word and now
it's probably down to about a week or
two from a gentleman who actually has a
lab here that's going to be opening up
and it says right here they'll be able
to increase the Mexico test scene by 25%
it says which the governor differ
desperately wants to do and so they're
just they're just waiting I think there
I guess the best way to to compare it is
a like a little mini trike or an
opportunity to be able to test and get
the results quicker here in Las Cruces
so I'll keep council posted on that and
I apologize if I dimension to it last to
you last time oh by the way
Lorenzo Alba from justice knows he just
me I guess they have their their mobile
food pantries are doing some additional
there's some Co bit 19 testing sites and
towards the end of the discussion and I
sent it to Adrian he can maybe post it
for you also you can see it and then
David can probably David is probably
send you email so you all can have that
send it to your on your social media if
you like on our website as well
Thank You mayor huh Thank You councillor
Ben Coleman councillor Flores mr. mayor
and Thank You Don and dr. Landon for
being with us today I really appreciate
it I'm feeling a little sort of
unsettled with this notion that we want
to take out certain numbers because it's
more convenient like we cannot take out
I think it's naive to say well let's
take out the numbers I will settle and
the numbers of the meatpacking plant
because people work in those places
people go inside those places they work
they come back out to the community
right I mean do we know dr. Landon or
done do we know if the packing plant is
still closed yeah this is Mike landed
the meatpacking plant is not so close
they met Department health criteria and
Don I think they were we were doing
retesting do we do retesting yesterday
last night this morning actually right
right and with respect to taking out
numbers we're not taking out any numbers
that's why that's why your reproductive
rate or one reason why your reproductive
rate is 1.33 because we haven't taken
out any numbers but it is it is
reasonable when we look at the EPI
curves it's important to understand why
rates are going up for the state and for
region and one way to do that is to
hypothesize that okay what would would
the REA had been consistent or stable if
these things had not happened I mean it
did happen but if they hadn't happened
would the rate have been stable and for
for the southwest region and silly for
Dona Ana County the rates would have
been more stable if those things hadn't
happened so it gives us an opportunity
to hopefully prevent that from happening
next time to look at ways for preventing
that from happening next time by better
understanding what is leading and
accounting for the growth yeah
absolutely I mean I think those are
important things to consider or is the
Department of Health
breathing would you say that you are
doing more testing at all fatal
processing center are you is that
correct or are you doing that our folks
the prison and the detention center is a
department health counselor Bencomo we
we are helping with doing the testing at
the detention center nice facility there
in southern Indiana County my
understanding that the prison is doing
their own testing how long have you been
doing we have been assisting at the ice
detention center we we have been working
with we've been working with them for a
couple weeks now we were testing there
on Wednesday and then we're going to
going back today as well to finish up
testing there um are they what kind of
precautions are they taking I mean I
know like right now
I know what I've heard things like they
don't even have soap counselor but coma
burned at good chance our regional
ethnic nurse is the wonderful
communication she didn't want him to be
able to edit either answer those
questions for you okay maybe staff or
something can get me the contact I'm
sure I mean I think you know two weeks
ago I had some a call with some
advocates on this and there was maybe
four confirmed cases a little County and
now there's 39 I believe I mean that's
just a gross disregard for human life
frankly um and I certainly hope that the
state begins more of a hands-on approach
about how we take care of people in
detention centers and we did just do
just one point I mean I agree with you
that excuse me dr. Mann denied pardon
sir I just need you to identify yourself
because we don't have your picture and
we don't have your name and for for
records of open these act we need to
have you identify yourself apologize I
really apologize for that
dr. Michael Landon state epidemiologist
New Mexico Department of Health and the
the federal government was actually
having trouble getting the test
collection I mean the the collection
supplies for Carroll County processing
centers so the state actually worked to
provide those so we are we are working
with them and but your point about the
the huge rise in cases that is you know
we just we just have to get a lid on
that and reduce that number quickly
thank you I'm glad to hear that there
are more testing sites being provided
and so they aren't doing any you know
what I'm assuming that
dr. Landon perhaps you and some of your
colleagues are in direct contact with
our colleagues in the County Commission
[Music]
I this is doctor Michael and instead of
genealogist department health I have not
I'm sure some of the colleagues the
department health are I I have not been
in contact with them and I'm not I'm not
sure who's been in contact with the
County Commission I you know the
governor's office is working very hard
to keep in touch with all the
municipalities so I think they would be
involved with that and we also the
Association of counties had a meeting
and I don't know all the counties that
were involved and I'm sure Dona Ana
County was involved in terms of
discussions about the outbreak and
protections that can be employed as as
we're talking about reopening yeah I
think mr. mayor
I think I think it's important for us to
have a joint session with our colleagues
on the County Commission to think
through some strategies about about how
how we lessen these pages I mean a
deacon idealistic and to be responsible
to think that we're doing so well in Las
Cruces so we should you know go about
opening up just as quickly I think
that's irresponsible I think that we're
kidding ourselves if we believe were
isolated that Las Cruces is somehow
isolated from transmission rates at the
rest of the county I mean people who
people work at the o2 processing center
they leave right like they work they
leave they come to our communities you
know I just saw yesterday something
about the farmers market reopening and
there was comments there from people
from El Paso saying that's great he
doesn't like people revolt Paso are
coming to our community
and people from Anthony come here they
shop here right like these we are not
isolated from one another we are very
deeply intertwined and connected as a
community is it in Dona Ana County and I
think
and we really need to come together to
come up with some strategies and and I
know mr. mayor that there's a lot of
pressure from the business community to
reopen but I think it's I think it's
premature and I think we're going to see
I think it's going to cost us more in
the end if if if we don't take this 1.33
transmission rate seriously okay thank
you John Stehr councillor Flores thank
you and first of all today is May 15
which is the Ides of May so we don't
have to worry about anybody being killed
today you know in the middle of all this
doom and gloom at least we have a happy
day so thank you very much dr. Landon
mr. Morgan and miss Sanchez thank you
all very much
i I think that the questions that my
colleagues of hs2 be and the quarries
are care about my concerns have been to
visited they don't I call it a prison I
don't use processing or detention center
or I don't use any euphemisms it's a
prison and I visited about five or six
years ago and with a group of from you
you and bigger women voters and they
cleaned it all up for us to be there but
it was difficult difficult to breathe
and I carpooled with a few women and and
I made it really clear that I wouldn't
be able to stay there too long and after
about two hours I had to get out of
there
it was it smelled they were saying that
they keep it very clean we you know we
saw a dead cockroach in the kitchen and
those were like you know like in the it
very it was awful and they were saying
you have soaked they have showers and
and I was able to speak to some of them
because I'm fluent in Spanish and I
asked them if they were able to shower
if they were able to did this that and
the other and they took us to one group
several box and stuff that sort of stuff
they showed us where they showered it
didn't even look like there was running
water in there I mean it's hard to tell
because you know it just didn't look
like area had been used at all
medication were being given at the time
and so I'm very concerned and I and I
think I agree with kilter bancomer those
counts have to be taken it we can't let
those out we have to leave them in there
and my concern is as massage has just
said they just started testing there two
weeks ago and so it means that we have
pockets of the Forgotten people and it
has a lot to do with the testing
abilities a testicle you know the
capabilities all the right tests because
there's different they're finding this I
mean even seeing this for quite a few
weeks know that they're finding that
there's actually different strains that
it's like a mutant type virus that is
out to survive and so it's hard to tell
whether the testing is is not right or
can't be adjusted or whether the you
know we know there's no cure or vaccine
or anything but as far as mutating then
you'd have to have a test that is
picking up that particular virus I mean
if you're testing for a flu you know it
may not come up if you're testing for
Cova 2:19 I don't know I'm not a
scientist dr. Landon I leave it to you
and people in your field but in turn
we have to get the results back is it
really going to be tested I mean as to
whether I might have had I know I just
called it that would make it go away
results so I asked David most there's
nothing going on so I don't understand
why there's all these all this talk
about everybody being tested you know
with all due respect to everyone who's
saying that there is no way of actually
doing it there is we don't I don't think
we have the testing facility we don't
have the lab facility we don't have the
tests available we don't have the
personnel we don't have the best we have
that and if we if we open up and we
already see us you know we see it
spiking up again as dr. Landon said so
do we really have the capacity because
some people are beginning to feel that
oh we can just go all out open and and
do whatever are we going to have a
capacity because I I just I'm feeling or
feeling I'm seeing that you know in
different cities in different places
where safeguards and guardrails of
taken down there spiking up again so you
know I I think I I don't know if any of
you have anything any knowledge
regarding the strains regarding the
testing for those strains how about the
retesting there are people who are
asymptomatic there are people who have
relapsed I know dr. Landon mentioned
last time we met a few weeks ago that
people become relaxed or whatever
technical term term scientists on a
colleague but there's also the
variations that you know this new
phenomena swishy and children I think
it's being called the Kawasaki syndrome
is all of that taken into account in so
far and the reason we need to know the
reason we as local officials here who
make policy decisions for our residents
in the city of Las Cruces and County
that we need the information to be able
to make you know the right decisions
that are the best interests in you know
how can safety welfare of our of our
residents so yeah I'm very I'm mystified
I'm mystified and how just can't thank
you very much and if you ever answer
questions I'd appreciate it
mr. mayor counselor this is Michael
Landon state epidemiologist Department
of Health and the you know I think it's
important to know that the state is
really in the forefront of testing I
have sort of the latest numbers by state
here now Rhode Island's North Dakota and
New York and Massachusetts are those
four have higher testing rates per
capita
and New Mexico but there are only four
states that have done that and those
four are Rhode Island North Dakota New
York and Massachusetts those have does
that higher cutting rates in New Mexico
the unless substantially higher texting
rates in Texas Arizona Colorado Utah is
slightly below New Mexico's in were way
ahead of Oklahoma so for our region were
they were the clear leader and Utah's
relatively close but that's a good thing
now that doesn't mean we're doing as
much testing as we want to but you know
with the goodness under the governor's
leadership New Mexico has really been
got into a more favorable place with
respect to testing now we also talked
about test positive and rate which is
the percentage of tests that are
positive where does New Mexico stand
with respect to that well New Mexico's
that New Mexico the state is at four
point seven percent based on a prior
weeks result and the u.s. is at 14.1%
14.1% back that percentage is similar to
the causative 'ti that we have in the in
the area of the state the Northwest
which has our highest positivity rate
and we are let's see in terms of our
order were about ten ten lowest in terms
of positivity right so all those things
are good and I I think I think let's
keep that in mind and let's let's work
constructively to make sure you know all
regions of the state are feeling like
they're getting more and more testing
and eventually hopefully enough testing
and I think I think we can do that
together and you know the governor has
really been focused on increasing
testing and I think that's been
the state substantially those are just
some point I want to emphasize
positivity rate for New Mexico dr.
Landon so for our report do we put out
May 13th it's our weekly report it is
more the positivity rate for New Mexico
is four point seven percent the lowest
is Alaska at one point three percent and
the highest is New Jersey at thirty two
point five percent and the u.s. is that
per capita that yes it's per its per
hundred four hundred people's it's a
percentage so it's per 100 in terms of
the population as a whole it's in terms
of the percentage you're right it's not
per capita it's of those that were
tested only those were tested so 4.7 out
of a hundred people who are tested were
positive in New Mexico and in the u.s.
it was 14 14 out of a hundred thirteen
percent so that means that the more
people you test the higher the
positivity rate would be probably I mean
that's that's an assumption that one can
make right I mean you have a density of
testing then you're going to have a
higher return of positivity well it will
generally what happens you know like
when we're starting out when we're
starting out with this we focused on
people with mainly symptoms and we
focused on the sickest people for
testing that led to a higher positivity
rate because there's a greater
likelihood those people would be puzzled
as we've gone to testing people with
more different symptoms people that are
who are not having currently having
symptoms that are asymptomatic at the
moment the positivity rate actually goes
down
we would expect the more testing we do
that over time the positive positive
rate was to program and dr. Levin tested
what is it testing for exactly do you
know yes it's testing for the specific
virus because is coded nineteen and it
it is there doesn't talk a study about a
mutant mutation of the virus that sort
of thing it covers that the covers
basically all the known mutations that
we're running into that's far so it's a
it's a good test it's not perfect like
with any test there can be issues with
collection of the DES specimen
maybe someone didn't correct it
appropriately maybe that specimen wasn't
handled appropriately you can have all
those issues but it's it's generally a
good test and it covers those mutations
that people have talked about do we have
any numbers on the number that are
coming in with lung ailments or Saki
syndrome we have not we have not
detected any children with this variant
and Kawasaki syndrome is something that
has been known before it is caused by
multiple pathogens and possibly other
things it causes inflammation
inflammation of vasculature and also
information of the heart and it we have
not detected any Kawasaki disease cases
where a monk over nineteen
child patients in New Mexico and if I
could I think if I could just interject
I'm sorry to interrupt the flow here I
just
we got the latest run on the are
affected for Southwest from today and I
had not what I provided to you was an
earlier number encouragingly the are
effective for today a is now at one
point one seven so it is an improved
based on recent case counts and that
sort of thing so that's that's
encouraging
I just I'm sorry to interject that after
all that discussion about 1.33 I just
wanted to let you guys know some good
news and as far as testing goes and this
is for all three of you we are we as a
community as a health community are
people being retested after after they
the symptoms have quote cleared unquote
or is there any follow-on Kovach
patients at all if any whatever yes you
know so the health care providers or the
patient they do follow-up but also the
Department of Health has they we have
it's our case monitoring team and they
call people back regularly through the
the course of their illness to make sure
they're doing okay and also to keep
track of them for what we call
discontinuation of isolation so people
who have Coby nineteen are isolated for
a period of time and that period of time
depends so we discontinue the isolation
based on two approaches and the most
typical approach to use is the what we
call the symptom based approach so the
way that works is
if someone has symptoms I'll talk about
if they don't have symptoms in a minute
but if they have symptoms then we start
the clock ticking and they they must
they'll be isolated for a minimum of 10
days from the onset of symptoms plus
they have to be fever free without
taking any Tylenol or ibuprofen for
three days before for at least three
days before that and their reproductive
I mean they're sorry
they're the respiratory symptoms need to
have been need to be improving so that's
the basic approach now if somebody is
asymptomatic they don't have any
symptoms which we run into about 20% of
time in the state then that date they
had their specimen collected is the
start date and I'm at positive specimen
and we go out at least ten days from
there before they can discontinue their
isolation and they have to adapter have
remained symptom free there's also an
approach to repeat testing that that is
available to potentially but the
preferred well both approaches are our
options and how long is it taking for
results to come back it's done taking
two or three days for those of us down
in the southern part of the county I I
think you know they're there various
times depending on the lab that's used
but I mean the rapid testing that occurs
at Memorial and Mountain View that comes
back same day and then if it's a send
out to either tricor or the state lab
then you've got to add the transport
time and that sort of thing Don do you
have it do you have a sense of them in
your region what's sort of the
turnaround time you are seen this is
John 20 southwest region
director mr. mayor comes of course dr.
