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Business community calls on Santa Clara County to ease public health restrictions

Original post made on Sep 14, 2020

A coalition of business leaders across Santa Clara County are calling on public health officials to loosen COVID-19 restrictions that they say have crippled local businesses for the last six months.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, September 14, 2020, 1:30 PM

Comments (10)

Posted by Steven Goldstein
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Sep 14, 2020 at 2:42 pm

Steven Goldstein is a registered user.

Yes, after the CDC just reported that on-site eating at restaurants doubles you chances of getting COVID 19, the "Chambers of Commerce" a private trade group wants to have the county ignore public health risk?

Sorry, the reality is that these businesses should have known, like Donald Trump did, that this was a long term problem.

They relied on false promises that the COVID 19 would have been dealt with in 2 months, it looks more like 2 years.

Fortunately the smoke has cut down infections because people cannot leave home without wearing a smoke mask, and that outdoor dining is shut down.

All the doctors know is once you open the businesses, especially indoors with no ventilation, the COVID 19 will return with more danger.

We cannot stop our improving situation just to put ourselves back to the same danger again.

There needs to be a different path, but no one wants to take it, providing life support for businesses, or putting a complete holiday on all expenses and providing secured food and supply chains. Just like they did in the film "Contagion".


Posted by Make smart choices for health and for economy
a resident of another community
on Sep 14, 2020 at 3:04 pm

Make smart choices for health and for economy is a registered user.

Yes to everything said by @StevenGoldstein! Of course businesses want to re-open as soon as possible, and we all want them to be able to do so and get back to normal life. However, we’ve seen this movie before: we prematurely re-opened in late spring, which resulted in even worse coronavirus spread and further lengthened the time that we are all shut in and locked down.

Many in the community are hurting from the shutdowns and from coronavirus. We need to weigh everybody’s interest in getting to a longer-term stable situation. Small businesses and the unemployed need to be able to get back to work, students need to be able to get back into schools, and we all need to have reasonable safety from covid. Roller coastering up and down with coronavirus will not achieve these goals.

Let’s do the smart thing for everybody’s health and to get our economy rolling again for good. Our county health officer and department have done a stellar job for our community. If they say to proceed cautiously, let’s do that.


Posted by Steven Goldstein
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Sep 14, 2020 at 3:18 pm

Steven Goldstein is a registered user.

Here Here!

I cannot argue against anything you said.

I am for trying to get us back to business. Too many people are out of work it is true.

But this problem is above business owners and workers. The virus simply doesn't know about economics or politics, it just wants to thrive and is very good at it.

I pray that we can get a vaccine ASAP and it works and is safe.

Unfortunately we have people trying to make us fight each other too much now. One knew in January, but did not level with us. And now is trying to interfere with science.


Posted by Victor Bishop
a resident of Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Sep 14, 2020 at 3:27 pm

Victor Bishop is a registered user.

The authors of the report state in the report:

“ The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, the sample included 314 symptomatic patients who actively sought testing during July 1–29, 2020 at 11 health care facilities. Symptomatic adults with negative SARS-CoV-2 test results might have been infected with other respiratory viruses and had similar exposures to persons with cases of such illnesses. Persons who did not respond, or refused to participate, could be systematically different from those who were interviewed for this investigation. Efforts to age- and sex-match participating case-patients and control-participants were not maintained because of participants not meeting the eligibility criteria, refusing to participate, or not responding, and this was accounted for in the analytic approach. Second, unmeasured confounding is possible, such that reported behaviors might represent factors, including concurrently participating in activities where possible exposures could have taken place, that were not included in the analysis or measured in the survey. Of note, the question assessing dining at a restaurant did not distinguish between indoor and outdoor options. In addition, the question about going to a bar or coffee shop did not distinguish between the venues or service delivery methods, which might represent different exposures. Third, adults in the study were from one of 11 participating health care facilities and might not be representative of the United States population. Fourth, participants were aware of their SARS-CoV-2 test results, which could have influenced their responses to questions about community exposures and close contacts. Finally, case or control status might be subject to misclassification because of imperfect sensitivity or specificity of PCR-based testing (9,10).”

