Agenda - Council - 04/13/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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good but can be used as a tool of control as it has been done during the dem-panic. He commented on the hypocrisy of those that demand everyone wear a mask to protect the vulnerable as they are the same people that are responsible for the destruction of hundreds of thousands of lives every year. He thanked the majority of the Council for its resolution. Joe Fields, 8021 152 Lane NW, stated that he has read the resolution and it does not say that people should not wear masks or businesses should not require masks but simply that law enforcement should not spend its resources enforcing the mandate. He was unsure why there was such controversy. He stated that on the anniversary of Patrick Henry's give me liberty or give me death speech, perhaps it is controversial because it questions the control of the government. He stated that the original flatten the curve mandate was intended not to overrun ICU beds and yet it continues to be extended. He referenced the effectiveness of masks and a comment from the Surgeon General and OSHA which state that surgical masks cannot provide protection against airborne infection. He stated that if that reference is to surgical masks, cloth masks must be more suspect. He stated that in May 2020, the CDC studied the effectiveness of masks in preventing influenza transmission and found no success in preventing the spread through mask wearing. He stated that Danish researchers did trial research and found that the wearing of masks in 6,000 participants did not prevent the spread of COVID. He stated that the Minnesota Department of Health completed its own trial and refused to release its results. He stated that one year ago Dr. Fauci commented that there is no reason to wear a mask and there are unintended consequences to extended mask wearing. He stated that it is time to get back to normal, not the new normal, but a normal which would make Patrick Henry proud. Dan Deno, Mayor of Oak Grove, commended the Ramsey Councilmembers that supported the resolution and stood up for the people of their city. He stated that Oak Grove did the same thing one year ago as they found this was unconstitutional and passed basically the same ordinance. He stated that it did not allow the businesses to stay open but it showed that the City was behind them. He stated that he was surprised that the Japanese lady was willing to accept the infringement on her rights by this government and complain about the infringement on her rights from the prior government. He stated that Councilmember Howell has nothing to be worried about as the intent of her words was clear. Ginger Spees, 15451 Argon Street NW, stated that she is so proud to be a part of Ramsey right now. She stated that the Council has her support and the support of many others. She commented on her recent travel through multiple states where there was not a mask mandate. She commented that people who wanted to wear masks could and those that did not want to, did not. She stated that she knows what she has to do to take care of herself and her family and is proud of the willingness of the Council to stand up for the rights of the people. Steve Larson, 14990 Waco Street NW, stated that he has lived in Ramsey for the past 20 years and supports the resolution not to support the mask mandate. He stated that he believes the virus is real, people have died from the virus, people have recovered from the virus and some contracted the virus without even knowing. He commented that many similar statements could be made about other illnesses yet in none of those circumstances has the government reacted in this manner. He stated that every day people make decisions about risk and asked why this is being handled so differently. He stated that if something is true, it is true in all circumstances using the example of City Council / March 23, 2021 Page 5 of 24