London you mentioned like it just
depends on again the type of test it's a
rapid test whether it's being shipped to
SL d track or I think we're anticipating
you know still I think working with that
timeline and getting test results back I
think you know within 48-72 hours up to
five days in a row some that take a
little bit longer but that's just
doesn't depended on the process so do
any of you know how it is we're going to
be doing 500 tests a day and results and
then getting back to people one way or
the other I mean I mean it must be
terrible to think that you have
something that's going to kill you or
make you die and then have to wait I
mean anywhere from two to three or four
days or whatever up to five days I mean
that must be a living hell so has that
factor been taken into account or is
there any way of speeding it up mister
mr. mayor counselor
this is Michael Landon state
epidemiologist Department of Health and
there are we're always looking at ways
to speed it up for example we are
working on you know it's important
people get their results so they can act
with that knowledge they do a better job
of isolating and then the contacts
around them do a better job of
quarantine so we're self isolating so
that's very important we're focused on
two initiatives to improve the speed at
which people get their results back
there's a portal for test results which
is currently available we're working to
improve that some of the challenges have
been the having miss type names or phone
numbers and that gets in the way of
getting back in touch with people so
and efforts there's a new Call Center
function that's being set up on the
coronavirus line to focus the questions
about test results where can I get
tested all those things so those are
those are new initiatives in terms of
getting in contact people in particular
the people that were at a positive test
the state is ramping up contact tracers
we're currently out about a you know
about 120 125 folks that are doing
contact tracing between Department of
Health UNM has a few Navajo Indian
Health Service has some between all
those groups we're doing contact tracing
getting in touch with people after the
result is positive getting in touch with
our contacts the goal of the state the
state is to ramp that up to over 600 and
you have those contact tracers
regionally-based so right now we're
doing the contact tracing largely out of
Santa Fe so I'm out of Albuquerque
some in the northwest with nano and you
know service that the plan is to have
five groups regional groups of contact
racers with one group based in Las
Cruces so we think that will will help
the speed at which we get in touch with
people the speed at which people get
isolated and the speed at which contacts
get quarantined or so isolated so we do
want to we agree with you that this is
an urgent matter and that we need to
improve the timeliness of all these
steps
mr. mayor councillors this this is Don
Sanchez true with the southwest region
to a partnership with Mike and in that
be a response division with their case
investigators with positive cases we as
well have some contact research here and
there in the region in Las Cruces
helping with that in support of ER DS
efforts and also we have several
two that are calling the negative
results as soon as we get them so that's
one of our tasks every day to make sure
that negative results as well I turned
around as quickly as we can
you know notify folks on that so we do
that here not consider our offices as
well do that and that's a tad is a bit a
task that we have and I think just a
quick comment on the 500 day here I mean
that's you think that's probably a goal
work and we'll work towards again that's
going to depend on resources and
partnerships from others helping with
the testing that might be ambitious if
Robbie's ambitious but I think it's
something that we're definitely going to
work with our partners locally to
obviously wrap up the current level of
testing - you know higher level
throughout the county I just want to
clarify something I know Council
Florida's asked and I was listening to
your question and I don't know if if you
know I know you responded in your way so
she was talking about the positivity
rate and I think that's the one where
you told me initially mistaken for
mistook for transmission rate and that's
the number of cases a confirmed divided
by the number of tested isn't correct
correct yeah the positivity rate right
indeed right and so coaster Florida said
well it seems like the more tests that
we take then maybe the positivity rate
will go up and and and actually I don't
I don't know if that was fully explained
it so so counselor Florida so let's say
a hundred people were tested and two
percent excuse me and two people tested
positive than the the positivity rate
would be - and and same as if now if you
had 200 people tested and only two
tested positive then the positivity rate
would be 1% so even though it can go up
if if the number that have still coming
back as positive remain the same
actually the positivity rate could drop
isn't that correct mr. doctor
uh mr. mayor yes that's correct
generally the more people we test
eventually the positivity rates going to
go down all right and then that's the
one that okay and so you said that our
state as a whole was about four point
seven that based on our our May 13th
weekly number yes yeah and so that
included the entire state like even
including San Juan County and McKinley
County that that's correct and they and
they were doing a lot of tests out there
and that really that boosts our
productivity right yeah they're positive
they're positive rate is like 15% 16% so
what I'm trying to get at is now the
governor just recently on the Sun
Saturday is going to open up the state
but I believe she's leaving that part
out
correct leading yes correct the
Northwest region is and so what I'm
trying to do is is when I was asking
about leaving looking at numbers
excluding parts of our county that's the
reason so if the state does that you
would think that we could at least look
at it - and that's all I was trying to
get it so you know when you remove that
because obviously she's opening up the
entire state except for those counties
because the transmission the positivity
rate is extremely three times higher
than what the average is in the United
States and so that's the reason so I
just wanted to just verify that she in
fact was opening up the entire state
those two counties are the Northwest is
closed and and and I'm glad to hear that
our transmission rate has dropped to one
point one seven because it was two days
ago one point three three and and just
for my colleagues information and I
haven't checked it now but our
transmission I mean our positivity rate
was 2.9 percent a couple days ago
whereas the state as a whole is four
point seven so all right that's our
sword
so for this one to tell okay everything
about the positivity testing mr. mayor I
fully understand that but we're in the
reliving it well we know where we move
it this is a very rural area my concern
is that when it first came up in
Bernalillo we thought well that's a very
metropolitan area the airports there
people are coming in traveling from all
over the place you know fine and then we
look at the southern Dona Ana County and
oh it's because we have the Dona Ana
excuse me be a federal county prison
there and we have and Stampede but those
are you know like clusters and living in
a rural state and because we are a
border community I think there are a lot
of people who are going to be very
reticent about coming forward I think
that there's you know there's always a
problem with a negative you know ice and
all that sort of stuff and so I and I
just want to look at you know the
realistic picture and I understand I
don't think necessarily the projection
that if you test more people the
percentage is going to go down maybe the
percentage will go down but the numbers
will still go high so I just want to
clarify that I understand that you know
I thank you very much
I just wanted to also point out that I'm
sure that we have some lost persons who
have to travel to those counties maybe
not that many of them but I'm sure that
they have had to travel for whatever
reason in the last 30 days
and so they theoretically could be
traveling to some of the hottest spots
in the state and still coming back here
to Las Cruces thank you very much for
that counselor Flores counselor sword
okay I don't have a whole lot most
what I was interested in learning is has
been asked by my colleagues that have
spoken already I appreciate that
I won't go over almost all that but I
did want to bring up again that was kind
of touched upon and I'm not sure if we
covered it enough and that this lab at
the New Mexico State University called
Alliance DNA lab that is offered to do
testing right here and it's rather fast
tests - can I get from somebody on the
status of their lab as far as testing
our cases director for the division
contacted the council asking for some
help to get into the system testing for
corona virus here anywhere they'll take
samples from anywhere I'm pretty sure
and I directed mr. Stefan long to go to
the you guys didn't Department of Health
I didn't specify any particular person
though and that you must coordinate with
them and he was all for that he says yes
we want to do it in fact I'm reading his
email now and I'm not sure if he
actually comes right out and says he's
already contacted you or not but he
wants to do that for sure so I'm
wondering if that's been done and where
this what the status of that connection
with this laboratory here at NMSU who
would would be at now right now
councillor sir mr. mayor Councillor
sorry this is don't I'm just a Public
Health Division Southwest Region
director a counter sir let me follow up
with you on that I do not have any
recent information about that but I can
definitely if you want to even share
with me his contact information I can
make sure we can we can revisit that
link and like my excited landing said
it's probably a screw the state lab that
is you know Albuquerque people once to
work in coordination with them so I can
follow up with you on that I have not
had a direct communication myself thank
you sir I appreciate that a lot
I know you all have been working very
well hard this must be a very taxing
time for the Department of Health and
all the health care workers and first
responders etc and it's a huge effort
that you're doing um I just have a
little question about the thinking ahead
or planning ahead I'm not only thinking
what we're at where we're where we are
right now and what we're trying to do
now but what we want to do in the near
future and ain't even tentatively
looking at months ahead here when you
hear words about a second surge or
reinfection coronavirus I was thinking
when I heard about the meatpacking plant
in South Dakota's to fall South Dakota
the Smithfield having such a hot being a
hot spot there the first thing came my
mind was Stampede meets and I said oh I
hope we're taking care of Stampede meets
and and so forth I don't know I
understand it's a real big problem to
have tracing and and tracking of the
virus in a place like that where you
have people coming from all over the
region to work there but anyway I wish
you the best it's there again as you
said the coordination with pathogen or
things
good the governor talks but is talking
about testing and tracking and Tracy and
I appreciate that a lot because I think
in the long run in the long future run
here and even in the next few weeks
that's will her help you can just
imagine how I can imagine anyway how if
you know who has the virus and who they
have contacted while they're infected
whether they're able to pass it on and
on quarantine or zeis these people like
this and if that's done thoroughly and
we catch although theoretically
everybody that does that we can nail
this the whole Kovach 19 down but it's a
huge sigh understand so with that I
think on to the mayor thank you I thank
you thanks Kelso sort for your
information and dawn it's called the
Alliance DNA laboratory and let me just
give you their phone number it's one
eight hundred eight nine zero five seven
two two and they claim that the tests
only cost $99 and they get the results
in 24 hours and they're located on the
campus in New Mexico State University in
the arrowhead research area on Genesis
road or street wear what they are
requesting to us and funding so they can
get the reagents and so forth to do it
well we can even look at it ourselves
for some of our residents and we can
maybe provide some of that to what we
you know but let's Don reach out and see
how we can work a partnership with them
and maybe on our next call they can let
us know with happen thank you for giving
us that information and that is
different than the glad that I was
talking to you so okay so
gandara Thank You mayor thank you to my
colleagues for asking some very pointed
questions I understand the concern to 20
remind folks I appreciate dr. Lander
mean on the call you know he lived here
worked here and he was the
epidemiologist when I worked at the
department Don and I go back a very long
way so I appreciate the work I trust
what they do I know that the staff is
inundated with the work here and and so
I just want to say publicly thank you
thank you to all of you I thought this
is and I hope that making and I
appreciate you taking the time out of
your busy schedule to have these
conversations with us so that we
understand using science right and data
to support sort of the way the ways that
we want to continue to move forward so I
agree with conserving Gomorrah that a
joint work session with a county
definitely needs to be had I feel like
in the last probably week and a half
after talking to some of my contacts at
the governor's office that that they are
very worried and concerned about what's
happening here in the lasas area even
though data shows and we all can go and
look at the dashboard very specifically
to see where we're at and less crude in
Las Cruces the numbers haven't changed
too terribly much I'd spend maybe a few
days that I'd looked at it but they are
changing rapidly and we now know because
of what arrow in the Stampede area but
dr. NAND and I'm concerned about the
chaparral area that's what I think the
majority of the cases now the does that
Stampede area reside there I didn't
think it did it said that that esta but
when I look at the at the the dashboard
you know where you go into the zip codes
and such chaparral has a huge number and
so I am am i right right on on that no
clear Kessler ordre the
the challenge with that lip roadmap is
for the county map we've pulled out the
pulled out the cases from with the
federal detainee cases from the county
tunnels there on the regional tunnels
that they're pulled out from the county
totals for the zip code map I believe
we've got those the one reason why it's
looking like the rates are so high is
because that's the that's the location
of the Otero processing center so that's
that's a falsely elevated rate I believe
well no I okay falsely elevated because
those people are there they're just in a
they're not out in the community like
like we have in our other zip codes okay
okay as we know I guess what I heard you
that in know taro and Stampede that
you're working with the Department of
Health not only and I know you have
strong relationships with El Paso
Department of Health and what is that
some of workers right are and I know I'm
mixing apples and oranges because summer
taro and some were Stampede and I think
specifically your statement was that
purpose Stampede
are in that El Paso and what is area
specifically the for Stampede we had one
third of the cases were New Mexico
residents and they were counted in New
Mexico case counts and two thirds of the
cases actually live in El Paso and we're
included in El Paso is Keith Kountz so
it's you know it's a little challenging
because for Dan Jana County being right
next to you know to our processing
center and also with right next door to
El Paso the county of case accounting of
cases can be a little challenging but we
base it as much as we can on residents
yeah so I I appreciate that because that
was one of the things that in my
conversations with the governor's yes
and such would mean like I need I needed
more information around tracing and
tracking and you know they definitely
because of confidentiality in HIPAA want
to refrain from that and I'm not
suggesting but for to hear from you
specifically that was some of my concern
like where are they where do they come
are they coming up here to Las Cruces
and you can assume where some of the
migration patterns right the the
tracking that you're doing with with the
cellphone or whatever that that you can
you can hypothesize right that some of
that is happening you should be very
concerned and we should be really trying
to come together with the businesses and
such to have a deeper understanding what
the science is share it is showing us as
it relates to these cases and what we
need to do and that is staying home it's
social distancing washing your hands
those kinds of things and to you all the
experts that are doing the tracing and
tracking to ensure that we're getting it
in the forth quickly and that people
understand what they have to do to self
quarantine I think that's super
important and I would agree with concert
float is that there is still a stigma
right especially in those areas about
going to the doctor people don't believe
that they need to or you know they're
they're just um you know dealing with
this on their own so I do think that a
campaign strategy that addresses this is
probably very important then I don't
know if the health department has any
campaigns as it relates to you know
going to the doctor and sure you know
using the numbers right for Kovac but
making sure that you're that you're
getting tested because you just
mentioned 20% of asymptomatic
the trimmer counselor yes that's that's
correct yes
so that that is concerning do you have
that percentage of the asymptomatic
people that you're testing for our
region specifically dr. Landon mr. mayor
counselor no we don't have that for
region makes a difference I guess I'm
feeling like it does so that we can
educate testing testing testing people
frequent up a soda grocery shop have
family members you know just thinking of
myself I have family members on my
mother side of my father's side there
that live in those in those hot spots
those areas and so I think the education
is is really important mr. chair
counselor Deidre the 20% number was
basically a sort of a sample and we did
we don't have that that same level of
data for four we haven't process that
same level of data for all the cases so
I think I think would be fair to to use
the the 20% number for the state and
that's that's what I would recommend but
I agree with you I think it's very
important to get that information out
and to do a good job at that okay and I
appreciate I think it's important to
increase the County test sites I've seen
some some information I've put it on my
social media
about the testing that's occurring
mesquite area at the church there I
think and the Butterfield and then in
the northern part of the community I
think those are all important and that
and now to hear that you're working with
Laconia de Familia now how can the city
help in any of that is that is Don is
there something that you would recommend
to us in terms of partnering to ensure
that we're getting more more testing and
not only here just at the Department of
House I think you made mention community
of hope yes mr. mayor Councillor Gandara
this is dawn Sanchez Southwest Region
director for public health counselor
Gandara I mean absolutely were just in
those beginning stages of that
conversation of what they can do what
we're going to do how to partner and
definitely we can reach out to you too
there's other I appreciate your offer of
support from the city and definitely I
can stay in touch with you or other
staff building needs I think the city's
doing a really good job they love
promoting the the stay at home and the
hygiene pieces so I appreciate all the
work that you are doing each of you with
social media and just with with other
information coming to us from the city
that's been very helpful I think
continuing that education and support is
going to be critical and I can
definitely follow back up with you once
we have more information as to our next
step okay is that available to anybody
and I noticed early on that there have
been a couple of days that you were
doing antibody testing but I haven't
heard any more can you address we
continue to see more of those sites
where you're specifically doing mr.
