A Common Sensical Safety Refresher

By a m fonda

A few brief perspectives of Safety issues impacting the Emeryville Schools and community in California, 2001.

September 11, 2001 a day of infamy has definitely expanded the subject of public safety in the minds of hundreds of millions of Americans. Emeryville's location, on earthquake prone Bay Area fault lines, as well as current events, may warrant revisiting the issue of what constitutes community preparedness as wise, prudent reasonable measures in Emeryville. Could our School Board and our California Education Department Administrators work on the topic and find some common grounds that would benefit parents, teachers and members of our community at large?

Reasonable questions we should ask ourselves nowadays: Do we have an emergency plan in our schools if the ground starts shaking and quaking? Should parents and students have a predetermined meeting place designated if schools are evacuated? Should our civic leaders and our school officials draw up a community plan in case unexpected consequences of catastrophic nature knocks on our door?

Certainly, wide open spaces of school yards would serve well as emergency gathering points, the mere formulation of a plan would go a ways towards easing tensions and apprehensions in the minds of many among us.

If community preparedness is an issue a bit distant from our pre-occupations, how about improving safety programs in place at school crossings? Would our school safety program make more sense if we budgeted a small stipend from Recreation Department for parents or officials to serve consistantly present school crossing monitors, on duty when school days begin and end? The tragic accidental death of a child a few months ago at the Anna Yates Elementary School, certainly points in this direction. If we do have adults coordinating school crossings why not furnish them with cell phones, and a list of phone numbers of contacts to call, numbers ranging from staffers on duty in the immediate school vicinity (in case 911 is busy) as well as alternative emergency numbers? A little bit preparedness may merit further consideration in this respect, in avoiding future tragedies.

Lastly, if we, as responsible voters re-examine our own opinions, and our lot in life in this day and age, I would urge all visitors to these pages, to boycott Berkeley businesses, until reason is restored to the City Council there. In my opinion, the safety of our elected officials, of members of our US Armed forces engaging adversaries, to prevent any reoccurrence of the September 11 tragedies are just as important, and significant as helping a child across the street as they are in keeping airplanes from crashing into skyscrapers or schools.

Recent proclamation issued by the Berkeley City Council is an unbelievably poor exercise of judgement, aids and abets one of the most dreadful abominations perpetrated against the United States or for any other civilized societies in historic times. Though the a differing opinion would be respected, and some may even choose to regard this statement as inappropriate within a forum of a board of Education election; the education taught in Emeryville should respect concepts of right and wrong, respect for human life and pursuit of happiness, this may be best achieved, if we believe in America, and ourselves. Condoning a crime against humanity for the sake of anti-war conscience appeasement, has a strange irrational ring to it, that may not deserve public educational funding if civilization is to prosper thrive into the future.

The best way that we can help the effectiveness of our own well being, the safety and health of our way of American way of life imperfect as it may be, and to further world Peace and justice, in my immediate opinion is is by boycotting Berkeley businesses.