Support for a Sioux Falls, SD
Mask Ordinance
LETTER TO SUPPORT A SIOUX FALLS, SD ORDINANCE TO MANDATE MASK WEARING IN PUBLIC AND IN COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
To Mayor Paul TenHaken and City Council Members of Sioux Falls, SD:
As the largest, most diverse city in the state, we should be leading by example. As elected members of the city, it is your role to enact policy to make the public safe. We are writing on behalf of our organizations’ members, employees and customers of our businesses, attendees of our faith institutions, and all of the citizens of Greater Sioux Falls to express our support for AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SIOUX FALLS, SD, TO REQUIRE FACE COVERING IN AN INDOOR PUBLIC PLACE WHERE 6-FOOT SOCIAL DISTANCING CANNOT BE ACHIEVED. We strongly urge you to support this important ordinance, which will protect the health of our community, especially those most vulnerable to the impacts of COVID. It will also allow Sioux Falls residents to engage more fully, and safely, in public life; thereby allowing our businesses, schools, and places of faith to not just survive, but thrive.
This past week, we have seen a surge in COVID cases across our state and in our city. We need immediate action to slow the spread of the disease, which is already overwhelming our health facilities. There are currently more than 4,464 active cases and 189 hospitalizations. Prior to yesterday, our active cases broke the previous day’s new high for 23 straight days. 189 hospitalizations was also a new high, breaking the previous day’s new record high. In short, we’re surging in the wrong direction. We do not believe that we need to make a choice between the health of our loved ones and the health of our local economy. It is a false dichotomy to think that effective public safety, like requiring mask-wearing in public, is in conflict with keeping our businesses, schools, and faith institutions open. Rather, this City Ordinance will ensure that we are able to do just that.
Sioux Falls prides itself on taking care of its citizens. Following the tornado in 2019, community members rallied together to ensure the safety of all of those living in our city. It is time for us to once again protect the health, safety, and well-being of our friends, family, and neighbors.
We believe this City Ordinance is the best tool we have to address a growing health crisis and to stave off an economic one. The City Ordinance is about taking proven effective, low-cost, and relatively easy protective measures to keep all sectors of our city open and all of our citizens safe.
This is not a partisan issue. And it shouldn’t be a political one. It’s a community health and safety issue. And, as you well know, Sioux Falls is a community where we care deeply about both.
LETTER TO SUPPORT A SIOUX FALLS, SD ORDINANCE TO MANDATE MASK WEARING IN PUBLIC AND IN COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
To Mayor Paul TenHaken and City Council Members of Sioux Falls, SD:
As the largest, most diverse city in the state, we should be leading by example. As elected members of the city, it is your role to enact policy to make the public safe. We are writing on behalf of our organizations’ members, employees and customers of our businesses, attendees of our faith institutions, and all of the citizens of Greater Sioux Falls to express our support for AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SIOUX FALLS, SD, TO REQUIRE FACE COVERING IN AN INDOOR PUBLIC PLACE WHERE 6-FOOT SOCIAL DISTANCING CANNOT BE ACHIEVED. We strongly urge you to support this important ordinance, which will protect the health of our community, especially those most vulnerable to the impacts of COVID. It will also allow Sioux Falls residents to engage more fully, and safely, in public life; thereby allowing our businesses, schools, and places of faith to not just survive, but thrive.
This past week, we have seen a surge in COVID cases across our state and in our city. We need immediate action to slow the spread of the disease, which is already overwhelming our health facilities. There are currently more than 4,464 active cases and 189 hospitalizations. Prior to yesterday, our active cases broke the previous day’s new high for 23 straight days. 189 hospitalizations was also a new high, breaking the previous day’s new record high. In short, we’re surging in the wrong direction. We do not believe that we need to make a choice between the health of our loved ones and the health of our local economy. It is a false dichotomy to think that effective public safety, like requiring mask-wearing in public, is in conflict with keeping our businesses, schools, and faith institutions open. Rather, this City Ordinance will ensure that we are able to do just that.
