From Matt de Ferranti <[email protected]>
Subject July 4th, 2020: 3 Pictures & Our Unfinished Work (you can vote today!)
Date July 4, 2020 12:34 PM
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Friends,

I want to wish you a happy and safe July 4th and share three pictures that tell the story of hope, worry, and the unfinished work we have over the next 3 days and 10 hours.

First, hope in two minutes:
[link removed]
Watch this video: it shows part of what we are as a County and what America can be
The video above is from Arlington County employees to mark Pride Month. 10 years ago, who would have thought we would have made as much progress in our country, Virginia, and Arlington with and for our LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers? It makes me proud to be from Arlington and hopeful, this July 4th, about what we can do in America, if we work at it.

Second, worry.
This morning's Washington Post with a graph of the rise in Coronavirus cases.
The above picture from today's front page of the Washington Post shows that the Caronvirus will come back and lead to deaths if we all don't 1) wear a mask when out 2) social distance 3) wash our hands often.

Northern Virginia is not in the clear, so you may ask why Phase 3? Like most of you, I look at the numbers every morning. Northern Virginia's have been very, very good. Arlington as well. I also see the pictures of bars and restaurants and they worry me.
Phase 3 in Arlington: What it Means and FAQ's ([link removed])
But, overall, the numbers from Arlington and Northern Virginia each day over the past two weeks have been good, very good. The plateauing is more Virginia as a whole and not Northern Virginia where our numbers have been going down. And the reality is that the region as a whole politically via other County Board's and elected officials is simply not in a place to stay in Phase 2, now. Even if the Governor's specific actions with regard to gatherings or gyms, for example, are not what I would wish, this is the right step overall.

So, we must move forward, carefully and with discipline...

This July 4th weekend in Arlington we must: 1)Wear a mask whenever moving near people 2)social distance even when in small groups with friends unless they are in your 4 to 8 people or less who you live with or see, and 3) wash your hands (like every time you wonder if you lost the germ chain of contacts). Vigilantly, we must be thinking of this calmly but clearly.

============================================================
Takis at the recent Black Lives Matter event at Drew Elementary.
Third and last, the unfinished work.

** Takis's "Why Vote for Me?": best & the only focused on equity ([link removed])
This July 4th, we know that the only way we can beat the Coronvirus in Arlington, and write the next chapter in Arlington's history for racial justice is through hard work. For me, that means electing Takis Karontonis in the July 7th special election. That is where our work is for the next 4 days.

You can vote today, July 4th, between 830 and 430 at the Courthouse. What better way to honor our country? Or on Tuesday between 6 am and 7 pm at your regular polling location.

So that is how this year over the July 4th weekend we can live out my former boss John Kerry's call: "My country, right or wrong." Our answer? Absolutely, my country, right or wrong. When right, keep it right. When wrong, make it right."

Safe and happy 4th,

Matt

Ps. Three links of interest in case you want to get a sense of what I have been doing and thinking about:
* County Board Wrap up on the Cares Act and our work to help those most in need. 3 plus minutes with me and Libby on helping on hunger and housing: ** [link removed] ([link removed])
* New data required for traffic stops--good legal change from Richmond due in significant part to Democratic Legislature that Arlington police are implementing faithfully as required by law: ** [link removed] ([link removed])
* The biggest issue on my horizon for the coming months may be schools and childcare. Read this to learn what is being considered ** [link removed] ([link removed])

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