Contra Costa County Needs a Health Officer Who Will Act in Residents' Best Interests
The Issue
It has been reported that Chris Farnitano intends to retire from his position as the Contra Costa County Health Officer, and the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors will soon appoint a replacement. As of March 2022, the state of emergency that was declared in response to COVID-19 will have lasted two years. This state of emergency has granted local health officers unprecedented power over our lives. Local health officers are unelected officials who rule by edict, empowered to suddenly announce rules that restrict our basic freedom to live our lives as we please, as long as the orders are intended to control the spread of this virus.
As residents of Contra Costa County, we urge the Board of Supervisors to select a new county health officer who will wield this tremendous power carefully. Specifically, we believe our new Health Officer should meet the following criteria:
- Be a true leader, making brave decisions based on reliable evidence rather than blindly following recommendations of other public health officials.
- Will weigh the risks and benefits before imposing any public health order, recognizing that there is more to public health than the prevention of the spread of a single virus and that all measures have the potential to cause harm.
- Acknowledges the errors that have been made since the beginning of the pandemic and vows to adjust course whenever warranted by changed conditions and new, reliable data.
- Will rebuild trust in the County’s public health response by providing honest, accurate information, rather than fomenting fear in an attempt to manipulate public behavior.
- Recognizes that it is time to move beyond the crisis mode we've been operating under since 2020 to think more long-term about public health needs.
Given the unusual times we are living in, this may be one of the most momentous decisions you will make as Supervisors, and, with the above principles in mind, please give the selection process the due consideration it deserves.
After signing this petition, please write directly the Supervisors. Feel free to use your own words or cut and paste from this letter.
District 1 - John Goia
john_gioia@bos.cccounty.us
District 2 - Candace Anderson
supervisorandersen@bos.cccounty.us
District 3 - Diane Burgis
supervisor_burgis@bos.cccounty.us
District 4 - Karen Mitchoff
SupervisorMitchoff@bos.cccounty.us
District 5 - Federal Glover
district5@bos.cccounty.us
You can find which Supervisor represents you here: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5715/Supervisor-Who-Represents-Me
The Issue
It has been reported that Chris Farnitano intends to retire from his position as the Contra Costa County Health Officer, and the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors will soon appoint a replacement. As of March 2022, the state of emergency that was declared in response to COVID-19 will have lasted two years. This state of emergency has granted local health officers unprecedented power over our lives. Local health officers are unelected officials who rule by edict, empowered to suddenly announce rules that restrict our basic freedom to live our lives as we please, as long as the orders are intended to control the spread of this virus.
As residents of Contra Costa County, we urge the Board of Supervisors to select a new county health officer who will wield this tremendous power carefully. Specifically, we believe our new Health Officer should meet the following criteria:
- Be a true leader, making brave decisions based on reliable evidence rather than blindly following recommendations of other public health officials.
- Will weigh the risks and benefits before imposing any public health order, recognizing that there is more to public health than the prevention of the spread of a single virus and that all measures have the potential to cause harm.
- Acknowledges the errors that have been made since the beginning of the pandemic and vows to adjust course whenever warranted by changed conditions and new, reliable data.
- Will rebuild trust in the County’s public health response by providing honest, accurate information, rather than fomenting fear in an attempt to manipulate public behavior.
- Recognizes that it is time to move beyond the crisis mode we've been operating under since 2020 to think more long-term about public health needs.
Given the unusual times we are living in, this may be one of the most momentous decisions you will make as Supervisors, and, with the above principles in mind, please give the selection process the due consideration it deserves.
After signing this petition, please write directly the Supervisors. Feel free to use your own words or cut and paste from this letter.
District 1 - John Goia
john_gioia@bos.cccounty.us
District 2 - Candace Anderson
supervisorandersen@bos.cccounty.us
District 3 - Diane Burgis
supervisor_burgis@bos.cccounty.us
District 4 - Karen Mitchoff
SupervisorMitchoff@bos.cccounty.us
District 5 - Federal Glover
district5@bos.cccounty.us
You can find which Supervisor represents you here: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5715/Supervisor-Who-Represents-Me
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on January 24, 2022