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

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and if a business is open to the public she has a right to be there but businesses have picked and chosen which parts of the mandate to enforce. She stated that she emailed the Council and thanked them for their response. She thanked the Council for its action. Rich Ryberg, Anoka resident, stated that the Council has shown tremendous patience throughout the night even as people went off topic. He stated that he was disturbed by the caller that mentioned the racist incident in Atlanta, as he used that incident to paint a broad brush picture of the racial environment these days. He stated that there is no indication that incident was racially biased and therefore the speaker chose to use an example that could not possibly support his point. He stated that applies to a number of issues that people have dealt with this past year. He asked that people not use critical theory, taking the focus off the individual and instead attempt to paint a broad brush picture that cannot help to reach a conclusion about any topic. He stated that if people are going to make a point, it should be made on point rather than taking the responsibility off those that take actions and place it upon people that are completely unrelated. Wayne Grimmer, 15931 Zenon Street NW, stated that the argument is that this is an issue of rights is disingenuous at best. He commented that the Councilmembers behind the decision would like you to believe that this is about the right to breath, as if those that adhere to the mask mandate are smothering people to death. He commented that he has asthma and while it is harder to breath with a mask, he wears the mask. He referenced the claim that masks do not work and the references to articles published before more information was known is not science based. He stated that arguments against mask wearing rely on incorrect mask wearing or the blanket assumption that all masks are the same. He stated that liberty is an important right outlined in the constitution and yet the liberty not to do such a simple thing is ridiculous. He did not believe the Council was being brave and believed the founding fathers would be ashamed. He stated that likening mask wearing to tyranny is the definition of privilege and makes a mockery of what our forefathers did to establish this country. He commented that lives were given to obtain the freedom we appreciate today and that is disrespected by the reckless comparisons. He stated that this issue has been politicized and should never have been political in the first place. He commented that the mandate is legal and completely within the powers of the Governor, given by the State Constitution and laws. He stated that it is the right of the Council to pass a pointless resolution which wastes time and muddles the waters. He stated that it is also the right of the citizens to hold the Councilmembers accountable. He stated that he does believe this is an important conversation to be had but to have it in this manner is unhelpful. Mickie Adams, 15313 Tungston Street NW, commented that she is proud of the man that spoke before her as he read her mind. She stated that she has been a resident since 1983 and loves the community but the politics is getting out of hand. She commented that the pandemic has to do with health and not politics. She stated that the masks help and she would not patronize any Ramsey business that does not require masks. She stated that she is sorry that the resolution was put forth as it is a selfish action and she would like to see it rescinded. She stated that the City has no right to tell the Governor he is not doing a good job. Calvin Kubat, Otsego resident, commented that he grew up in Ramsey for 26 years and currently works for the City of Ramsey and has for the past seven years. He stated that he would like to speak against the resolution as he did not have a chance to speak at the last meeting as he was City Council / March 23, 2021 Page 10 of 24