The push to reopen our nation has become stronger than ever over the past few weeks. Despite some elected officials being hesitant to take action, many are listening to the concerns of their constituents and proposing strategies for the road to recovery. Among these pioneers is Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey, who has been pushing for a safe reopening for several weeks now.
One of his biggest victories was the recent reopening of beaches across San Diego, including Coronado. Bailey was a strong advocate for allowing people to walk and swim at the beaches, and supported a grassroots campaign to get our beaches back.
“We focused on common sense… asking the question: if walking on a sidewalk is safe, why isn’t walking on the beach? Why can’t we surf in the ocean, or kayak in the bay?” These questions resonated with San Diegans, who began demanding that these safe activities be permitted.
The persistence of citizens and leaders like Mayor Bailey undoubtedly led to beaches and parks reopening, but that’s just a start. Talk of reopening “nonessential” businesses has circulated for weeks, as Californians grow increasingly eager to get back to work.
“At the end of the day, this really comes down to… whether or not [politicans] trust the American public. If you trust the American public, you trust that they’re going to make decisions in their own best health interest,” Bailey said. He remains optimistic that all businesses will be able to comply with social distancing protocol through the reopening process. “I trust that business owners can safely reopen, because no one has a greater incentive for the protection of their employees and customers than responsible business owners… it’s incumbent upon all of us to give them the opportunity to do so.”
Bailey’s push for a safe reopening is backed up by both common sense and data, and prioritizes public safety above all else. As California moves into the second phase of reopening, it will be essential for elected officials throughout the state to follow Mayor Richard Bailey’s lead in balancing health and financial concerns.
