By Mark Carlisle
Twitter: @mwcarlisle

Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers issued an emergency declaration for the city Wednesday night in response to the new coronavirus pandemic.

“Our actions, both individually and collectively, will determine how soon and how hard the virus impacts the city of Glendale,” Mr. Weiers said in a taped video statement along with the proclamation.

The mayor urged social distancing, advised vulnerable populations like seniors to stay home and encouraged community members to help those vulnerable populations get the food and medicine they need. Acknowledging the economic hit social distancing is causing to many businesses, Mr. Weiers also encouraged residents to patronize Glendale restaurants through delivery or take out.

The proclamation encourages all meeting places such as bars, libraries, gyms or anywhere where 10 or more people gather to practice social distancing. It also encouraged all restaurants to practice social distancing and to serve customers via drive-thru, drive up, delivery or window service.

These requests are not being legally enforced, but the mayor warned that legal changes could come if businesses don’t follow the guidelines he’s laying out.

“We’ve always had a great relationship with our business community, and I am confident that they will do the right thing, as they always have. However, please know that if they are not responsive to the clear guidelines that have been established, I will be forced to take more significant measures that will leave them with no choice,” Mr. Weiers said.

The only official change that’s come with Wednesday’s announcement is the mayor authorized City Manager Kevin Phelps to relax zoning codes and other restrictions to accommodate takeout or drive-thru services at restaurants that normally wouldn’t be allowed to provide those services.

The proclamation urged the public to…

• Exercise social distancing and avoid groups of 10 or more
• Avoid contact with those at elevated risks associated with COVID-19 (like the elderly, the immunocompromised or those with heart or lung conditions)
• If sick, stay home and contact a medical provider
• Those at elevated risks should stay home and avoid contact with people
• Practice good hygiene by frequently washing hands and disinfecting, avoid touching your face and sneeze into a tissue or the inside of your elbow

In his statement alongside the proclamation, the mayor specifically called on Glendale’s faith leaders to help those at high risks for the coronavirus.

“I am calling on the leaders from the faith-based community to develop and provide both a plan and volunteers to serve the individual needs of our seniors who self-quarantine,” he said.

Mr. Weiers stressed it would be a group effort by every Glendale resident to ensure safety and economic strength during this pandemic.

“Together, we all share this responsibility of keeping our community safe and our businesses strong,” he said. “I have a tremendous amount of faith in Glendale and I know that we will emerge from this situation stronger and more unified than ever before.”

Read the full emergency proclamation here.

View Mayor Weiers' video message here or read his full statement below:

We are faced with an unprecedented public health emergency, with the global spread of COVID-19.  Our actions, both individually and collectively, will determine how soon and how hard the virus impacts the city of Glendale.

Today, I have issued a proclamation declaring an emergency in the city of Glendale, which is effective immediately.  This declaration allows me to take the measures needed to protect the health and safety of our community.

In no uncertain terms, I am calling on the business community to meet or exceed the recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Arizona Department of Health Services.  Additionally, I am asking all Glendale restaurants, bars and dining establishments to voluntarily curtail dine-in service or to institute appropriate social distancing measures.  I have authorized the City Manager, Kevin Phelps to temporarily relax appropriate zoning codes and other restrictions to accommodate takeout or drive-thru services.

We have always had a great relationship with our business community, and I am confident that they will do the right thing, as they always have.  However, please know that if they are not responsive to the clear guidelines that have been established, I will be forced to take more significant measures that will leave them with no choice

The most at-risk members of our community are our senior population.  I am requesting that our seniors, particularly those 70 years and older, self-quarantine for their own protection.  I understand this means they will have limited access to acquiring food and medicine on their own.  Therefore, I am calling on the leaders from the faith-based community to develop and provide both a plan and volunteers to serve the individual needs of our seniors who self-quarantine.

It is up to each of us to help and take care of each other.  If you see someone in need of support, help them, or reach out to others who can help.

While these are trying times, they are also a time when we can all come together to support our community.  My wife Sandy and I are committed to getting food delivery or takeout from Glendale businesses at least four times a week.  I am encouraging Glendale residents to take this challenge with me and support our local restaurants as much as you can.

Together, we all share this responsibility of keeping our community safe and our businesses strong. I have a tremendous amount of faith in Glendale and I know that we will emerge from this situation stronger and more unified than ever before.

In Your Service,

Mayor Jerry P. Weiers

Mark Carlisle
Associate Editor | Phoenix
@mwcarlisle

mcarlisle@iniusa.org

Meet Mark

Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.

Community: Mark enjoys taking his young son to BabyTime at the Phoenix Public Library, to the OdySea Aquarium and to various sporting events around the Valley.

Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.

Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.

 

Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, son and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.