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First of all let's look at the current situation.
We know that elderly and/or disabled and/or racialized and/or low income - or some combo of those - is particularly at high risk.
So when we talk about who would most benefit from a mask mandate - it's these folks.
We know that elderly and/or disabled and/or racialized and/or low income - or some combo of those - is particularly at high risk.
So when we talk about who would most benefit from a mask mandate - it's these folks.
So basically the same people who would most benefit from a mask are the same people there is concern would be harmed by a mandate.
This means that a simple 'equity says...' talking point is not going to be enough. Copy/paste a slogan or a rule to never or always isn't sufficient
This means that a simple 'equity says...' talking point is not going to be enough. Copy/paste a slogan or a rule to never or always isn't sufficient
Digging in further we need to think about the kind of work some of the folks at high risk and who are getting sick are. https://twitter.com/TorontoStar/status/1328671664058589186?s=20
So one thing is enforcement is already happening, it's just happening by private businesses and it often falls upon some of the most at risk people who are working at these jobs to enforce it. So there already is enforcement. Enforcement is not up for debate. It's happening.
And it's likely that if the province continues to keep businesses open then some of these private places will hire (if they haven't already) private enforcement in the form of security guards - a profession that also has a documented history of bias in enforcement.
So enforcement is happening, it's just not happening as widely as it potentially would be if there was a mandate.
The current situation not only puts many low income and/or racialized and/or low income people at high risk bc ppl aren't wearing masks, but also bc they're often ones tasked with demanding 'truthers' and other entitled people to wear one or leave.
But there is another way that low income are being put at additional risk by a lack of a mandate and that is that we are less likely to own our own vehicles and use transit.
For those of us who are disabled we may not have option of alternate paths - such as stairs or veering off sidewalks.
So layers. We are high risk to start with and then our housing, transportation and possibly employment and schooling puts us further so.
So layers. We are high risk to start with and then our housing, transportation and possibly employment and schooling puts us further so.
Now there is another issue around this that concerns me. Public opinion seems strong for a mandate. People are watching their family and friends get sick and in some cases die - alone. People are frustrated and the govt is saying no we can't bc not fair to racialized & poor ppl.
As those numbers start climbing and the grieving gets more widespread so will the anger - and it will be directed at poor &/or racialized people not govt.
I'm not saying this is a reason in itself not to, I'm just putting all the factors forward.
I'm not saying this is a reason in itself not to, I'm just putting all the factors forward.
So in my opinion it is better to mandate and then put in as many safeguards as possible to prevent this becoming another tool to harass poor and/or racialized people.
FIrst among those would be the provision of free PPE - it could be distributed via social housing, shelters, etc
FIrst among those would be the provision of free PPE - it could be distributed via social housing, shelters, etc
Maybe there is no enforcement in camps, parks or on sidewalks.
Maybe fines are attached to driver's licenses. IDK.
What I do know is this seems a place to direct people's creativity and equity expertise to rather than simply say no enforcement bc again, that ship has sailed.
Maybe fines are attached to driver's licenses. IDK.
What I do know is this seems a place to direct people's creativity and equity expertise to rather than simply say no enforcement bc again, that ship has sailed.
I will happily accept critques on this from racialized people and others who have lived expertise.
I will be blocking libertarians like the one in my mentions who thinks we shouldn't have this or speed limits or, one assumes, age or consent.
I will be blocking libertarians like the one in my mentions who thinks we shouldn't have this or speed limits or, one assumes, age or consent.
I am very, very frustrated and I fear that sometimes the loudest voices in poverty expertise are just that, the loudest.
What I see is a lot of people who you will never see profiled in a magazine or speaking to govt who are quietly struggling to survive.
What I see is a lot of people who you will never see profiled in a magazine or speaking to govt who are quietly struggling to survive.
And I just worry that 'you can never do anything ever because it won't be done equitably' is not a viable approach to policy.
Look ultimately we need system change. But in the meantime we need to function as a society.
Look ultimately we need system change. But in the meantime we need to function as a society.
Because there is not a damn thing that I've seen that isn't applied unjustly.
So my approach is acknowledging this and then building policy that does acknowledge this.
What I don't accept is - we can't have any policy until there is no racism or classism or ableism.
So my approach is acknowledging this and then building policy that does acknowledge this.
What I don't accept is - we can't have any policy until there is no racism or classism or ableism.
The second "low income" is meant to be *disabled people* https://twitter.com/mssinenomine/status/1328732503872471041?s=20
Also for those wondering this is what I'm responding to. https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/11/16/mandatory-masks-bc-dr-bonnie-henry/
Also for clarification when I say crowded housing I don't mean inter-generational. I was thinking of public housing with too small of elevators, too narrow of hallways and too tiny of units. As a wheelchair user I feel crowded. Maybe crowded wasn't the best word to use for this.
