The Viruses Among Us

VIRUS #1


OK, enough of the results are in. We have made a HUGE mistake in reopening so soon, even in Kentucky, which thanks to the governor has been slower than most to jump the gun, but even we are among 17 states where cases have spiked since we have reopened for the sake of profits.


A LIFETIME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A LIVELIHOOD.


I wrote that weeks ago and I stand by it. Yes, you and I have been inconvenienced by some closings; some not very sensible, but life, even if unemployed is still better than death, or spreading contagion to your loved ones. So, what to do,...reconsider everything and backtrack where there are indications such openings or relaxation to rules may have contributed to new infections. it's the only sensible thing for Team Kentucky to do, and the way we will all get thru this together.


At the same time, not all the changes were bad, they just need to be reanalyzed in light of recent spikes in virus cases to see which need to be changed and which need to be retained. An example: my bank lobby was closed; we customers were to use their walk-up or drive-in windows only. Meadow Muffins! With several cashiers, a large lobby, and people available to check masks and social distancing, banks should provide lobby service. That's just one of several regs that ought to be studied for possible change.


But, A LIFETIME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A LIVELIHOOD, and with that as our mantra, we ought to generally pull back from the rush (slow or fast) to reopen everything.  New York, once the epicenter of cases and deaths, is now the state with the fewest new cases and deaths thanks to judicial reopening rules. Kentucky can, and should, do better.


VIRUS #2


Racism has bubbled to the forefront again, not that it has been long out of the news or much below the surface. Minneapolis may be that epicenter, but Louisville may well be number 2. First it took weeks for the Breonna Taylor case to get the coverage it needed, but thanks to the ineptness of the LMPD it got it. Then came Dave McAtee, where the final report on that tragedy is not yet in. But together they have focused attention on one major aspect of racism; the distinctly different, and unfair, treatment of black citizens by police, for years, everywhere. In her death, Louisville has made major changes, and Lexington needs to do the same, although I must say I am pleased and encouraged by both the way the majority of our local protesters--and police--have handled themselves here.
Still, as a reporter who has covered the police beat in 6 different cities, let me urge the following changes here:



1--end no-knock warrants
2--end "qualified immunity" for police
3--end choke holds and similar measures.
4--expand body cam use
5--increase police sensitivity training, updated periodically with the latest news events and what they mean..and in many cases, how they could have been done differently. (example..was the infamous Staten Island "I can't breathe" case of only a few years ago used in such training in the Twin Cities? Four cops there obviously didn't get it.)
6--set up a civilian review board, subject to appeal to city council.
7--review police salaries  and pensions with an eye to increase and upgrade but also a system of modifying these for cause
8--report and make public cases of violence and similar major proven incidents against individual officers.


This will get us started, and that's all. Lexington needs to examine far more than just the police department here, but that's the current focus of many racism complaints. But as Dr King said; "Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere."  Lexington should live by that mantra, and:


A LIFETIME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A LIVELIHOOD


I'm just sayin'...