Response To A Comment From An Anti-Masker

I usually don't get to comment replies this quick, but considering we are on the eve of another Zoo Shutdown, I thought that this comment that came in today would be appropriate to post and respond to at this time.   The irritations about many aspects of this Pandemic, especially why we are still in it, nine months later, have been circling my mind all day.  So let's get to it!

Link to the blog post referenced 

is at the bottom of this page

@Brenda -  Thank you for your comment.  As much as I enjoy a good debate, this is not a topic I'm going to engage again,  because I don't have the time, energy or more importantly, the need to. 

First, you didn't have to note that you were an Anti-Masker, because your words showed your lack of respect for rules, orders and the health of others.  They illustrated that you are in the category that has given the middle finger to the Pandemic, and you and your like, are more than probably to blame for this situation continuing, for what will soon be a year.

You certainly have the right to do as you want, but that does not make it the right thing.  And while you can do whatever you want outside the Zoo, in the Zoo there are rules that need to be followed.

The Zoo is a controlled environment.  The rules for being on the grounds, as a Visitor or Employee were set in accordance with the City Health Department.  These rules allowed the Zoo to ReOpen.  If these rules were not in place, the Zoo could not have ReOpened.  If the rules are not being followed, the Zoo would have had to close again.  As a Visitor one must agree to follow the rules.  Not following the rules while at the Zoo risks closure, which causes lack of revenue and puts the needs of the Animals in jeopardy.

You started by noting that I called out an Employee for not wearing a Mask.  You are damn right I did.  Employees are not above the rules, and they set the example for Visitors. 

In response to my issue with people being unmasked in areas common with masked, and to wear appropriate masks, you called me Entitled.  It is not Entitled to expect rules to be followed, so everyone is safer.  This isn't just about me, contrary to your position as someone who is anti-mask. 

  

That all said, I am Entitled.  Myself and anyone else who wants to stay safe and is following the rules put forth by establishments we enter, and recommendations by health professionals, WE ARE ENTITLED to have the air in our space be as free of unhealthy toxins as possible, especially in a Pandemic when those toxins have proven to be deadly.

Maybe your wish for Christmas should be that no one you care about gets Covid.  

And yes, I am a piece of work.  I am confident,  I am opinionated, I am outspoken, and I don't bow to bullshit.  Thank you for the compliment.

Related Post:

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2020/08/sfzoo-re-opening-irritation-with-un_15.html

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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Governor Newsom Accelerates Phase 3 - What Does This Mean For The Zoo?

I finally had time to read Governor Newsom's latest Update, dated Fri June 5.

At this link you can scroll the section, June 12... in the above screencap and choose the highlighted Zoo hyperlink which will take you to an eleven page pdf document on guidelines.

http://www.oesnews.com/california-public-health-officials-provide-covid-19-update/

While I directed most of my frustration about the Zoo not being allowed to Re-Open to Governor Newsom, the final decision seems to be carried by local Government.  

Based on this and other recent research it seems the Re-Opening Protocol is that each State Governor forms their Timeline based on CDC (Center for Disease Control, a National Dept) Guideline.  Then as the Governor allows entry into the next Phase, a County Timeline comes into play, mandated by Local Mayor's who are taking queue from local Health Departments.

Curiously, in this June 5 Timeline Update Governor Newsom announced California could enter Phase 3, a full two months earlier than noted just over a week before.  Why the change? Who knows.

With Zoos being in Phase 3, what does that mean for the San Francisco Zoo?

As noted the final decision will come from local Government, so we must continue to wait for Mayor Breed to give the word that the Zoo can re-open.

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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Re-Opening Updates and Curiosities

As I continue to read about what other Zoo's are doing in regard to Re-Opening, I also try to learn and understand the position of California Government that puts Zoos in such a delayed category.

One thing different I learned this week, was that at our local level, there is a concern in regard to the Transmission of Covid, by and to Animals.

This was the first time I had heard this as a reasoning, so I inquired with several people I know from other Zoos.  Two out of State and one in CA.  This new reason, is noted as coming from the CDC, as well as local Government.  One of the reasons I find it curious, is that other U.S. Zoos have opened, and if it was a concern from a National department, then how could other Zoo's have opened?  

I'm not saying this isn't a valid concern, I'm just curious if it is a concern that factors in regard to re-opening.  The two out of State said it was not a factor in re-opening.  All said it was a concern, while noting that most exhibits have a distance of six feet from visitors, or are behind glass.  

I mentioned in a previous post that I had a concern for the SFZoo Chimpanzees from the moment this pandemic started.  The new yard allows people to be very close and I immediately thought the path needed to be blocked off.  Of the Zoo Animals, I would assume that of most concern are the Great Apes, being closely related to Humans, and Big Cats, because of the ones at Bronx Zoo who contracted Covid.  I would also assume that any Animal exhibit that is not a six foot distance, would have the barrier pushed back.  That all said, if these steps are taken, would that not be enough to protect the Animals? 

I would never be on the suggesting end of a rush to open if the Animals were in vulnerable positions.  My main concern with delayed re-opening is the continued financial hardship.

If this information carries any weight to the reasoning, I wondered if the Petition was even worthy, because a "transmission" issue was never brought up as a concern for re-opening.  I decided to stop networking the Petition.  I still think based on the information that is out there, the complete disregard for  distancing at mass gatherings, and the comparison made to the re-opening of the Botanical Garden, the Petition is valid.  It didn't catch on within California, and that was what I wanted.  It did bring awareness, get some good comments from signers, and provided a place to spell out the contradictions as I saw them, and send them to Governor Newsom.  

Petition Comments. 

Thank to those who signed 

and left Comments.

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Blogger's Statement
"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."
For Full Statement see this post:
https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html
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