This and that

The question of masks is up in the air. Raleigh has decided to follow the example of Durham County and Orange County and require people wear masks within the city limits. It will be effective Friday, June 19, at 4 p.m.

Greg Ford, the chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, and all the other commissioners wanted to have the same mask requirements for the county, but there has been a hitch. Not all the county mayors have agreed. It would create a difficult patchwork of requirements if not all county towns are on board.

When asked, Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones said, “Wake Forest will continue to follow the NC State orders.” The state recommends people wear masks but does not require it.

Meanwhile Governor Roy Cooper is considering requiring masks across the state given the increase in Covid-19 infections and deaths. Stay tuned.

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Wake Foresters are just not doing their part in the Great Census Contest between our mayor and John Byrne, the mayor of Fuquay-Varina. “According to Bill [Crabtree, director of communications] we are trailing 72.8 percent to 72.5 percent in the Census challenge, Jones said this week.

The Census numbers determine how much representation we have in the U.S. Congress, how much money we get for education, roads and other infrastructure.

We need to have as close to 100 percent participation in the Census to get our fair share of the federal money.

If you have not entered your family information yet, just go to www.2020Census.gov and the form is the first thing you will see. Just tell the Census how many people were in your home as of April 1, 2020.

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There are momentous questions on the ballot for Tar Heels in November: Who will be president for the next four years, one of our two senators for the next six years and who will be in the U.S. House for two years? These are the people who will help shape our future, our individual futures and our countries.

Are you going to be able to have a voice? Are you registered to vote? If you don’t know, you can go to www.wakegov.com, select “Board of Elections” and click on the “My Voter Info” button. You can then enter your name and the county and see your registration.

If you are not registered, then click on the “Register to Vote” button to be sent a registration form.

Once registered, you will have to decide this fall whether to use an absentee ballot – no reason has to be given – or wait for early voting and Election Day.

With the pandemic expected to be still raging this fall, sickening people and killing them, many will decide to use the absentee ballot. Send in a request, receive the ballot, fill it out completely (check it at least once to make sure) and mail it back in. Then sit back and wait for the election results on Nov. 3. It is safe and easy. You only have to have one witness. You do not have to show any identification.

I just have to add that you will not receive a ballot until September or October after the ballots are printed. Once you fill out and mail your absentee ballot, you can also track it. The instructions for tracking are on the election board’s website.

 

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5 Responses

  1. Agreed we need to mandate the use of masks in town ! I don’t ask commissioners , or town boards about my health , i see a doctor . This is not a political issue . This is the lost basic function of any government ! Protect your citizens from harm !

  2. Governor coopers decisions are based on what is good for the people on North Carolina , HEALTH FIRST !
    The mayor does what’s good for business . The entire decision making process is governed by restaurant owners , and other businesses looking to lure people into the town . Building on every square inch to increase revenue and profits . Are they afraid of offending people who have ZERO knowledge of medicine ?
    This backwards thinking and pandering to a minority of residents is what also destroyed our Christmas parade !

  3. North Carolina has reached another new daily high in the number of Co-vid hospitalizations. By just wearing a simple mask, can in a major way slow the spread. I cannot understand why, we cannot be like Raleigh and Durham, implement wear a mask. Wake Forest has to be the last in everything!

  4. I hope Gov. Cooper does enforce a state law, as North Carolina’s numbers are going in the wrong direction and this is the easiest way to prevent the continued rise, as well as a possible second wave!! It’s important to note, we are not currently in the second wave… our numbers never dipped, we are still fighting the original wave, and it looks like we “opened up” way too soon!!