Recently, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Emeryville eliminated the need for pedestrians to press buttons when crossing crosswalks. Should Walnut Creek and other nearby East Bay cities implement this as well? On the one hand people can use their elbows to press the button, on the other hand, anything that can be done to minimize touching common surfaces would help in the fight against coronavirus.

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I love reading about companies supporting local businesses as well as their own employees during tough times!

From a reader:

Republic Services is buying a lunch for our “front-line” employees (200+ drivers, mechanics, etc who still have to physically come to work, out of our Pacheco yard), and a grab-and-go “dinner for 4” for our drivers etc. to take home to their families, every week during this COVID-19 situation.

We’ve been trying to support our community by ordering from small and local businesses each week. For example, today was boxed lunches from A Sweet Affair Bakery in Walnut Creek. They even came to deliver at 2:30 am in time for our first shift of garbage drivers who start at 3 am! Terry, the owner, came and did the second delivery around noon for our PM mechanics.

I know restaurants are especially hurting right now so we’re trying to spread the support each week – we’ve also done breakfast burritos from Rancho Grande in Pacheco, family lasagna trays from Wise Girl in Pleasant Hill, pizza from Vinnie’s and Slice of Italeigh in Martinez, and Mountain Mike’s in Walnut Creek. Coming up – Mexican food from a restaurant in Antioch, bagel breakfast sandwiches from Pleasant Hill, etc.

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As I walk around town it’s heartening to see most people following the stay-at-home order so as to preserve critical hospital capacity for those who need it. Hopefully the curve will flatten, hospital capacity will improve, rapid tests and eventually medicine to alleviate symptoms become available, followed by a vaccine in the long term.

In the meantime we also have inconsiderate people who think only of themselves as they flout the stay-at-home order and clearly marked signs indicating closures. I notice the same thing at grocery stores. Some folks are considerate and give each other plenty of space while shopping. And then there are the oblivious ones. No wonder why the United States leads the world in coronovirus infections.

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