mayor Councillor Godhra Mike Michael
Landon
from the help and regarding antibody
testing so antibody testing for this
organism is still relatively new and it
is is rolling out there are a couple of
fda-approved tests the way we're looking
at the tests it's it's most helpful for
getting an idea of the percentage of
people that have antibodies in a
community and it's it's less helpful and
challenging to use for individual
patient decisions at this time we expect
the tests to get better and the tests to
get better and and with more experience
they might be more helpful for
individual patient decisions but at this
time we're recommending that they mainly
be used to determine what's what's the
prevalence of positive antibodies in a
population say southwest region or Down
Yonder County that sort of thing and the
way you would do that we we do what's
called a SERO prevalence survey
potentially and there's planning for
that in the various regions to get an
idea of how many people have antibodies
today after the after the first wave for
example so that we're seeing it as
potentially most useful in the sort of
community coming up with community
numbers rather than individual rather
than determining or helping answer
questions for individual patients so the
side of that thank you dr. Landon is
that available in Dona Ana County you
know that's that's a good question I'm
not sure I believe tricor is I mean it
should be available I believe tricor is
is offering antibody testing and so I
believe I believe it's available and
it's different from the coded test
itself the PCR test which confirms
whether someone's positive that's that's
a different that's it's a completely
different test from that but I believe
someone
to get that test through tricor lab okay
I was going it done I'm sorry
no go ahead come to Gunther
go ahead I'm sorry I am I just wanted to
confirm if we know that specifically and
is their designated days and would
people go to try core speak to try core
specifically or just call that number
that has been advertised widely through
the Department of Health if I could
answer that mr. Neher I counselor I this
is this is a different type of
arrangement around this test so the the
coded 19 PCR test which determines if
somebody actually currently is
infectious with code that is that is
what Department of Health is doing
testing clinics around and all of that
because those tests are very important
for individuals you know that individual
isolate that sort of thing the antibody
test is different we we the our health
care system offers all sorts of tests
and some are better than others and this
the antibody test is being offered to
the health care system for individuals
it's not it's not the same approach
where the state is making it a priority
that individuals get the code 19 PCR
test the antibody test is is sort of an
elective test someone can go to their
doctor they should be able to and get it
through tricor but we're not
recommending that test for individuals
for individual decision making we're
recommending the test and we will be
rolling it out eventually to determine
for a geographic area that's the what's
the that's the problems of antibodies
how many what percentage of people have
antibodies that's that's how are you
doing it right now yeah I know I
understand I understand okay
you may mention on the team that
addresses people once they're
quarantined
an individual's quarantine and I and
you're checking on them and whatnot and
I'm assuming that there's a coordinated
effort with their own provider as well
in that team will there be especially
when you're waiting for results in that
team is there a mental health advocate
some may be a community health someone
that can keep an eye on someone's mental
health depression anxiety those things
that I think are probably running pretty
rampant as you are stressing about
waiting for the results but also during
that time is that something that you
have considered mister mayor Councillor
Godhra I think that's an excellent idea
we I can't say we have really focused on
that and I mean we just that it's not
happening right now the way it works is
the process works is a we're notified of
a positive test results then our case
investigators some here in Santa Fe and
Las Cruces will be will be calling the
patient and making sure they know that
isolation finding out who their contacts
were and then developing a list of those
contacts and that then that list is
shared with our contact tracing team who
contact all the contacts and provide
basically provide information to them
about quarantine and then a process for
following the contacts out we have
another team called the case monitoring
team which after case investigations
done the case monitoring team picks it
up and they
work with those cases until they're able
to leave isolation until isolations
discontinued we had a group of social
workers in our Family Health Bureau that
are able were able to refer cases to
individuals - that are having particular
challenges with isolation quarantine
other things and we probably need to and
hopefully this will perhaps help address
what you're bringing up we probably need
to have that same sort of mental health
referral mechanism which we don't have
at this time but I think we could bring
that on and it wouldn't Nestle be part
of the team but if someone's having a
some challenges we could refer them to
there could be a mechanisms refer them
for some mental health services and I
think that'd be a really good idea yeah
no I
hearing this pretty consistently about
when people are awaiting results they're
still waiting
you know seven to nine days I'm assuming
that they're not basically testing
positive or I don't know it's still
that if we had a lab here and people
that are was our larum testing doesn't
leave our County we could probably do a
much better job of assisting people
through this process and so I think you
again if what whatever we can do we I
think all of us have contacts at the
governor's office but also I know from
from why what I know about what you're
doing that this is super important is
that the I'm seeing the increase in
people's mental health issues with
mental health depression anxiety as we
move forward especially as people
continue to are unable to work but then
this just puts an extra layer right and
so I would really recommend that a
social worker and we have the local
collaborative here dawn
very much be a part of this process this
team that assists folks through this
process and and definitely my my
recommendation as far as again I can't
express enough the importance of working
with the county and I think we need to
have County manage of SES and our
colleagues on a zoom call because I
flatly refused to meet in person I'm
like they're doing don't understand why
that continues and that we need to be we
need to have the same messages through
the county we're all in this together
but there are hotspots that we need to
address and I don't see should be
specifically mayor opening up Cruces
although I would love to do that I don't
see us doing that yet until we
understand more thoroughly what this
tracing data and what and and we have a
better handle on you know migration
patterns those kinds of things of people
that are going back that are going back
and forth and so again I think we need
to work together we need to have a not
only a meeting but a joint campaign
addressing these issues countywide
in order for all of us to get out of
this in a more positive way
so thank you thank you see councillor
fuscus Thank You Man appreciate it
and I apologize for not being on the
video today having some some technical
difficulties outside the office but I've
been having a bad hair day
something like that but though I've been
listening intently and want to thank my
colleagues for all the thoughtful
questions and comment as well as the
members of the Department of Health for
being online with us again today and
taking the time to talk with us
and I think from all the conversations
we've had today understanding that we
have to take a holistic approach to how
we move forward with public health and
public safety being at the forefront of
the hierarchy of what we can provide as
a global government to our citizens
I think should continue to be our focus
I know we're all under a lot of pressure
other elected officials in the county
and elsewhere are under a lot of
pressure from all different sides right
economic pressure pressure from small
business folks and pressure from folks
who don't think it's time to reopen and
having those different conversations at
the same time there's a little bit
challenging for folks in terms of making
decisions that that are the right
decisions at this time but Public Health
and Safety you know as a result of Ko
bid I think are coming from all kinds of
places in addition to the virus itself
childhood and family hunger is growing
we see that by the numbers and the food
banks depression and mental health
issues is transferred and that up are
also growing probably exponentially
records from the variety of factors
including less concert on that I
mentioned people not being able to go
back to work or living the life that
they were before you know is
contributing to potential long-term
health effects that we're gonna have to
deal with in the future in addition to
now increased rates of poverty and
unemployment
you know domestic violence rates
homelessness and these things are all
part of the public health and safety
issue but I think we're that we have to
deal with in addition to the actual
virus itself if we really want to get
out of this as best as we can and I know
for the Department of Health you know
your number one focus right now is
obviously modeling and taking care of
the needs that we have directly related
to people who contract the virus and so
what I'm seeing is that you know
collectively as a state in a country
we're trending much faster now with some
states more recklessly than others
towards we open it and we have to face
that right in terms of what are we going
to
and so my my first question in terms of
the department to the Department of
Health dr. Landon is now that the de
governor's made this decision
essentially for this partial reopening
is there an opportunity to go back if we
spike or is this horse you know is we're
not going back I guess is what I'm
trying to ask in terms of is that a
conversation you've had with the
governor's office if we do tend to spike
again are we going to bear the brunt of
this is that what your recommendations
are to the governor or you know where
are we in terms of the work of that mr.