And yet for all of Cody’s precautions, the 49ers were allowed to use indoor locker rooms for weeks ( while gyms were closed). Members of different households handled the same ball ( while basketball hoops are being removed to,prevent people playing) and there was no social distancing or mask wearing during practice and the game.

Peter Katz is correct.


Posted by Gary
a resident of Sylvan Park
on Sep 14, 2020 at 3:45 pm

Gary is a registered user.

Risky behavior by some does not justify the same or even more risky behavior by others. The Mountain View Chamber of Commence should announce the candidates it endorses for City Council so we know whom to vote AGAINST.


Posted by Steven Goldstein
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Sep 14, 2020 at 4:25 pm

Steven Goldstein is a registered user.

In response to Victor Bishop:

You can try to misinform the public but the conclusion of the report did say:

“"This investigation highlights differences in community and close contact exposures between adults who received a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result and those who received a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result. Continued assessment of various types of activities and exposures as communities, schools, and workplaces reopen is important. EXPOSURES AND ACTIVITIES WHERE MASK USE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ARE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN, INCLUDING GOING TO LOCATIONS THAT OFFER ON-SITE EATING AND DRINKING, MIGHT BE IMPORTANT RISK FACTORS FOR SARS-COV-2 INFECTION. IMPLEMENTING SAFE PRACTICES TO REDUCE EXPOSURES TO SARS-COV-2 DURING ON-SITE EATING AND DRINKING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS, EMPLOYEES, AND COMMUNITIES¶¶ AND SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19."

As far as you stated:

“And yet for all of Cody’s precautions, the 49ers were allowed to use indoor locker rooms for weeks ( while gyms were closed).”

That gym was PRIVATE. They do not work out in a PUBLIC gym. The individuals there were being “bubbled” so that they had no contact with anyone, at least that is what is said. Your making a clearly false comparison and you know it. As far as:

“Members of different households handled the same ball ( while basketball hoops are being removed to,prevent people playing) and there was no social distancing or mask wearing during practice and the game.”

Your just trying to make people more angry with false information. What can I say? You are probably a paid “astrofturf” sock puppet and nothing more. You said:

“Peter Katz is correct.”

He did say:

“"Our businesses are demonstrating a willingness to follow the rules," Katz said. "The challenge is that the rules keep changing, or that there are rules that seem to apply to one kind of business but not another."

Yes the “rules” keep changing because new SCIENCE is being determined in a daily basis. If you want to avoid that kind of problem, DO NOT OPEN UP EARLY, WITHOUT PROOF OF SAFETY. When the proof is there that it is safe, then it is time to open.

The BUSINESSES demanded to be opened up with political force prematurely (VIA THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE) and the BUSINESSES know it. They complain that they succeeded to open up to early and new evidence is proving they caused more problems with the spread of COVID 19. In fact studies like this can be used to hold the business accountable for being a danger to public health. THAT’S WHY YOU ARE SO ANGRY.


Posted by Victor Bishop
a resident of Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Sep 14, 2020 at 4:45 pm

Victor Bishop is a registered user.

How is providing the verbatim part of the MMWR paper misinforming the public?


“ That gym was PRIVATE. They do not work out in a PUBLIC gym. The individuals there were being “bubbled” so that they had no contact with anyone, at least that is what is said. Your making a clearly false comparison and you know it. As far as:”

The NHL and NBA are in a bubble. The NFL players are not. They mingle with the public after games/practices.

In another thread
Web Link
Goldstein claimed I was “attacking” him.

What do you call the comment :
“ You are probably a paid “astrofturf” sock puppet and nothing more.”

