Act with caution, wear masks when possible, and work with your neighbors to keep the economy rolling – better behaviors are imperative, but they will not be mandated. Those were the common themes present in messages from Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce and City of Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel in video messages aimed at constituents on Wednesday.
Each mayor stuck to a respective message of wanting to see success in reducing positive COVID-19 cases, while not wanting to see any changes to the economic environment like Alaskans saw earlier this Spring.
With regards to mask mandates, Mayor Pierce passionately reminded viewers that he is against government mandating such behaviors because “we’re all individuals and we’re responsible.” That said, he requested that residents follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines to help slow the spread of COVID-19 on the Kenai.
Mayor Gabriel discussed Central Peninsula Hospital reaching bed capacity and that they are making plans for accommodating future patients. He then expressed his fear of a dystopian vision of what he does not want to see in Kenai: a return to the restrictions on economic sectors that hit the state in March. He believes that the people of Kenai can keep that from happening by being proactive, setting aside the divisiveness that has come with the pandemic, starting now.
Click here to view Mayor Brian Gabriel’s message.
