Norwalk proclaims Aug. 7 COVID-19 Awareness Day
Councilmember Rick Ramirez (left), Mayor Jennifer Perez (center) and Councilmember Margarita Rios (right) joined the first in-person city council meeting in 18 months on August 3, 2021. Councilmember Ana Valencia and Vice-Mayor Tony Ayala joined the meeting via Zoom. (Photo by Vincent Medina)
NORWALK – Norwalk city council held their first in-person meeting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic at city hall on Tuesday.
A majority of the meeting was dedicated to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed 377 lives in Norwalk. In response to the pandemic, the council moved to declare Aug. 7, 2021, as COVID-19 awareness day in the city of Norwalk.
They also took a moment to encourage anyone who is eligible to take the COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated. Council also announced that the vaccination site at the Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex is open for walk-in vaccinations Tuesday - Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm.
City council also recognized Norwalk resident Marlene Bojorquez for her “Yellow Heart Memorial,” which she created on her front lawn for the victims of the virus after she lost her father to the pandemic.
“I never got to say goodbye to my dad. I got to say goodbye on facetime after he passed away,” the Norwalk resident said. “So many other people are in the same situation. They’re stuck in time because they never got to say goodbye to their loved ones.”
Bojorquez announced that the first “Walk to Remember March” will be held on Aug. 7 to commemorate COVID-19 awareness day in the city. It will begin behind the Norwalk AMC at 9:45 am.
A teary Bojorquez joined the meeting via Zoom, and explained that there are thousands of “Yellow Heart Memorials” across the nation and in other countries.
Councilman Rick Ramirez also suggested creating a permanent COVID-19 memorial in the city, similar to the 9/11 memorial.
During the meeting the council discussed the “American Rescue Plan” which President Joe Biden passed on March 11. The plan would allocate $28 million to the city over a two year period.
The money would potentially go towards small business, low-income neighborhoods, recreation and affordable housing. Council moved to revisit the plan on Aug.17 in order to get approval and clarification from the treasury on where the funds can be allocated.
Public Safety Lieutenant Eric Wosick updated the council on the Emergency Operations Center response to the pandemic.
Wosick addressed that COVID cases have dramatically increased over the last month. He also noted that hospitalizations from the virus have increased as well.
“We need to be safe and continue to practice the precautions that were put in place,” said Wosick.
“It’s not over, and we are all still at risk.”
Wosick said the cause of the rise in cases is from California’s reopening on June 15, which eliminated social distancing and the statewide mask mandate. He acknowledged that Norwalk’s continued enforcement of wearing a mask indoors did help to stop the spread.
The lieutenant did not address the two COVID cases found in the Norwalk recreation department on July 17 and July 21 during his update.
After the meeting, Wosick stated that Norwalk conducted contact tracing and communicated with county public health to ensure staff and public health.
The council also took time to congratulate the 2021 Environmental Scholarship winners Daniel Barron, Angela Castillon, Andrea Gonzalez, Hailey Philips, and Cassandra Santos. The high school seniors will receive a $1,000 scholarship to help them further their education.
The council also heard complaints from the community regarding the street-racing that occurs during the evening, and complaints about the amount of traffic in residential areas. Council asked that community members reach out to them to further help them with their issue.
The next Norwalk city council meeting will be on Aug. 17.
Vincent Medina is the social media manager for the Norwalk Patriot.