Town hall for people’s questions in fearful times should have been put before a business meeting
Our country is experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. I am most afraid for the vulnerable in our city. Many elderly and disabled residents don’t have family, and some have family members but don’t want them risking their own health by helping them, especially if they must travel long distances to do it. These frail, afraid residents turn reluctantly to friends and neighbors for help, such as by picking up needed medicines – everyday errands we very recently took for granted.
For some reason, the Mayor’s Office decided to hold a virtual town hall to address the questions and concerns of local businesses before holding any town hall for local residents to ask questions or voice concerns. They put the needs of business before the needs of the people they are charged with protecting. I found this obscene and shockingly disturbing.
For city elected officials to put businesses before residents is simply negligent. They must make their first priority the very residents they chose to lead. The time for protecting and assisting the city’s coffers is not now.
Congress came together rapidly to address immediate business concerns by passing legislation to not only help stimulate the economy, but help protect millions of Americans losing their livelihoods, including members of my own family. National news commentators described it as Congress stopping the immediate bleeding.
I had already lost trust in our federal government. I am on the verge of losing trust in my municipal government because it hosted a town hall for business first, and didn’t demand the city close all nonessential businesses and implement a stay-in-home order before Gov. Charlie Baker did.
I cannot believe, but will always hope, that I am not alone in this opinion.
Emmanuel “Manny” Lusardi is an East Cambridge resident, long time immigrant advocate and former Liaison for Immigrant Affairs to the Cambridge Mayors office.
Manny this isn’t necessary or accurate. Most of the council is doing a full court press to help everyone across the spectrum. Thousands of people lost their jobs and businesses last week in Central Sq alone and how to triage that damage directly relates to helping people survive this. These are cambridge citizens that went from making a living to making zero in about a week. Most will not survive this financially. This is not something big business v the people nonsense you’re making it out to be. So please, take a deep breath, smoke em if ya got em, and let people do their jobs, and maybe save the scathing critique for better times. To that end Charlie Baker is also doing a fine job in all this and to be frank no one has answers at this point in time so asking that the council chime in any more than they have is pointless. Good luck brother and hopefully in the sooner than later future we will have more time to indulge the shoulda coulda wouldas
No, Manny, you are not alone.