Sheriff and Supervisors Forge Deal, Move Toward Risk-Based Coronavirus Approach
In a major announcement issued Monday afternoon, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors chair Susan Gorin and Sheriff Mark Essick unveiled an agreement that apparently ended a tense week, one that put the sheriff at odds with most of the county’s political and law enforcement leaders.
Gorin and Essick announced the creation of a Sonoma County Economic Recovery Task Force, which will include a diverse coalition of community members with a goal of moving past the current model for managing the coronavirus emergency and spurring economic recovery across the county.
Last week, Sheriff Essick shocked and surprised many by announcing that he could no longer in good conscience enforce the county’s health orders. He cited what he called the “crushing” economic damage being done to the community, and accused the public health office, and its leader Dr. Sundari Mase of ignoring his request for information and of a lack of transparency. He said the sheriff’s office and its 650 employees would stop enforcing the orders beginning Monday June 1st.
Under the new plan announced Monday, the county would move away from a health order-based model of coronavirus management, and toward a more risk-based approach.
The announcement pledged more transparency in the process, and that under the new plan Sheriff Essick would agree to enforce county health orders.
Due to a recent rise in coronavirus infections in Sonoma County, the statement said the current health order would continue in place through June 8th, at which time the transition to a risk-based approach would begin. That new stance would apparently eliminate designations of businesses as essential and non-essential.
Until June 8th, the announcement said that Sheriff Essick and his department would continue to evaluate violations of the current health order using their own discretion and an education-based approach.
Author: newsofthenorthbay
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