State Senator Mastriano COVID-19 Update (May 2, 2020)
We were told by Governor Wolf that the reopening of Pennsylvania would be based upon scientific reasoning. Sadly, this has not panned out and his painfully slow reopening is simply wrong. Indeed, we were in a health crisis, and prudent measures were taken. But for the Governor to order the shutdown of businesses that pose little risk to public safety is both unnecessary and irresponsible. Unfortunately, his cure is worse than the virus. Now that facts say that the massive shutdown was not necessary, and that we have long since "flattened" the so-called curve, it's time to get our freedoms back.Is the continued suspension of your rights justifiable with well less than about 1/3rd of one percent of our entire population either testing positive or – may possibly – could have COVID-19 (using the Sec of Health's inflated numbers)? This number is disputed by 18 county coroners. The answer is clearly no. The areas of PA that he is belatedly opening next Friday should have been immediately moved to his "green phase" yesterday, as there is no quantitative or scientific reason to do otherwise. Likewise, most of the rest of the state should have been moved out of the red phase as well. The criterion that the Governor pledged to use has proven pliable and "subjective" (a word he used in a recent press conference). By any reasonable measure, the Governor's reopening plan is not a plan at all, but rather a recipe for disaster. The mental fatigue, the suspension and violation of our constitutional rights, the damage done to our people and families is not warranted based upon the incredibly low amount of cases, and the incredibly high recovery rate. The modeling that predicted dire outcomes was thankfully wrong. Now it's time to reopen the state. As President John Adams said, "Facts are stubborn things" and regardless of where you stand, continuing forward with draconian measures – when the people see the folly of it – should end now. As our Governor dithers and gives speeches, our people are suffering. Domestic violence has spiked, while suicides and substance abuse are on the rise. His failed policies, lack of transparency, and terrible decisions have led to record high unemployment…which after six weeks still has not provided unemployment compensation to hundreds of thousands of our people. This entire situation is unacceptable and needs fixed, now. I hear from thousands about the helplessness you feel, as so much has been unnecessarily taken from you during this emergency.Please make sure your voice be heard, and consider telling your story to your elected officials as a way to get Pennsylvania back open safely for business.
Reopening a portion of Pennsylvania on May 8th
Governor Wolf is delaying any reopening of PA until May 8, and then only his northwest and north-central region. In the yellow phase, some restrictions on work and social interaction will ease while others (such as closures of schools, gyms, and other indoor recreation centers, hair and nail salons, as well as limitations around large gatherings), remain in place.
YoCo Workforce Connections - Virtual Job Fair
A reminder, every Friday at 12 PM York County and York County Economic Alliance team up to post a Virtual Job Fair. Go to https://www.preparedyork.com/business-support/employees-impacted/#jobs-a... for more information and to register.
PACE & PACENET
The federal stimulus payments will not be counted as income when determining PACE/PACENET eligibility.
PennDOT
PennDOT announced driver licenses, ID cards and learner’s permits due to expire from March 16 to May 30 will be extended through June 30. All driver license centers and the Harrisburg Riverfront center will be closed until further notice. Various transactions can be completed by going to PennDOT’s website
www.dmv.pa.gov. PennDOT did not provide another extension for vehicle registrations, safety inspections, emission inspections and disability placards - they expire on May 31.
PA Game Commission
The Game Commission is offering its support to parents, educators and students during the month of May. This year they are offering Wildlife on WiFi to assist stay-at-home learning efforts. https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Education/Pages/Stay-at-home-Learning
Points of Light
Divinos in Hanover gave out free food this week to children in the area who were in need of lunches.
They donated pizzas last week to UPMC Pinnacle Hanover Hospital lab workers.
Central PA Food Bank is teaming up with agriculture to provide charitable boxes of farm fresh food.
“Farmers to Families Food Box Program” will procure fresh produce, dairy products and meats (like chicken and pork) from farms and distribute to families in need through food banks. Go to the Central PA Food Bank website for more information https://www.centralpafoodbank.org/.
Farmers or food industry businesses that are interested in helping the food bank or the “Farmers to Families Food Box Program” should contact Beth Hamiliton at bhamiliton@centralpafoodbank.org.
Chambersburg WellSpan internal medical physician, Dr. Ryan DeCort, is working the front lines with the U.S. Army, in one of the hardest hit areas in the country, New York City. Dr. DeCort is an Army Reservist physician with the rank of Major. He was of the first in the country to be deployed to an Army hospital and arrived in New York as the peak of the virus was hitting the city.
Conclusion
We are in this together. Please look for opportunities to safely help others! We are Pennsylvania. This is our time… we will, by God's grace, get through this together.
If I can be of service, please email dmastriano@pasen.gov or call 717-787-4651.