mayor Councillor I I haven't had
discussions of the governor's office
about this just what I know is that were
the state the leadership the governor's
taking a very gradual approach to
reopening a very thematic approach a
data-driven approach and if the data
goes in the wrong direction we'll have
to do something different which which
may be moving in the opposite direction
from reopening we were hoping that by
increasing testing by being more
aggressive with contact tracing we're
hoping with all those things in place we
can keep keep case character down and
gradually increase activity people will
still need to social distance they will
they'll need to you know telework if
possible but still need to do all those
things but as we and as the word gets
out that people can do more things
people will do more things and there'll
be more contact and if our case accounts
go up substantially we'll have to think
of how to bring them back down and
social distancing is that is a key way
to do that along with increasing testing
and a contact ring thank you dr. Landon
I mean I think I get the sense on the
political and the things that the
governor's probably not want to close
down after she's made a decision to read
because you'll be under too much
pressure politically whether that's the
right thing on the public health side to
do you know probably not right like you
said if we need to implant implement
those measures of social distancing
again and that's really the most
effective way to get those numbers down
and so I'm just thinking you know in in
terms of what you're thinking doctor
landing is this the point where counties
and cities should start diverging from
the governor's directives to really be
responsive to the needs of their
communities for the best public health
outcomes mister mayor Councillor could
you could you clarify that I mean I I
think I understood what you're asking
but I just I just want to make sure
could you yes so I'm thinking at this
point with the general blanket you know
with the with the exception of the
northwest with this general blanket
order to reopening businesses at 24 you
know especially some businesses on a 20
percent capacity and others perhaps
coming your advice as a public health
professional would you say that counties
and cities should start to think about
what the best decisions actually the
health outcomes that might not be
reflective of an overall you know
governor's directive at the state level
they - ideally move together either
forward with reopening or otherwise so I
think and the reason for that is we get
very confusing very confusing I think if
we if we have you know what option in
this city another option in this county
it's just going to get it's going to get
terribly confusing and I think there are
there are there are aspects of public
health considerations beyond cope it I
think cats are kinder I did a really
good job of bringing up mental health
related issues of coping mm-hmm I we
have economic issues of kovat this state
has been and your region and your your
community has been tremendously affected
by poverty which has a negative which is
probably the main driver of health
status and so we have to we have to put
all that together so long story short I
would say that the governor is taking a
measured approach it takes into account
the public health you know the public
health aspects you know she really has a
strong focus on that I think that's very
good the economic part of it I view can
be viewed as a public health issue as
well and so I would recommend we we
fully support the governor's approach
and that we not sort of break up into
different recommendations in different
place
okay I guess I just want to be even here
and what the best preparation is for the
city moving forward given the governor's
directives and there were what we want
to move as a state or where collectively
we should be moving as a state and if
that is really preparing for a spike
that's inevitable then we should be
talking about that right if that's
probably what's going to happen and that
means having those resources that my
colleagues talked about whether it's
testing a contact tracing I'm especially
down here where maybe we don't have the
centralized resources that we have in
Albuquerque and Santa Fe if we're
expecting as you said you know that
consistent modeling when people slap
social distancing we will see a spike
then I think we as a council need to be
talking honestly about dealing with a
spike even though the numbers are
trending now that's that's great to hear
but I think a productive conversation in
addition to this one would be ok guys
what are we gonna do you know once we
start reopening and and we see a spike
are you know are we ready what is the
Department of Health's role in dealing
with that spike is the state going to be
prepared for that and what resources can
Las Cruces bring to the table but if the
state and federal government either
can't or one for whatever reason right
provide something that we should have
whether it's contact tracing of testing
facilities your capabilities now I just
want to make sure that we're aware of it
as a city so that we can provide it if
we can and through our Telstra finder
otherwise and so I think that's one
thing that that I want to make sure
we're prepared for and having those
honest conversations about and so you
know that would be helpful for us to be
able to talk about honestly and openly
about that certainly hope that's not the
case but but it seems that you know in
conversations about the modeling that
that's probably what's gonna happen and
then lastly I just want to just some of
my colleagues comments as well in terms
of the the rates of infection and the
cases that we've seen at meatpacking
plants at the Otero County processing
center in the northwest part of our
state you know I think we all know that
there's a common denominator here
and who is being impacted what
populations of people are being impacted
and I think this is no different than
the health outcomes otherwise that
communities of color and migrant folks
experience in his country and in the
state and so it's sad to see you know I
think it's up to us to do what we can to
reverse that trend in the consistent
system a clear of of other layers of
government for those people and so
although our influence is limited to the
city of Las Cruces I know we can
hopefully work with our partners at the
county as it's my compost counselor
suggested here today to address what's
happening in our southern part of the
state and who were willing to put at
risk or who who were willing to say you
know that doesn't need a doesn't have
time to read same resources as everybody
else
and frankly to fight back against that
because it's gonna keep happening that's
not a question work more so just a
comment because it's frustrating just
consistently see you know whose lives
are being whose eyes are valued in whose
honor but with that thank you I
appreciate the update again that also
mentioned I want to be super mindful of
your time and thankful for what you're
doing I know it's not easy
lots of hard decisions that you and your
colleagues have had to make but folderol
have just been very pleased with how the
governor how our Department of Health
has dealt with the situation as we
continue to navigate through this next
phase your honesty and helping us deal
with this in our community is really
appreciated
something Thank You counselor tell sir
about the Stu V you had another comment
yes thank you and thank you to dr.
Martin to Don and everybody for
answering all these questions I really
do appreciate it
one of those things to consider and keep
in mind should we be able to you know
have that opening what are we what does
it look like for Hospital capacities
right now how are we doing you know I
know there has been
and I think that there might be spikes
you guys have said that sometimes I
respects when things are open what our
capacity is looking like at the
hospitals
mr. mayor I counselor the New Mexico is
is doing very well with capacity it
doesn't mean that certain areas aren't
stressed particularly the northwest but
the medical advisory team coordinating
function has basically worked to have a
partnership around transferring patients
so originally the patient's from the
Northwest that you know sort of
overwhelmed but the capacity in the
northwest were transferred proactively
to primarily Albuquerque but now there
there are opportunities for transferring
those patients to Santa Fe and and
there's also some possibility of
transferring those patients to Las
Cruces in you know areas where the ICU
capacity really is is quite good so
there's been there's been good a good
partnership in collaboration around
doing that I think I think New Mexico's
hospital leadership has really handled
this well and kept the I mean their
impacts but they've kept the impacts to
you know as as minimal as they can be
and minimal is probably not the word
because there have definitely been
impacts in Northwest but they've really
handled this well I think thank you and
I was saying then that there's a
possibility for transfers here to Las
Cruces then I'm to assume that our
hospital system here in Las Cruces is
doing well and fine with their capacity
been mr. mayor Councillor yes you have a
very robust system here in Las Cruces
from there
they seem to be you know doing handling
right well very well to the point where
there there have been involved in
discussions about helping with the with
the patient load in
twist okay thank you and then are we
tracking especially those patients on
our border region if they are seeking
those services here in Las Cruces for
hospital services or if they're going to
El Paso I do know of a couple people
that have said that they stopped care
out on the El Paso side but are we doing
any of that tracking or having those
conversations with El Paso
mr. mayor Councillor I am you know there
I'm sure there are conversations going
on between the logic uses hospitals in
El Paso
for example with our trauma system in
the state there's always occur we
perhaps need to do you know assure that
they're occurring for Coe good I'm
pretty sure they are but I mean that
would be something to check into and you
know Memorial in Mountain View I'm sure
are in communication with their their
colleagues in El Paso but that's a very
good point and we need to you know the
system doesn't just stop with a New
Mexico border and El Paso is extremely
important to the health care system Las
Cruces I would think it would be very
important for us to be kind of included
in the modeling for El Paso search plans
just in case as well as you know this
moves forward and you know this is not a
limited issue we're gonna see this you
know until after there's a vaccine and
everything so I think it's just keeping
up those conversations and making sure
that we're including each other in those
plans I think will be very helpful but I
really do appreciate your time
answering our questions thank you very
much Thank You counselor and you know
interestingly just one comment I just
thought I'd take a look at when you
talked about mental health and poverty
they're projecting the suicide rates to
increase because of job or income
disruption so I know probably you're
aware of that but I just just right now
I'm trying to figure out what percent
they're projecting so
another yet another thing to keep in
mind okay so let's see he was next
counselor Bencomo it's mr. mayor um I
definitely think that's a good point I
definitely think we should revisit the
funding that we've been providing for
community partners who have been who are
the most in contact with vulnerable
populations currently and seeing if if
how they're doing and how and what
they're hearing and if there's a need
for more to push out more resources from
the Social Fund um I have a two
questions for dr. Landon um or Don I
recently heard that someone who went to
get tested at MMC said that they were
asking for social security numbers I
wonder if you could speak to that and if
that's actually a need in the intake
John do you mind talking about that one
well I'll tell you this much councilman
como when I take my parents well my dad
before my mom even though they're they
know them I still have to provide their
driver's license social security number
birth insurance part I don't know I
don't know if that's just a normal what
you're trying to get it I mean they just
want to verify who they are yes we have
a large number of undocumented
immigrants who are not immune from the
virus so if you go get tested and
somebody asks you that that could deter
people from getting tested okay a
mistreat mr. Mara counselor
yeah I you know Don would be better able
to answer what's being collected in Las
Cruces I was not aware that social
security number was being required for
testing I don't think it is but you know
different places may be doing it
differently John are you there did we
lose Don I'm sorry I'm back there lots
of for a minute there but I'm I'm back
and what doctor landed I don't I'm not
aware that that's one that's requested I
mean we are asking for insurance
information in order to bill if that's
possible but that doesn't we don't turn
anybody away
if they don't have that information or
want to provide that information so I'm
not aware of the specific process a
tendency but we could follow up on that
piece as well yeah can you please I'm
gonna see or honestly any other testing
site particularly if you are opening up
more sites in Anthony in Mesquite there
I think and in Las Cruces right I mean
if word spreads that these testing
locations are asking for security
numbers people won't show up regardless
of it it's hard for someone who doesn't
I'm sorry security number to say oh I
don't want to provide that because you
never know what might happen after that
so I think it's an important piece even
if it's even if you're asking and it's
not contingent upon you getting a test I
think it's an important piece of
information to share publicly with
people that you're asking it for these
reasons but you will not turn people
away if they cannot provide you that
information I would yes I would really
like us to follow up on that
okay counter Bencomo we will do that
thank
thank you and then my last question I'm
wondering if you documenting if you
could speak to the mate I'm sorry the
governor's decision to require masks
statewide and the importance of that I
think it's important to just name it
publicly um you know unfortunately I'm
hearing a lot of it's really interesting
right it's the same people that are
pushing to reopen are the same people
that don't want to wear a mask it seems
and so it's difficult to sort of have it
both ways right if we're going to do a
reopening a soft one even water the most
percussions that we need to be taking as
individuals to protect each other and so
I'm wondering if you could just speak to
that
mr. mayor Councillor yes thank you for
that I think the most important things
are the social distancing maintaining
that six feet or more you know sort of
gap between people that's that's
critically important hand-washing
critically important doing it frequently
and making those supplies available to
people in public areas as much as
possible and then wearing a face
covering it is a sign of respect to
other people because the reason people
are the primary reason people should
wear face covering is to indicate in the
event of a cough or sneeze to assure
that all those droplets are being spread
you know out to other people so as the
governor has said you know we really are
sort of we're in this together opening
up is a community thing or a reopening
was a community thing and it was
discussed earlier that what happens if
we if we if the case goes in the wrong
direction well then we have to back off
some of these some of the reopening
options so social distancing maintaining
the six feet distance or more
hand-washing
wearing that wearing a face covering
when you're in public places and also
and also not if you're sick stay home
don't don't go to work don't go to any
public places that sort of things so
face coverings are clearly part of that
thank you for reiterating all of those
okay thank you and councillor sword
looks like you're the last one well
thank you good I'm gonna make it really
good
you'd be surprised but I'm gonna be
saying it has to do the testing of the
tracing um you all know that Apple and
Google are combining together to have an
app for tracing people has the state of
New Mexico has the HUD Department of
Health even discussed this idea as being
something we might be able to use here
in New Mexico
mr. mayor Councillor all options are on
the table
we had several our of our folks have
been on a call with other states and
Google and Apple this week to learn more
about that and that's definitely an
options on the table we want it we want
to bring to bear whatever whatever
benefits effect technology can will
allow to improve our contact tracing in
the state so we're looking at all
state-of-the-art options including that
one okay thank you so much Allah Thank
You mayor don't you think David - you
have a comment yes mayor I sure do and
thank you for the opportunity I wanted
to make sure and thank the Department of
Health before we signed off I wanna
thank David Morgan dr. Landon and Don
sanchez specifically they know we've
been in constant contact
we have emails going back and forth
quite often so I appreciate their
responsiveness I also appreciate that
they look into the items that we bring
up one specifically that I've asked for
is how we can better inform our first
responders when they have call-outs in
certain cases are there ways that we
could know
advanced they have looked into two items
I know that they continue to do that and
look for ways to make it better more
effective for our first responders as
well to help eat them safe so I
appreciate those efforts as well and if
anything comes up if they do find a new
method or process that we can go through
again I would really appreciate that but
ultimately just want to thank and thank
you again for being here on this call
and answering questions for our council
it is appreciated
thank you Mary yes thank you David thank
you very much dr. Landon Dave Morgan and
Don Sanchez we appreciate you very much
and spending almost two hours with us
sharing with us a lot of information and
thank you very much
mr. maryk appreciate okay we're going to
go on to the next step item 2.2 public
service announcements discussion and we
have with us miss Carla Walton who's
going to kick that off they are in
council my name is Carla Walton and I'm
with a community engagement office and I
cannot talk to you guys today about the
efforts the the community engagement
office alone with a public information
office are doing to make sure that
people are informed about the city
resources and to make sure that they get
information in this time of need I'm
sharing my screen with you guys and
pretty much whatever we approach a
project this is becoming the Tauri
strategy we are pushing a lot of content
right now in social media especially in
facebook in an Instagram in YouTube as
well because we understand that we have
to do things different to be able to
reach you know a better demographic we
also are populating constantly the city
website
Kavi 19 las cruces come with updated
information so anyone who has a question
can go to the website and get
information that they need over there we
also do in news releases and a lot of
the news releases that we're doing at
least for example for senior programs we
started doing the news releases in
English and Spanish because we
understood that the need was there and
another thing that we start implementing
is you know doing more utility inserts
we understand that no no everyone minor
field feel comfortable
with social media or mine will be you
know tech-savvy so we started doing more
utility inserts and the idea is you know
we started doing a double side utility
insert one side in a Spanish one side is
an English to provide information of
course we're still doing in OCLC TV the
in the radio updates and you know
spreading information and all the
databases some of the strategies that we
are doing is you know PSAs and let me
