Message from the Danville Town Council
We are reaching out to you today because we are concerned. Concerned for the health not only of our citizens but also our businesses and the Danville economy. For the past three and a half months, we have been dealing with a pandemic that has devastated our economy, our finances, our health (both physical and mental), and restricted our mobility and ability to travel. As difficult as these last months have been, all indications are relief is still months away. This presents us with an ongoing challenge, one that we must face as a united community.
We have been very fortunate here in Danville that our residents worked with us to follow the county health order. Many have sacrificed to keep the curve flat. And to those who have done so, your community thanks you. But we continue to see those who choose to ignore their personal responsibility, exhibiting behaviors that unnecessarily expose themselves and others to risk. We recognize the hardship we have all been under with the stay at home order and the shutdowns of local business, but we ask that everyone stay the course.
Our government leaders here in Danville, along with those at the county and state levels, continue to try to “thread the needle,” striking a proper balance between keeping our community safe and healthy, while phasing back activities that present greater risk of exposure to COVID-19. Many of our businesses have been allowed to resume operation on a limited basis, but others have not yet been cleared to do so.
As you have no doubt heard, there has been a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases across the state which has caused both the governor and our county health officials to delay the timeline for further reopening of businesses. Not only that, there is concern that if this rise can’t be slowed or stopped that there could be a rollback of some of the re-openings that have already occurred. For the good of Danville, our community and our businesses, we must work to avoid this.
In order to assist our restaurants with reopening safely, the Town Council has approved a series of street or parking space closures to allow the restaurants to expand their outdoor dining. Yet even so, we continue to receive complaints of businesses not following the safety protocols necessary to staying open. We ask that all businesses adhere to the Shelter in Place Order for the safety of both patrons and staff.
Another issue where we ask the community to follow the guidelines of the SIP is in the area of large gatherings. One of the most anticipated events each summer is the annual Kiwanis July 4 Parade. As a result of the pandemic and the SIP order, the Kiwanis took the proactive step of taking the parade virtual this year, as a gathering of the size would not be allowed under the order. The Kiwanis organization has put a massive amount of time and effort into making the virtual parade something that will capture the history of the event, as well as the spirit of Danville. The parade will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2020. To get information on the event as well as to see where it will be livestreamed, go to www.srvkiwanis.org/parade.
However, while the Kiwanis are making these efforts to provide a parade while still keeping the community safe, the group of Danville citizens who have started the Sunday car cruises have announced that they will be doing a cruise on July 4, and are calling on residents to ‘line the streets’ along their route. We can’t stress strongly enough that having that many people out on the street presents a significant virus transmission risk, and we are asking residents to please NOT do this. The Kiwanis Club chose not to hold their event for the safety of the community. Asking people to come out to watch a car cruise flies in the face of that sacrifice and creates a safety issue.
It has been a long three and a half months, and we still have a ways to go before we are through this crisis. We ask that you all continue to be patient, practice social distancing, wear facial coverings and continue to follow the restrictions of the SIP. Ignoring the SIP is contributing to the rise in COVID-19 cases and could potentially slow down the Town’s recovery from this crisis even further.
Thank you and stay safe,
Mayor Karen Stepper
Vice-Mayor Lisa Blackwell
Councilmember Newell Arnerich
Councilmember Renee Morgan
Councilmember Robert Storer
Address/Location
Danville Police Department CA
500 La Gonda Way
Danville, CA 94526
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 925-314-3700
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