Goldstein has a problem with people disagreeing with him. Hence th misinformation, twisting what one said, bringing forth spurious arguments and putting words into other people’s mouth..

This has been fun, but I have more important things to do.


Posted by Steven Goldstein
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Sep 14, 2020 at 8:15 pm

Steven Goldstein is a registered user.

In response to Victor Bishop you said:

“How is providing the verbatim part of the MMWR paper misinforming the public?”

Intentional omission of related information is a misinformation tactic. Using “cherry picked” quotations out of context is misinformation as well, and you know it. As far as:

“ That gym was PRIVATE. They do not work out in a PUBLIC gym. The individuals there were being “bubbled” so that they had no contact with anyone, at least that is what is said. Your making a clearly false comparison and you know it. As far as:”

The NHL and NBA are in a bubble. The NFL players are not. They mingle with the public after games/practices.”

Still it is a PRIVATE gym, it is not open to the public, nor does it operate like any public gym, it is an internal function of the team. It does not sell memberships, rent lockers, or provide public fitness consulting. Again you know this. You said:

“Goldstein claimed I was “attacking” him.”

Yes you did, by constantly using language that is simply nothing but personal attacks which is completely different to :

“What do you call the comment :

“ You are probably a paid “astrofturf” sock puppet and nothing more.”

That is not a personal attack, it is simply an observation of all the activities you have done online. As far as I know it is not a personal attack, it simply is a political practice performed by those with a financial conflict of interest regarding the topic. Everyone knows who I am and that I have no financial interest. BUT you have not disclosed if you do.

“Goldstein has a problem with people disagreeing with him. Hence th misinformation, twisting what one said, bringing forth spurious arguments and putting words into other people’s mouth..”

Instead of discussing the topic, you simply want to “kill the messenger” with any means possible rather than discuss the situation logically. This is a perfect example of a personal attack, by constantly saying negative comments about my personal behaviors. Perfect Donald Trump logic, if you can’t address the problem attack the questioner.


Posted by Victor Bishop
a resident of Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Sep 15, 2020 at 7:03 am

Victor Bishop is a registered user.

"Intentional omission of related information is a misinformation tactic. Using “cherry picked” quotations out of context is misinformation as well, and you know it. "

Says the man who selectively copied and pasted a portion of the report, while intentionally omitting related information.

"Still it is a PRIVATE gym, it is not open to the public, nor does it operate like any public gym, it is an internal function of the team. It does not sell memberships, rent lockers, or provide public fitness consulting."

DOes not matter, the county health order applied to all facilities, businesses public or private in the county. I am surprised that you are supporting dangerous activities, like people from different households mingling in the same indoor facility when it was forbidden.

I rest my case against Goldstein.


Posted by Steven Goldstein
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Sep 15, 2020 at 10:15 am

Steven Goldstein is a registered user.

Victor,

The Conclusion paragraph speaks for itself. If it is the FINAL paragraph it is the FINAL word. You just are trying to deny that the conclusion is what it is. You are simply trying to attack science, just like Donald Trump did when he visited CA regarding the fires

As far as the PRIVATE gym, it is the same as having your own PRIVATE gym. The PUBLIC business rules do not apply to your PRIVATE gyms at home. That is what the Gym at the team operated is at Levi or any other training facility is. It is their PRIVATE land or PRIVATE home and the order to the PUBLIC spaces simply cannot apply.

In any case, given this new science, there may be more restrictions passed down by the County, or State that may shut down the NFL in CA anyway. In fact the news is not good for the NFL if you read the article found here (Web Link titled "The Coronavirus Is Revealing Football’s Human Cost
Amid a global pandemic, the NFL’s non-guaranteed contracts force players into a familiar choice: stay safe, or stay on the field."

I actually believe it is unsafe for the NFL to play in any case. It should have been kept shut down. But politics has forced players to work when they have no proven safety, and in fact players ARE getting sick. You can thank Donald Trump for it.


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