show you guys a video that we are this
is a draft of the video they weren't
working for quality of life
[Music]
and again the idea behind the video is
encourage you know the community to
continue continuing practicing social
distances continue washing their hands
continuing you know where the masts know
that we're gonna have the new
regulations from the state we are trying
to educate the public about you know the
importance of you know still being alert
and another PSA that we have coming up
is one with a community communications
office with a police department and it's
my understanding that that PSA is gonna
be ready next week and is about how to
wear the mask we are also working in a
coaster for quality of life that is
gonna illustrate you know the proper way
to wear the mask the proper way to
remove the mask and also how to dispose
the mask and I have to say that a lot of
these efforts that I'm talking about
they have been focusing on quality of
life they are they are you know they
have Roadrunner transit over there they
have singer programs they have been a
joy to work with they are always open
for new ideas and they have really the
best you know the community interests at
heart so we are trying to do our best to
make sure that it will be has access to
this information we did these seat
covers and Roadrunner Transit and they
were installed they are laminated they
are bilingual in English in Spanish and
we install it in the buses and every
other seat and the idea was to encourage
or draw riders to continue practicing
social distancing in the bus and another
effort that I want to talk about is this
is the most recent effort that we did
with senior programs in
was for the food distribution they get
food boxes to the New Mexico aging and
long-term services so actually it cones
counselor and como who was helping them
a couple days ago with the food
distribution and they had a huge
shipment so what we did is we issued a
press release and then the press release
give us coverage in Channel 9 k TSM
Channel for CBS and K Fox and of course
the sonja's and a Fukui radio but we
also did a post in social media and I'm
very happy to report that we were able
to reach yesterday I went back and I saw
the final numbers and we were able to
reach 20,000 people so the first day
originally they food distribution was
gonna be three days Wednesday Thursday
and Friday the first day they were able
to give away 700 of food boxes and
because of that we have to make changes
so we issue again another press release
yesterday without that information and
they were able to give all the food
pretty much what was you know what's
gone so we're very happy about that
because I was spoken with Sonia Saldana
which is they say you to the section
administrator and she was mentioning
that I hope they got people from
mesquite from La Mesa from Chaplin who
were coming to pick up you know foot box
and they are constantly working with a
state to have more food distribution
events but we know that the need is
there and it's my job to make sure that
the people who are who have the need get
information so they can they can receive
the help that they need and I have to
say that a lot of these efforts a link
Gallagher which is the director quality
of life she came up with this idea about
las cruces scarce so we created a
hashtag and where you say las cruces
scarce so you guys go to your social
media and you search the hashtag you're
gonna be able to see a lot of our
efforts there and as that this way and
the last event that I want to talk to
you guys about is the very 12 Mother's
Day event that we have on Sunday you
know happy Mother's Day
some of you guys participated with us
thank you so much for that and the idea
behind the man is it was because we knew
that it was going to be a very difficult
Mother's Day we all want to be we were
moms you know it's very difficult to be
a part in these type of celebrations so
we wanted to provide a community you
know to a different way to honor moms
but also you know a same way that you
can you know watch it
you know together with your mom we
together but apart you know watch it you
know and maybe Chad and Facebook about
were you watching in the video but
observing social distancing and of
course you know protecting all the
grandmas over there and we had a
participation of museums libraries
senior programs we have performers
including Chris Baker and also some of
the music that you were able to listen
and the background it was actually from
the art teachers from Las Cruces Public
School District and for that one we were
able to reach almost a little bit more
than 1,900 people and we receive
fifty-three engagement and all the
comments were positive and we that I
stand for any questions Thank You
counselor sorry did you have a question
or forget to put your hand down slur
about the study
Thank You mayor and thank you Carla so
much for all the work that you put
everything and thank you for you know
looking for unique ways that we can
engage with our community with the
Mother's Day event and everything I
really do appreciate it
um when looking towards what our new
normal is going to be the new different
steps that we have to take to make sure
that we keep everybody safe and healthy
as possible one of my suggestions would
be adding a different education to talk
about how you take off the mask clean a
mask keep it safe that way and then also
we're gonna have to talk about a child's
component on ways to talk to them
that usage kind of making it and
adapting that sort of behaviors because
it's new and it's hard and it can be I
know for my own the very first time they
did it it was very scary for them they
didn't really truly understand it's very
new but just learning that adaptation
other countries have had to do it their
children have had to do it but that
education component is very important
for them thank you so much counselors to
be and one of the things that we are
doing with the library is we have a
storytime media so we also can have
crafts on video and actually the way
that this program cannot evolve is like
at the beginning when we start you know
we start seeing the race on numbers and
copy the library we decided to do this
video about teaching the kids how to
wash their hands and the video good
response so that can inspire inspire us
to do more and more and more so we will
take that one in consideration and try
to release either animation or with the
library staff to educate the kids about
wearing the mask fantastic thank you I
really do appreciate that I think
whenever you have new behaviors that
need to happen it is hard but education
is really important for that sorry I
thank you so much for for doing that I
also think it's great that we're having
a PSA you said with the police
department yeah correct yes I am and
encouraging that are there other beyond
the inserts and the utilities and the
signs on the transit system
what other like physical in person ways
do you think that we can put out more of
those flyers or notices should we be
thinking about if a business not fun if
we have a fire that we could give them
anything like that yes for example some
of the information that we are getting
you know we also asked each department
in the city has you know certain
databases also the time all the Flyers
and a PDF format and then we said we as
a departments to send them out to that
databases to share with business owners
to share with movers Las Cruces public
schools with our teachers with different
members of the community to make sure
the information gets out fantastic thank
you and thank you Mary hmm Thank You
mayor pro-tem partner thank you so much
in the staff for this great presentation
and especially the Mother's Day virtual
celebration I loved it thank you I know
there was a lot of effort there and I
appreciated everybody's input and
participation I agree with concert
because to be on the two points I think
the more information we can put out
about washing our hands the importance
of washing our hands how long that
happens how long we should be doing it
graphics on wiping down and using
disinfectant like you had but the face
coverings as well I think there's
various types that you can use and then
going into some CDC kinds of of you know
to support the science supporting that
around washing those covering not the
ones that you had there in the picture
but maybe those like the face coverings
might be good the other thing is I know
that there's a local I don't know if
it's a fiancee of women and man
boyfriend/girlfriend that wrote a kovat
book that's being offered for children
at Barnes & Noble but they're local and
one of the things that kind of struck me
in a in a kind of facebook posts back
and forth with board member ray had a
meal is you know the kids are having
great difficulty understanding the Cova
and the people there their child care
their child care providers on using Mass
and whatnot and so I think doing
something around the
and addressing the kids and the issues
would be I think really important um and
that might be moving to your storytime
that might already be something you guys
are you all are doing but I think it's
important especially um and concert
because 2 V does a really good job as a
mom with small children and on counsel
reminding us right she she she it feels
like almost at every regular meeting
she's talking to parents with with
children right and sort of being
vulnerable enough to talk about the
issues that she's facing which i think
is is is is really good and so being
able to do that I think is important
addressing our families in Dona Ana Comi
I think are important the other part
around the food box distribution I think
that's amazing and again to a lot of our
commentary about being concerned that
the need is there I'd really like to
hear from our places that Community
Action Agency families and youth
incorporated especially as the school
year wraps up and they start decreasing
the number of food opportunities right
for the kids how FYI typically has been
the one to address sort of those issues
so I think in those PSAs I think it's
important to also remind folks about the
number of places that at least the
county have excuse me the city has given
funding to to help families especially
families with children small children I
think that's something that that to me
is is really important and in more ways
for businesses right to as they're
opening up as a resource to understand I
know that the restaurants and folks I
know we're getting a ton of emails from
people in the restaurant industry sort
of addressing
kind of having our own plan of action to
open up but um again you know I I think
there's a lot of smart people obviously
they own restaurants and whatnot but
they they talk about having a plan so I
think that we need to have PSAs to
address different kokum sectors if you
will and the those would be sort of my
my main main comments and again I'm
working with the county I think they
have bus systems right that moved from
from here to the outskirts of our
communities those smaller rural
communities to pick up vote so trying to
do something in tandem with them rather
than apart
I think the messaging has to be on point
and very very clear that we're together
in this and that we're working we're
working on on those things so I know
that means that requires you to a little
more work right to reach out to the
county and whatnot but I think it I
think it really is important but thank
you for all all your work I think that's
incredible everything that you've been
doing Thank You Man thank you mayor
pro-tem
councillor Bencomo thanks mayor um in
Thank You Carla honestly I just wanted
to say thank you for that presentation
and for everything y'all have been doing
I think the PSAs and they're really
creative involving us I'm excited to be
part of the story time with the library
I think I just all those things are
really great and I think the hashtag Las
Cruces cares lives true honestly I just
wanted to note that I don't know if you
all thought but Pistol Pete had a great
video on masks and I think that the more
we you know normalize it and the more we
we just start getting more comfortable
with it I think the better reception I
think shaming people into wearing masks
isn't gonna work shaming never works and
so I think the more we you know just
talk about
normally I think the better and and I
think having trusted voices like first
responders have this public platform to
talk about how you learn mass to talk
about you know really what dr. Landon
said it's really about respecting one
another with the mask it's a sign of
respect and so I hope that simile which
gets included in the PSA but so I just
wanted to say thank you for for all of
that and for ensuring that all of this
material and public outreach is in
Spanish as well okay thank you
counselor FLOTUS thank you Thank You mr.
Ayer and I just I just want to thank
Carla I should I a long ways but have
you gotten review did a presentation at
Temple beth-el on the census and then I
worked with her on other occasions and I
just say that you're absolutely
delightful and I think that you are a
very good ambassador for our city you
put a good face book on for our city so
I want to thank you on this the PSAs
effort but all the work that you do on
behalf of the city and and I do believe
that we need to reach out to to children
more so than ever and I think that
everybody was living with a hope that
maybe everything would be okay or well
enough to go back to school that you
have summer school
so we are need to have more outreach
efforts insofar as print so far as
buddha' bill and that sort of stuff and
I agree that we need to look at
refunding some of those projects we have
but again miss Walton Carla thank you so
much for the work you do and along with
Jaime Rickman and in the community
engagement office and thank you very
much thank you have to say that I have a
very good mentor Jamie is Jesse
able to work with a great boss yes she
is she's wonderful
thank you hmm Thank You counselor
Vasquez Thank You mayor and thank you
god I really appreciate your
creativeness and your ideas and you know
working I think with a really great
communication staff constituent services
staff always really impressed by the
quality of work from from Pio and from
our communications and community
engagement staff and so thank you I have
seen the bus wraps on some of our buses
that look amazing
and I think finding out these creative
ways for us to stay engaged and educate
and communicate with our constituents is
just really important at this time and
in addition to making sure that those
communications are both in English and
Spanish which you always do a great job
at doing that so thank you on all fronts
I think this is great and we'll
definitely need to lean more on on you
and others and our staff to continue
getting getting the word out there so
thank you so much thank you service to V
and that Mayor Pro Tem Thank You mayor
and this question might be a little bit
more for miss Gallagher and it's
regarding our food boxes I know that you
had just said that we ran out basically
of our food boxes are we working with
the state on maybe getting more
increased supply and how is that looking
and what are those types of
communications good morning mayor City
Council in Gallagher director for
quality of life we are in constant
contact with the state of New Mexico and
they are identifying their priorities
for delivery of food boxes statewide we
received the initial largest grouping of
the food boxes down to cover in our area
recognizing that we have a large
population they are going to work on a
few other areas simultaneously but we
are working on them to identify new
dates for additional food boxes you and
about how many are we feeding a week do
you think and it may be separately from
food box
two hour to go meals we I can give you
counselor
mayor Councillor abacus tubulin
Gallacher director for quality of life I
can give you our numbers as of last week
for food distribution for the week
ending May 8th
we provided five thousand seven hundred
and forty two home delivered meals we
provided four thousand four hundred
congregate meals and five hundred and
more than five hundred and fifty food
boxes over the course of three days for
a grand total of ten thousand two
hundred and ninety six thousand meals
were provided last week and that
includes frozen meals to cover Saturday
and Sunday supplemental food service and
tastic thank you so much I know that
this is such an important program and I
just want to make sure that we have all
the resources that are needed for our
community so thank you so much thank you
Mayor Pro temp Carla I forgot to mention
of course my my the important piece of
mental health I know that I had
specifically addressed the child abuse
awareness and the the help lines but I'm
super concerned and continue to be
concerned about mental health and I want
to remind folks those that are listening
that we have an online screening tool on
our website on through Mental Health
America that you can screen and then the
resources David I'm not sure that the
resources got put on there in terms of
the resources we develop the for sure
that we develop those are all important
things that we need to ensure that that
is on there but I want people to know
that because it sort of affects
everything right if people don't address
their mental health you know there's
some really staggering stats if you
don't address it it like takes ten years
basically for someone to finally get
enough nerve right to get to mental
counselor there's all these work on the
philosophies of before it gets to stage
four and so I just I just I think it's
important to remind folks may is mental
health month and I put forth with the
help of Jeannie presented through
Mesilla Valley a resolution to address
mental health month hopefully it gets
through the process so that we have it
on the 18th and a specific day - on May
28th - where it's like a we're green eye
the the I don't have all the all the
details but I'm in front of me but I
think it's a great opportunity to
encourage people that that screening
platform is there although it gets
really lost in the number of things that
get posted on that resource page so I
wondered if if we could do maybe a
little bit of changing and so people
have right there that they don't have to
you know scroll through a lengthy list
of information and so again the mental
health mayor mentioned suicide they
increase its suicide during this time as
well there's lots of programming in fact
next week for the mayor's prevention a
suicide prevention task force we will be
all trained on QPR push your purse
persuade and respond which is a and and
and there will be a plan to move into
this virtual platform to train people
citywide this virtual platform so there
were kind of the guinea-pigs the
committee here to hear firsthand acute
PR virtually on training and so again
they're there's so much to be said and
to talk about as it relates to that and
I just don't want people to forget that
mental health is a big big deal so
there's lots of things Carla ID through
David I can send
information out to you to around
specifically Mental Health America that
is putting on all kinds of hashtags and
Facebook's and sort of attack you know
tag lines and such that I think are
really important and I put a lot of that
out on my social media as well thanks
mayor
thank you Mayor Pro Tem oh I'm sorry
Lynn well David
my Estes and Lynn Gallagher Thank You
mayor I'll defer to Lynn first and then
if I have anything to add afterwards I
can't thank you Thank You mr. Mathis
Ling Gallagher again director for
quality of life just wanted to address
some of that on Mental Health Awareness
some of the ideas as part of the hashtag
las cruces cares initiative I want to
work with adding some more components
for some of those issues directly
councillor ganda at mapperton GaN data
you know I've shared with you that
changed directions promotion on the five
signs to know that you're in mental
distress one of the things as this new
order will go into effect tomorrow that
we need to be conscientious about and
that I want to do PSAs on from a quality
of life perspective is the fact that
social distancing is still the required
and best effort staying more as dr.
