It is safe to say most of the population in the United States has never experienced famine or a shortage of medical supplies. Then again when was the last time an American was not able to check into an American Hospital? There is a difference between poverty and political instability. For most of us immigrants living in East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Corona, and Jackson Heights: we know both. Poverty is our individual inability to purchase the necessities for daily use. Political instability is the weakening of our social fabric that is caused by failed political leadership.
Our communities across the country are now experiencing political instability, and the result of electing unqualified candidates (both locally and nationally). I look around my community and understand the faces of fear, uncertain, and most of all exhaustion. Yes, this pandemic is a serious matter, and we as residents of New York City deserve more than just a forty-five-minute press conference from the Mayor of New York. We deserve a plan, a solution, a social message that things will improve, and a leader that doesn’t allow the belittling of our police department (and then expects them to risk their lives providing social order during the pandemic).
I watched Doctor Collen Smith’s video in horror and fear. Not because of the video, the conditions of the hospital, or the doctor’s plea for help. I watched in horror because our greatest fears in the United States are occurring. Over the past twenty-years we have experienced MERS (middle east respiratory syndrome), SARS (sever acute respiratory syndrome), and the H1N1 virus (swine flu). Our medical community is aware of the possibility in future pandemics: this is the reason previous presidents funded the Center of Disease Control (CDC), and Governors are tasked with managing (which Governor Cuomo is doing a great job). However, our local officials are the front-line managers tasked with delivering the message of hope to our residents. Our local officials are absent and have abandoned their assignment, they are causing fear instead of providing instruction to our communities.
Elmhurst hospital is the location Senator Ramos and Assembly Member Cruz stood by to protest the building of a Target Superstore and Gentrification. City Council Member Francisco Moya has spent his time sharing the chronic failures of our political system on social media and advertised a well written letter to President Trump dated March 26, 2020, with a plea for medical supplies. By now the country understands two things 1) New York City is the epicenter of Coronavirus, and 2) New York City is in dire need of supplies. However, there are a few important items that is not being mentioned by our local politicians; and since they failed to mention it, I believe it is time we as a community share these points with each other:
- We must live our lives as if we are all infected with this virus, and practice social distancing.
- We must remind our younger residents to stay away from public places (parks, playgrounds, and sporting facilities) as they have not been sanitized.
- We must be vigilant of our older generation, their lives, their needs, and their health. Donating supplies to seniors should be our priority. Let’s keep them safe, at home, and well stocked of supplies and food.
- We must encourage the corporate community to help us overcome this virus: by providing supplies, equipment, and/or beds (construction companies, safety equipment, urgent care facilities).
- We must encourage and practice “shelter in-place”.
If New York City can spend millions of dollars taking over hotels and converting them to shelters, then New York City can spend money on transforming City University Dorms (or hotels) into quarantine facilities for recovering patients and allow those with severe conditions access to hospitals.
Frontline managers (Senators, Assembly Members, and Council Members) should also spend some-time ensuring our residents are taking preventive measures (and educating) to keep people safe.
Eric M. Cordova