Sioux Falls prides itself on taking care of its citizens. Following the tornado in 2019, community members rallied together to ensure the safety of all of those living in our city. It is time for us to once again protect the health, safety, and well-being of our friends, family, and neighbors.We believe this City Ordinance is the best tool we have to address a growing health crisis and to stave off an economic one. The City Ordinance is about taking proven effective, low-cost, and relatively easy protective measures to keep all sectors of our city open and all of our citizens safe.
We believe this City Ordinance is the best tool we have to address a growing health crisis and to stave off an economic one. The City Ordinance is about taking proven effective, low-cost, and relatively easy protective measures to keep all sectors of our city open and all of our citizens safe.
To Mayor Paul TenHaken and City Council Members of Sioux Falls, SD:
As the largest, most diverse city in the state, we should be leading by example. As elected members of the city, it is your role to enact policy to make the public safe. We are writing on behalf of our organizations’ members, employees and customers of our businesses, attendees of our faith institutions, and all of the citizens of Greater Sioux Falls to express our support for AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SIOUX FALLS, SD, TO REQUIRE FACE COVERING IN AN INDOOR PUBLIC PLACE WHERE 6-FOOT SOCIAL DISTANCING CANNOT BE ACHIEVED. We strongly urge you to support this important ordinance, which will protect the health of our community, especially those most vulnerable to the impacts of COVID. It will also allow Sioux Falls residents to engage more fully, and safely, in public life; thereby allowing our businesses, schools, and places of faith to not just survive, but thrive.
In recent weeks, we have seen a surge in COVID cases across our state and in our city. We need immediate action to slow the spread of the disease, which is already overwhelming our health facilities. In short, we’re surging in the wrong direction. We do not believe that we need to make a choice between the health of our loved ones and the health of our local economy. It is a false dichotomy to think that effective public safety, like requiring mask-wearing in public, is in conflict with keeping our businesses, schools, and faith institutions open. Rather, this City Ordinance will ensure that we are able to do just that.
Sioux Falls prides itself on taking care of its citizens. Following the tornado in 2019, community members rallied together to ensure the safety of all of those living in our city. It is time for us to once again protect the health, safety, and well-being of our friends, family, and neighbors.
We believe this City Ordinance is the best tool we have to address a growing health crisis and to stave off an economic one. The City Ordinance is about taking proven effective, low-cost, and relatively easy protective measures to keep all sectors of our city open and all of our citizens safe.
This is not a partisan issue. And it shouldn’t be a political one. It’s a community health and safety issue. And, as you well know, Sioux Falls is a community where we care deeply about both.
Sincerely,
Kooper Caraway, President of South Dakota AFL-CIO
Taneeza Islam, Executive Director, South Dakota Voices for Justice
The Very Rev. Ward H. Simpson, Dean of Episcopal Church in SD
Adam Weiland, Dakotans for Health
Dr. Krista Hoyme
Lie Dinah Ligasaputri, MD with Avera
Shari Eich, MD with Avera
Kari Hultgren, MD with Avera
Kim Hanssen, DO with Avera
Connie Taylor, MD with Avera Health
Chetan Wasekar, Physician with Avera McKennan Hospital
Nicole Christenson, MD with Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center
Christiane Maroun, MD with Avera Medical Group
Reynold Nesiba, State Senator District 15
Daniel Heckmann, MD
Rev. Ryan Otto, First Congregational Church
Teresa Marts, MD at Horizon Healthcare
Jo Schallenkamp, President of Josephines INC.
Rev. Randall Gehring, Our Savior's Lutheran Church
Dr. Amy Kelley, Physician
Indra Chandrasekar, Assistant Scientist Sanford Research
Tami & Vernon Brown, Owners of The Spice & Tea Exchange of Sioux Falls
Barry Putzke, Co-owner, Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen
*Last updated 12:30pm CST
** There are more than 500 additional petition signatures for a Sioux Falls Mask Mandate