Landon indicated staying more than six
feet away from other people and social
distancing is still the remedy to
prevent coab in nineteen and as we relax
some of those criteria and we have
people wear masks certain people who
deal with mental illness don't
understand that when we wear a mask the
city is actually giving people
permission to become closer in in social
distancing so we need to educate people
that that social distancing is the best
method for reducing and eliminating
kovaydin 18 and it isn't necessarily
about the safety of a mask doesn't give
you safety from the virus as dr. Landon
said it's a sign of respect if you must
go into public and so we're working on
those PSAs Plus trying to get reduce the
stigma around someone who might be
facing some mental health issues or
behavioral health issues that don't
understand being in public homeless
populations we need to make sure that
they understand that there is a value in
that show of respect and wearing a mask
but it's difficult to have that message
it's sort of a Mis message so we want to
make sure that we have adequate training
and opportunities so that the community
understands that social distancing is
still the best method and if you must go
out wear a face covering as required in
the order but that doesn't eliminate
these stay at home order that is in
place
thank you I think that's really
important information it's sort of a
balance right of trying to trying to get
the best information out during this
time but especially for me it's about
making sure people know the resources
available if you are in crises and or
you're experiencing depression anxiety
where itical oh thank you David my
assist you have anything you wanted to
add yes
Thank You mayor and thank you Mayor Pro
Tem ganda I appreciate the offer to
provide us some additional links that we
can put on our site specific to mental
health and other areas of concern for
people being able to get their referrals
we can also look at the setup that we
have on our co vid button right now on
the kovat button that we have we do have
referrals in there for families and
youth and we also have for seniors in
there but we can look at setting up the
site itself so that people can see that
at the top of the list that becomes kind
of a what we call the hot topics like we
do on our main page and then that way
they have the opportunity to see that
first and then they can go into all the
other colvett information if they need
to
because right now it definitely appears
that we're moving into a stage where
previously it was getting information
about Cogan and how to handle that now
it's more about how do we get help how
do we get assistance for it so thank you
for the input I appreciate that
makes David Lin did you have another
comment or did you forget to put your
hand down there grandpa man down I'm
sorry about that no problem okay so
thank you very much for that Karla for
that presentation and so the next item
which is item 3.1 and I believe Barbara
DeLeon was going to be discussing Barbie
you want to talk a little bit about
what's what's happening with this issue
with this resolution yes thank you very
much Mary good afternoon mayor and
council Barbara DeLeon interim assistant
city manager and I appreciate the
opportunity to present this item to you
this afternoon as you all know we are
still waiting for the formal Public
Health order to be issued by the state
the governor spoke to hit on the 13th at
her press conference and we know that
there will be a requirement coming
forward for face coverings because we
are still waiting on that we weren't
able to provide you with a resolution
today we didn't want to have any
duplication or any conflict and
knowingly as we wait for that important
wording so we wanted to use this
opportunity to have a discussion about
face coverings and to present you with
some considerations for a future
resolution so with that I'm going to go
ahead and share my screen with you and
Barbara just for my council and
management's confirmation I just got
confirmation that no it has not been
issued yet and they plan on issuing it
later this afternoon
so you're absolutely right I just
checked myself mayor let's see okay very
good if you can just let me know when
you're seeing the presentation they have
for you yes all right so the first thing
I wanted to go over just briefly because
we had a very nice presentation from
councilor of APIs to be on face
coverings but just to reiterate the CDC
guidance for kovat 19 and as we've heard
from our Department of Health
partners and director Lynne Gallagher
the best way to avoid the prevent the
spread of kovat is to maintain the
social distance however CDC also
includes in guidance the wearing of
caught face covers washing hands and
disinfecting surfaces the CDC also
provides guidance on how to properly
wear face masks some of you mentioned
this earlier and I know that we have
people already in the organization I
believe from police and fire are working
on them videos so that we can help to
educate folks on how to properly wear
face coverings what they consist of one
thing I want to bring to your attention
is that the CDC is very clear that for
general use we are not talking about
medical-grade face coverings those
coverings are necessary for people in a
medical setting or certainly for our
first responders and so it's important
that the public understand that these
cloth face coverings are not medical
grade I mentioned the governor's Public
Health order that will be coming as as
her current health order expires today
on the 15th what we know from the press
release is that masks will be required
of everyone in public places starting on
May 16th and we're looking forward to
getting more details about and
definitions for how we can properly
implement that order the governor did
specify some exceptions to the
requirement to wear masks that include
when eating drinking exercising or any
medical requirements that an individual
may have so in doing some research about
some of the other communities who have
implemented either an ordinance or
resolution associated with face
coverings there are some different
considerations that you might want to
contemplate when thinking about bringing
forward a resolution first of all as you
as you know and
ordinance establishes an enforceable
action and a resolution is generally a
statement of support some of the reasons
that we might bring forward a resolution
for face coverings would include for
example support for the governor's order
if we wanted to provide a clear
definition for face coverings if we
wanted to clarify locations that we
particularly wanted to make sure that
we're applicable for face coverings and
and or situations if we wanted to
specify exemptions again we don't know
all the language that's coming forward
in the in the public health order but
these might be some additional things
that we want to consider and then
finally of course we have the
possibility that we might issue a
proclamation regarding face coverings
and if that were to be the case then you
could potentially come forward with a
resolution to extend that proclamation
as we have done for other proclamations
in this emergency situation so with that
I just wanted to open things up for any
questions that you may have regarding
any research that we did resolutions and
certainly to get your input on a future
resolution that you may want to bring to
council so thank you very much well
thank you Barbara let me before I turn
it over to Council let me just go over a
couple things so yes I am planning on
issuing my emergency Proclamation later
this afternoon which will require and we
decided to expand it to just all public
facilities public city of Las Cruces
facilities buildings any anything the
city of Las Cruces so that obviously
would include City Hall and it would be
some effective 72 hours after the time
and date I sign it
so Monday hopefully you all would then
extend it and by that time we'll find
out what the governor has to say and
then you can either as mine is just for
city city
buildings and facilities the governor's
is really all encompassing and so I
think we could even have a choice by the
following Friday if you wanted to
continue the the all-encompassing or
just the one that's in the city
facilities only and you're probably
thinking why should we have to and I can
talk a little bit about it or David did
you David my assist did you want to talk
here it's okay with you I can address
some and then you can add anything that
you need to so the governor the based on
the discussion that the governor
provided if the health order comes to
and matches her discussion it will
require face coverings in all public
places which would mean essentially that
it would cover City Hall and it would
cover other areas for the public gathers
so why would we have an emergency
Proclamation
well that would allow us the opportunity
then if we have it in place that we can
work on enforcement if need be because
otherwise it would be under the New
Mexico State Police for their
enforcement rules that would help us to
have a little bit more control over that
but more importantly because you've
heard chief Gawker's discussion about
that in the enforcement what it does is
it allows us greater opportunity for the
education aspect of it it allows us to
work with the people who may not be
following the order and we can work with
them on education from the standpoint of
saying okay these are the benefits for
it if you don't follow you do face the
potential for a citation if they do get
a citation and it's something that the
city worked on well then that goes
through our court system instead and
again it allows us greater opportunity
and flexibility to work with people
because as council point out previously
here's the thing that we don't want is
we don't want this enforcement or this
concern to be something that is
detrimental to people especially in this
time of the public health emergency now
you have somebody who's suddenly facing
court a fine potential for time in jail
we don't want to get to that extreme but
we definitely want the ability to work
with people and let them know that based
on what CDC is telling us
Department of Health is telling us face
coverings do help prevent the spread it
does help us to make sure that if you
are somebody who potentially is
asymptomatic you are not spreading the
disease the virus and we are working to
make our community bring those trends
down so that we can get to a point where
we have a new normal in place that would
be the reason mayor my understanding for
the reason for evident in place if
there's anything to add but you are more
than welcome to add to that thank you I
couldn't have done it any better
good job thank you thank you sir looks
like we have a couple questions or a
couple yeah councillor abate dystonia
counselor of nebraska's Thank You mayor
and thank you barbara for the
presentation no no animation I do it you
know I am very much I see the scientific
benefit the health benefit that this has
and when looking at this situation we
know for me I'd see it into three parts
and it's that physical health mental
health and economic health and they all
work together and as we move forward
with this new element in our society we
have to be able to balance those aspects
out so when we talk about soft openings
because we know that there are really
real actions consequences about our
economics right now we also have to look
at what safety procedures can we add to
that helmets health because it gives a
balance and I really do believe and the
science is showing this that face
coverings are a helpful tool for us to
use and I am I really want to make sure
that we have that robust education
system and I know that it's hard on the
enforcement piece and so what unique I
guess that we can have for our officers
I do think if it's still possible for us
to at least give our officers extra
masks for when they respond to those
calls so the first thing that they do is
just offer a mask if the person wants
one and you know that then they can
proceed but if we can try to do that
sort of things educate
cuz sometimes maybe somebody forgot
maybe it's you know there's all
different situations but just having
those a resource for them to give out I
think it's helpful and we hope that our
community members are respectful to our
officers and show them you know care and
compassion to you because they're doing
a job to really keep the whole community
safe and we hope that in turn our
community is being respectful to them as
well the second portion
like I said education I think it's going
to be just really important on how to
keep everybody safe and why we we do use
the masks with that in mind there are
going to be exemptions and that we don't
want to shame in fear shame people about
this and so what items or things do we
have and I know they've done this with
other conditions where you have a card
and you present a card that physically
says I am exempt and it doesn't give out
condition or anything it just says I
have a condition I cannot wear a mask or
anything like that
so a person doesn't necessarily have to
verbalize why they aren't wearing the
mask because there are you know a lot of
you know people don't want to disclose
you know medical conditions nor should
they have to for that sort of thing so
if there's any way that we can help
provide assist to make sure that our
officers and the public as well is
trained on that because there are going
to be exemptions it is going to be hard
for everybody to wear a mask you know
there are going to be exceptions with
that and then I will defer to my
colleagues and I would just like to
respond with respect to the masks
counselor of Aegeus to be we have had
the discussion about having them on hand
how it would coordinate that chief
Enriquez has of course been leading our
efforts to ensure an a procurement
department to ensure that we have
vendors and avenues for obtaining the
masks of course you all approved $40,000
from the tell shore fund for that
purpose we have been utilizing that
funding we still have some funding left
but as something we'll continue to
manage and monitor as we provide the
masks both to our own employees and to
the public as appropriate fantastic
thank you
Thank You councillor Mascis Thank You
mayor thank you Barbara and David and
you David you answered a few more
questions as it pertains to the benefits
of having a local ordinance version of a
state directive now so in terms of the
enforcement piece of that and maybe this
is a question for Chief Gallagher or mr.
Mathis but how we thought about the
process through which this will be
enforced in terms of you know where
people are probably not wearing masks
and you know being able to look at those
places as potential places for
enforcement or you know how will our law
enforcement folks be set up to be
successful if we were to do something
locally that would require local
enforcement
I'm just curious to see how that would
roll out how services can I ask you real
quick before Chief Gallagher answers are
you talking about the proclamation that
I'm looking to put forth which is just
city only facilities or are you talking
about if after the governor issues or
her general directive about
all-encompassing yes mayor well I I know
mr. Maestas mentioned after the
governor's Proclamation that the state
police would be tasked with enforcing
that particular directive but also
mentioned that a benefit of a local
ordinance apart from your emergency
declaration mayor requiring mass would
be that a benefit of that would be that
local law enforcement would be able to
enforce that as well okay so that if we
were to moving that forward on that that
would have been what I referred to zop
should be
and that would give the city time to
develop that for say next Friday to be
voted upon if we're going to move in
that direction because if you guys if
the council supports at least this
beginning part about the city facilities
and building then on Monday you all
would then just allow me that for it to
continue for 14 more days and then and
then that's on one hand that's the city
part and then by that time we'll know
what the governor says and then
incorporate or work with that and then
on Friday will be another vote whether
you want to either just continue how it
is with city facilities only or then
take it to the higher level and try to
match what the governor is saying in her
executive order once we see the
executive order so I just wanted to
point that out and then I'll let Keith
okay
Thank You mayor council vasquez Keith
Gallagher here can I ask you to repeat
what you want to know what your question
is yes chief if the city were to enact
the local ordinance requiring masks that
would be enforceable by Las Cruces
police department what type of approach
would you take to enforcement it would
it be proactive or would it be based on
you know folks calling in that kind of
thing
how do you envision that rolling out if
you were to enact such local ordinance
based upon the fact that the the
proclamation hasn't been made the
governor's order has not come out all of
these things are still in flux right now
the way we envision it would be to
continue to request voluntary compliance
and to use enforcement as a very last
resort I was been reading and I'm
interested to see what the governor does
say in reading about her quote something
to the effect of admitting how difficult
it is to enforce and saying that we're
going to use these the governors where
it's positive peer pressure to enforce
this I'm not clear what that means so as
I said this thing is developing quickly
and we are responding in kind
so thank you chief I I appreciate that
and I think I think her approach
although perhaps not concrete on details
is the right one the reason I'm asking
for your guidance in particular is
before we pass an ordinance would like
to know what the strategy would be or
the approach would be I think that's
necessary part of that conversation in
deciding of at least for me a local
ordinance is necessary in addition to
what the state is is doing or will be
doing you know I know I know the folks
who oppose mandatory face mask ordinance
really are concerned with you know
violation of their personal rights
freedom those kinds of things and so
being able to assure them that the
approach that the city would take on
this would be something similar to what
the governor is talking about in terms
of positive peer pressure would help us
decide that and so I know this is a
really tough one right because we don't
it potentially you could have hundreds
of people violating this ordinance at
one at any given time so where would you
direct your resources how would you
actually allocate you know officers if
at all to to enforce any type of
violation what I would hate what I would
hate to happen is that there would be
altercations or disputes especially at
stores or other places where some folks
have very strong feelings about not
wearing masks for whatever reason they
they choose to and perhaps would be
denied entry right into a into a
particular store so I want to avoid
those kinds of things and so just
looking to your direction in terms of
you know any any advice you might have
for us as a council on on how to go
about that I do do appreciate that with
certainly cognizant of data I would like
to remind everybody that it is a
violation whether it's the state or the
specifically the city it would be a
petty misdemeanor so not a not very high
on the list of priorities especially in
case you didn't know crime has risen
year to date in Las Cruces specifically
property crime and
again even evidenced by the recent
homicide we've had as a result of
property crime so I will not feel
comfortable diverting scarce law
enforcement resources to enforce this on
a proactive basis we will probably do it
as we see it on a case by case basis
Chief Gallagher can I ask you a quick
question this might help counselor
Vasquez so counsel roscas there was a
there was a report of a liquor store
owner or gun store owner in in Grant's
where the mayor was you know basically
defined the governor's order and so fast
forward this person they accelerated the
season this is the $5,000 fine and then
they checked charges there twelve days
at five thousand for total of sixty
thousand the difference between if the
state got ahold of you versus say the
city and is where I want to ask the
chief the most we can go or Jennifer the
most we can do is five hundred dollar
fine isn't that isn't that the case
that's my understanding as it being a
violation of the municipal ordinance
five for the Bella fine in 90 days in
jail believe the state enforcement has
different teeth specifically civil fines
that I understand may go up just for
high high as five thousand dollars right
right and that counselor the fastest is
why because I've had members of the
media ask me well if the governor is
going to do this why do it and that way
we have a little bit more control the
city does because I think the management
team the chief and everyone knows that
you know we don't want a if it goes out
of our hands and into the state if the
state gets called and they're the ones
starting to deal with this you know I
don't think they respect chief Gallagher
but I don't think he can tell them what
so that's why I think it's important and
imperative that we have our own okay no
thank you chief thank you mayor I think
you know definitely some some pros and
cons having the ability as you said to
have local jurisdiction over some of
these potential violations seems to be
more helpful than not understanding what
that enforcement discretion will be and
what resources are available is also
important to know realistically you know
what we can and can't do
and then how how we should be
communicating that to residents and so I
think you know I think you know I
support your Proclamation mayor and
given again given how uncertain this
might be in terms of how it rolls out on
the ground having a good way to
communicate this to the public once it
does once your Proclamation does go out
will be really helpful and I'm
personally happy that the governor issue
her her heard directed miss councillor
abate thus to be mentioned and balancing
out you know potential reopening of
businesses in the next couple of weeks
at higher levels needs to go
hand-in-hand with taking more protective
measures to keep us safe and so
hopefully folks understand that balance
Thank You mayor time Thank You chief so
councillor Vaska so you think you'll be
in support of it on conde to renew it
for 14 more days yes and you said it
would it would in addition it would
carry a City facility mandatory masks
requirement is that right right you know
for people the public coming in and
there's some verbiage for city employees
if they have their own office well you
know they don't be wearing a mask of
their own office but but but but they
should still practice social distancing
when there's a resident or constituent
you know but still there are provisions
in there for them and I think a lot of
these came out of councillor abate the
Stewie's comments as well so it's a kind
of like a combination of the two but
it's primarily to protect the main
reason I'll be candid with you is voting
for for tomorrow but since what we're
doing is we're kind of fast-forwarding
and just doing the city portion of it
and then after later on you find out
what the state is you know we can either
just continue with the city portion or
if the councilman wants to move in that
direction then you you ratchet it up a
little bit and you you support one that
mirrors what Governor on grisham the
same sure and that brings up a good
point mayor and I mentioned this before
but I think you know I mean I think
potentially where you have the
most people gathering not wearing mass
is going to be here Walmart's in your
Sam's Club and your lows and that kind
of thing I think the data has shown us
that and at least our public our own
anecdotal experiences show us that and
so is there any way we can require those
stores perhaps with like capacity over a
certain number of people to require free
face masks as people walk in if they
don't have them and you know I think the
Walmarts and the Sam's Clubs or the
world can afford that and so I don't
know if that's something we can do or if
that's something even as a city that we
want to invest in in terms of providing
those masks to people at those grocery
stores and big-box stores because that's
where I see potentially the most
non-compliance happen well I think this
is probably and Chief Gallagher correct
me if I'm wrong but this is how I think
it may be going could go down councillor
Vasquez is a lot of times either you or
or I or you know get get reports of the
business so let's just say it's a Home
Depot I get an email I send it to the
chief chief either sends codes or his
officers or then they or an or they'll
contact the State Police but they
usually go first and and usually
everything's good but let's say they
continue to do it I think the state then
either tells them either you're in a you
know we may shut you down or you have to
require all your two people you know and
then they and themselves make a rule
that they anyone entering that store and
everyone throughout it has to have a
facemask and then especially if the
governor comes through with her what
comes out with her purse in order well
there you go and then they have that
kind of work with but that's I'm just
speculating that chief Gallagher it was
just something you wanted that that
anything we had a meeting on this couple
weeks ago because of what those emails
and concerns we were hearing with regard
to businesses local community
development legal city city management
and we came up with a possible plan
whereby repeated non components could
result in the red tagging of that
business and essentially shutting it
down on the city's end okay thank you
Mary thank you okay counselor Vasquez
I mean Suzi counselor flood yeah Thank
You mr. mayor and I appreciate
everyone's comments I have a question
for miss DeLeon and for mr. Maestas and
for Jennifer Baker Brown the city
attorney did any of you consult with
anyone concerning the violation of
someone's Voting Rights I'm not talking
about civil rights and I were talking
about First Amendment rights I'm talking
about the Fifteenth Amendment which was
amplified in the Voting Rights Act of
1965 I'm not again not talking about the
First Amendment Second Amendment any
other amendment but I'm talking about
the Fifteenth Amendment and again had to
be codified by for the Voting Rights Act
of 1965 has that been taken into account
and we haven't I asked for a copy of the
governor's order to see how far it went
but as you all may recall I be eminently
opposed the mayor's idea of our proposal
to require masks at the voting facility
here in the city so at the city so did
anybody kick that around as a potential
violation or excuse me did you consult
with any voting rights attorneys or
anything like that
Varian counsel that is a consideration
and there are several things that are
happening nationwide several states have
enacted these types of rules and some
states have not there was a recent
ruling in Wisconsin from a Superior
Court regarding that but it's going to
it's it's undetermined law right now
because it doesn't there's nothing on
point specific to the requiring of a
mask when were under and
you see house order it's very different
than voter disenfranchisement than any
other type of situation because this has
to do with serious health issues and it
does place everyone at risk including
those that might be considered
disenfranchised so it there's no solid
line rule right now states are all over
the place and so are large jurisdictions
but yes those things are considered
before you jump jump Thank You mayor
appreciate that counselor photos the
other thing to keep in mind to two
points one you had asked about the
public health order as mr. David Morgan
mentioned this morning that is not out
yet it won't be out until later today
because they still have some other items
that they were reviewing that they
needed to put into the health order the
other thing to keep in mind is is
whether there is some emergency
Proclamation by the city or not if the
governor's health order does cover
public places it's gonna be requiring a
face covering for the voting in City
Hall tomorrow anyway that will still be
in place because it heard discussion
that she mentioned was face coverings in
public places in our lobby is a public
place so that would be in effect the
reason we're talking the emergency
Proclamation as the mayor pointed out
were for other items as well I hope that
helps clarify that for you thank you
well thank you mr. Mathis but no it
doesn't because my question is really
goes to and I and believe me I you know
I wear my mask I yeah I feel very
strongly about all the risk and health
respecters and I'm not saying you know
it's open season on anybody walking into
City Hall well without a mask and then
coughing on everybody and sneezing on
everyone but somehow yeah I think last
week when we spoke about this Amanda
Amanda Lopez
the county the county clerk and the
deputy County Clerk Amanda Lucas askin
and Lindsey Bachman both made a comment
pursuant to my opposition to to this
measure that that the the city speak
with the Secretary of State's office
minimally and was that them did anybody
contact Maggie Toulouse Oliver to ask
about the disenfranchisement issue
because it's still an issue and whether
people agree with me or not as a
material I think that when it comes to
voting voting is very very very
important to me and it just to me it's
it's a corner of our democracy it's a
corner but it's a cornerstone of our
democracy it's just you know and I just
I just don't want to see people feeling
that they can't go to vote because they
don't have a mask or they're going to be
forced to wear a mask and where they're
going to get that a card between now and
the end of June second that says that
they can't wear a mask that whole that
whole idea is just so frightening to me
and so so mister Maestas miss Jennifer
attorney Jennifer Brown mr. Lyon did you
did any of you talk to Maggie Toulouse
Oliver about that Esha don't all run a
what though you know I haven't spoken
with her counselor for this and what did
she say about that Barbour I excuse me I
said I have not spoken with her
counselors my research was on with
respect to other communities face
coverings and not specific to the voting
concern at this point well that's
interesting
okay earring council i my my work is
limited to legal analysis so I did some
case law search of the issue
historically and I did some secondary
research
and I'm not going to discuss what my
leader worships was on the record
however I did do that I have not
contacted anybody at state level because
we're not at that point but we are we
are without due respect Jennifer I mean
given an assignment that's what I
completed you were given assignment
okay so voting rights is not an issue
when it comes to voting excuse me I
think it's just you know council Florida
skin David is to jump in and and he
looks like he needs to make a comment
sure I can do that
mayor and council photos we definitely
we still have time to contact we can
still get a hold of however we need to
to see what their opinion is as Miss
Vega Brown noted what we were doing was
looking and to see if there has been any
determinations anywhere else
since there were other places that are
had enacted this already we wanted to
see if anybody had case law that we
could look at but we definitely have
time to contact whoever we need to have
follow-up and that way we can see what
their opinion is as well and that helps
with the determination thank you well I
appreciate that mr. Mathis and and I do
appreciate the work that I mean Jennifer
you know respectfully I and and Barbara
de Leon aye I respect the work you do I
respect it very much I think but you
know when it comes to voting rights I
mean I you know it's just an issue one
of my friends arminder Fleur was
actually one of the attorneys who first
represented the n-double-a-cp a before
the Supreme Court and this was back when
and and and it was a first case that
affirmed the Voting Rights Act sections
2 & 5 so it just to me
voting is just the voting right is just
so precious and I and I still want our
city to come across as being ogres about
this and I don't want the
good think that I'm in agreement with
the Wisconsin decision and I think that
one went to the US Supreme Court in fact
who because it was for the primary and
so there was you know there was a
judicial decision on that and yes they
did say that you know you can go out
there and vote irrespective of watching
any of the safeguards so you know it's a
tough decision for me I've always
supported the mayor and it seems like my
colleagues are all in favor of it or
seem appear to be but I just have to go
on the record and say that you know I
think we're treading in dangerous waters
and unless we can at least have some
directive from from Maggie Toulouse
Oliver from the Secretary of State at
least down on state I feel a lot better
so I thank you to mr. Mathis and as
always I hope Jennifer Vega Brown Myra
DeLeon and you and highest respect so
please forgive me for my caustic manner
at times but there's certain issues that
are just too near and dear to me to
state to be to not speak up on it thank
you
well councillor Florida's thank you for
that and I actually have some good news
so our friends at kvie
Barry did a story on the ACLU and
whether or not that they would have any
problem with it and so I sent that link
just a few minutes ago to the Secretary
of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and I
said Madam Secretary do you concur with
the ACLU meeting that video where it
says long as the city provides masks
it's okay
she says hi mr. mayor yes and we have
supplied all the clerk's with masks for
those who enter the polling location
without one what's harder is whether the
poll officials can turn someone away who
refuses that's the challenge so we're
just saying you want you know enter the
building now I will tell you this and
and I think I made a comment to someone
who emailed me okay so let's say you you
come into the building you're wearing a
mask you go into the voting area and you
take off the mask because you want to
put your glass
is on and it's in a little cubicle
there's I don't I don't see a problem
with that because we're gonna clean that
cubicle after they leave you know after
they take the mask off sink your glasses
on and see who's on the ballot and then
and they finish but their masks on they
take off
so we've technically really didn't stop
them they really have to wear the mask
while they're voting we just want them
as they coming in and preferably as
early and then if they didn't want to do
it as leaving what can we do tell them
they have to leave and then they leave
anyway so you know that that's really
the way I look at but I will tell you I
just got the text right now from the
Secretary of State so fortunately she
answered me pretty quick so I thank you
mayor and again what exactly did Maggie
say Maggie Toulouse Oliver saying what
works okay so and and you were kind
enough to allow me to send a video to
you this morning
the one from kvie and it says and I just
asked her do you concur with the ACLU in
that video where it said yes it's ok as
long as the city provides masks and she
said yes and we have supplied all the
clerk's with masks for those who enter
the polling location without one what's
harder is whether the poll officials can
turn someone away who refuses that's the
challenge so hey so you said did the
ACLU say that or did she say that no she
said that that's what she said to me I
centered the video ok one we're on kvie
they reached out to the ACLU and they
they actually said it was ok as long as
there are masks for people to wear
there's what they were afraid of if
someone's walking up they don't know
anything about the requirement they
didn't bring their masks and then they
and they say oh well you can't go in
because you don't have a mass and so as
long as we have one they put it on and
they go and vote and then they leave but
they can keep the masks
ok it's still a little bit iffy but it
you know I think that nobody really
knows it's you know it we've never been
in a situation like this but you know
for all of you
you know for all of you I would
recommend you read the book by re by re
Berman the title of the book is give us
the ballot and it shows how you know the
work the civil rights work that
everybody did working on the 15th
amendment that passed after the Civil
War he really gives you a good idea and
this book was published in 2016 right
after the the Voting Rights Act was
pretty much gutted by the Supreme Court
section 5 at least but it gives you a
good idea as to not a good idea a very
excellent in-depth historical
perspective of how hard it's been for
certain populations to vote at times
because of the disenfranchisement issue
so I would recommend that you all you
all read it when you have some time I
know everybody's busy but it's a good
read and you know and I Martin Luther
King it really when you look at the big
picture that's that's pretty much why he
lost his life and John Lewis almost lost
his life on March 7th on Bloody Sunday
in 1965 so it's very very interesting so
just want to share that with you thank
you thank you very much mr. mayor I
appreciate your getting that and I'm
glad that may be reached out to you
thank you
looks like Jennifer did you have another
comment Jennifer yes mayor I just want
to point out that the definition as that
will be in the proclamation for a face
covering is very very broad it is not
specific to a certain type of mask and
the reason for that is so that anybody
can use anything to cover their face
it's defined as a covering made of cloth
fabric or other soft permeable material
without poles that covers the nose and
mouth and surrounding
oh yeah we lost Jennifer or I lost
connection can't hear me we can hear you
because she it's frozen her frame is
frozen you sure you didn't do that
yeah I did I did I wanted agar well I
think I think I overheard you saying you
would learn how to do some stuff like
that yeah I did I'm a techie anyone can
tell you I'm a techie no I know she's
still frozen well we'll come back to her
and we'll go to councillor abate the
steam he looks like you have a question
yeah thank you
they are more of just a comment on that
um you know I I know this can be very
difficult but you do have you know kind
of safety and sanitation requirements in
our lives you know everything from
wearing pants to different types of
things when we go out in public it's for
not only our safety but for the safety
of others when we're out there on in
well it is a change it is an adjustment
but masks are now one of those types of
items it's for the safety and sanitation
not only for ourselves but for others
and it is hard to adapt and adjust and I
do want to make sure that we are
providing masks to communities who might
not have them and also like attorney
Vega Brown is saying the definition is
very very broad so that people can use
whatever they have around them but we
know that they help and work and we do
as a society need to have some of those
things in order for others to for their
because it safety and sanitation and
masks or another portion that we have to
include in our lives now that we have
this new element in and it's gonna be so
important and I keep saying it with the
three things
it's our physical health our mental
health and our economic health it is
going to be a balance and we need to be
able to use all the tools that we have
at our disposal to make sure that we can
progress and move on and return to
our lives in it it will look different
but in a more normal way in fashion so
we can't hang out more later and things
like that
you know and so I know it's hard and
there are going to be situations and
areas like at the city hall for voting
where it seems I'm you know you want to
protect rights and voting rights and I
think that's absolutely critical but
there are just those safety sanitation
concerns and so I I'm glad that we're
offering the masts um we have that broad
definition you know and once again the
person I offered the the thought about
the cards just as a way of somebody who
doesn't want to verbalize it's just
another tool doesn't have to be the only
reason our way that somebody can
disclose that they can't have a mask on
but it's just another tool if they don't
want to verbalize it you know um some
people just don't like talking about
those things so it doesn't have to be
the only way just another tour at the
disposal of the person so you know mayor
ie I am in agreement with your emergency
Proclamation I think that as we move
forward we have to balance these items
and I'm glad to see that we're adding
component at the state level and at the
city level as well thank you
great Thank You councillor and
councillor Glenn Como
oh wait a minute I'm sorry councillor
done Mayor Pro Tem gondola and
Councilman : thanks mayor um I to men
agreement and with the emergency
Proclamation I think that's important I
am I am concerned because as you know
the system and that is working with our
county clerk's office and and Christine
Lavetta and the people that they have at
the polling I don't want there to be
this to be or any conflict about this
and so I'm hoping that we're training up
our people that Christine is on on-site
and or by phone call
um and that so that we limit that kind
of conflict for sure I absolutely agree
that this is for me voting and the
ability to do so as sacred and we want
to continue to influence to have people
come and vote but but really we've we
tried to to say absentee you know go for
the absentee ballot there's still time
and I think it's important to to say
that I do agree that rather than it
being a resolution that it needs to be
in Orleans I think that's important for
me it's about the safety and well-being
using science and data to support that
it's all about trying to open up in the
most responsible way and I see that
again according to dr. Landon is social
distancing is most important but this
face covering is another tool the tool
box to include the whole idea of the
hand-washing and the wiping down I think
that's all very important elements to
this and and so I don't want to have to
take a few steps forward and then only
to take back and and again up until
recently as of last night I was very
concerned with our numbers in this idea
of coordinating and collaborating with
the county to ensure that our numbers
continue to go down and so nice to hear
the data essentially right off the prep
hot off the press with the decrease
whatever that number was so it was at
one point one three or something that
went after one seven one point one seven
from one point three three the day
before right right so we want to
continue to do that and so anything that
we can do and I like the idea the
recommendations made by cheap Gallagher
about the big box I think that's the
super important as we continue to
navigate this is is reducing the numbers
of people that don't have the mass and
and the numbers that it's it's those
folks that are those companies that are
have have been a challenge for us and
probably continue to be a challenge for
law enforcement and state police so
that's that's really all I have to say
mayor again I think a robust and
education campaign is super important I
like the strategy that chief Gallagher
spoke to his men compliance right
looking for voluntary compliance we want
to continue continue to do that Thank
You mayor Thank You mayor pro-tem and a
quick shout out I don't think she's
still on but Jennifer David Maestas
Chief Gallagher for the team to think
this out and and move forward with a
city directive instead of the state
because it gives more control to the
city and then allows the chief and his
department to help regulate it and let
us do it our way and they in recognizing
how the council feels about being too
heavy-handed because once it's in a
different department and we have no
control
councilman como thanks thanks mayor um
and thank you Barbara and Jennifer and
David for all the research in the work
you put in front of us I think it was
really smart to not present something
today until we heard from the formal
governor's orders I honestly I will be
supporting the mayor's extension 14 day
extension I agree with mayor pro-tem
about the need for an ordinance and I
would like to and I you know I hear
chief Gallagher and this balance of you
know increasing property crime but you
know the truth is is that we just live
we're living in crazy times and so I
would like to hear strategies and a plan
for
how we would how we could potentially
enforce this that still prioritizes
voluntary compliance and and you know
that that centers the the safety of our
officers for sure but I do think it's
important you know I I also very much
think I am a fierce advocate for voting
rights i much of my private life is is
dedicated around this and i taken a
different perspective than my colleague
councillor flores you know i think it's
interesting that those who are
historically marginalized from the
ballot box are similarly those who are
being disproportionately impacted by
Kogan 19 it's people of color it's poor
folks that are hugely being impacted by
this disease and as we move forward I am
making this decisions with a public lens
health first and foremost because that's
what we need to do in the middle of a
global pandemic and I think asking
people to wear masks in all city
facilities is an extension of frankly
protecting people's especially those
historically marginalized communities I
think it's simply asking asking everyone
to sort of face masses and it's an
extension of that I don't see those two
things being in direct tension with each
other in fact I see them working closely
with each other um I I'm you know I
continue to be really concerned about
big-box stores and I'm not entirely sure
I'm seeing a lot of metering so I would
like to see more language in however me
we move forward with face coverings that
also ensures that we're also reminding
right businesses that metering needs to
happen that um if you're gonna you know
if you're allowed to open up to a
certain percentage that you are
enforcing strong metering
in your place of business to protect
yourself your employees and your
customers you know and and I just
honestly I want to know this whole idea
of civil liberties has a person of color
in this country trust me I know what
it's like to have civil liberties
threatened and being asked to wear a
mask in a public space during the middle
of a global pandemic is simply not that
so I feel really strongly about that I
think we need to take every single
profession we can to protect our
neighbors to protect each other so that
we can come out of this much sooner and
much stronger so thank you mr. mayor
thank you
Jennifer are you there I just don't see
you I didn't know if you wanted to have
any closing comments and I think
councillor Flores was gonna apologize
for freezing you what uh-oh we're
freezing her no I guess she's not there
okay well great well thank you
counsellor the florists you have another
closing comment I just want to say doggy
respect counselor van como the several
voting rights is you know it is is
within the you know the bigger scope of
voting rights
excuse me of civil rights but I don't
fail to see how important this issue is
I don't fail to see that at all so for
all of you know the voting rights issue
is just very near and dear to me and I
and I just want you to know I think that
in one way or another so well you know
most of us of color those of us who are
women those of us who are you know lbgtq
or I have all you know I think you've
all had experiences of being
marginalized or mistreated or whatever
because I just want to make it clear
that this isn't just a flippant
you know raising you know this as I and
I preface it by saying I've always
supported everything the mayor has come
forth with and everything that everybody
has said makes a lot of sense to
but I'm just saying when you're when
you're weighing it against voting rights
my voting rights and I agree with
everything that counts are a beta Scooby
has said I agree with everything
everybody has said I and I respect
everybody's perspective I just want you
to understand mine and mine is that I
feel very sorry about voting right so my
gonna vote against the mayor's the
proclamation or the ordinance no and
after all that's been discussed and
everything being weighed and I'm glad
that Maggie Toulouse Oliver contacted
the mayor that is probably what you know
makes me supportive of the measure but
I'm just saying I don't know what the
ACLU forwarded to the mayor or with them
if they sell you sent anything but yes
these are these are desperate times so
we have to take desperate measures and
one of them it's desperation you know we
want to stay alive so but you know I do
anticipate I know that when I propose
that we have a curfew and the mayor you
know gave me pushback on that fine you
know it's his probably but you know one
of the issues one of the concerns he had
was that you know there was going to be
you know rioting and people like you
know pal holding all sorts of
demonstrations if we had a curfew and
I'm not saying it's going to do that
that's going to happen but anytime
there's any kind of restrictive measure
that's taken any kind of restrictive
measure people will be out there but I
do appreciate everybody's comments and
thank you mr. mayor thank you counselor
and I know it's just a matter of time
that you're going to come up with
something that I'll be supportive of so
mr. mayor I just I think I think it's
important to reframe this it's not a
restrictive measure it's a protective
measure I just think it's an important
refrain to make no problem okay so David
Maestas you had a comment yes mayor just
one final note I wanted to let council
and the mayor
that Jennifer was not able to get her
computer reboots although you were
asking for her to get back on she
couldn't she was trying though
and then I don't I think I have to
apologize we fail to mention that we
will have additional masks on hand at
City Hall for the voting so there were
some questions about that we do have the
plan to have them on hand so that if
somebody shows up and they don't have
them ask me to have them available thank
you thanks David
Council Florida said what happened is a
kate barry from channel 7 she contacted
aclu and and got a response from them in
a video response as one and so she put
together a segment a TV segment and so
that's that was the video that I sent to
the Secretary of State that let her
watch it and I just said do you concur
with the a say use position which
basically said the gentleman that was on
the video said that as long as the city
provides face masks for a voter who who
comes to the City Hall and doesn't have
one he says I'm okay with it so that's
what I sent to her and so I never
communicate with the ACLU still remains
mr. mayor
and if they refuse to wear a mask they
will not be allowed to vote that's what
you're gonna know no they won't be
allowed to come into city can if they go
to City Hall allowed to go into City
Hall they won't they won't be allowed to
go into City Hall where they intend to
go to go vote so they won't be able to
vote and that's what I said wear your
mask go inside the cubicle take your
mask off vote and put it back on and
leave we're good okay thank you okay I
can it gets it I appreciate everybody
thank you for for for this and looks
like we'll go ahead and ask for a motion
a second to adjourn Oh before you forget
and thank you
Barbara DeLeon for your work on that as
well I inadvertently when I was
mentioning the chief and Jennifer and
David
apologize you did a fantastic job and I
know you worked hard to get this done
before our meeting so thank you Barbara
so with that I'll entertain a motion to
adjourn II move to adjourn fat-cat
motion made by councilor florida ii my
mayor pro-tem gondola that we adjourn
all those in favor signify by saying aye
aye we're adjourned it's 108 p.m. thank
you