Here's a memorial and nothing else
It's a hollow gesture, as leaders refuse to do anything to fight the spread of COVID in Los Angeles
We're now close to wrapping up three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite what deniers, doubters, “back to normal” shouters and even the President of the United States say, it's not over. COVID is still killing hundreds of people in the United States each week. Thousands are getting infected each day, which means potential debilitating long-term effects. We're heading into the winter, where both the seasonal spike of the virus plus the lack of protective measures in place is likely to spell disaster.
All of that makes the news that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is planning a permanent memorial for those lost from COVID all the more infuriating. The issue though isn't the memorial itself. Rather, it's that Garcetti is pursuing this while also doing next to nothing to protect Angelenos from the virus.
On Nov. 16, Garcetti and the Department of Cultural Affairs launched the COVID-19 Pandemic Reflections Initiative, which is looking into ways to create a memorial for those lost to the virus. Announced this week, it will be a physical space honoring the dead. There will be a series of meetings to get community feedback on the idea, and it's unlikely the memorial will be finished any time soon. And yes, as a respiratory illness has killed thousands of people in the city, the initiative has the acronym CPR LA. It's an incredibly glib and tone-deaf choice.
“The COVID pandemic has impacted all of us in a profound way, including through the loss of family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. This memorial will provide us with a physical space where we can honor and remember our loved ones,” Garcetti said in a statement on the news. “The memorial will also stand as a testament to our collective strength and resilience for generations to come.”
That resilience is wearing down fast, as the virus spreads and most of the protections put in place are As of press time, there have been 3,511,076 COVID cases and 34,081 deaths in Los Angeles. That first number is likely an undercount given that many simply test at home or don't go to get tested at city or county sites. From the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, there were 2,215 new COVID cases on Nov. 16. This isn't a pandemic that's over. It's not even endemic.
It should be said that Los Angeles has a week mayoral office by design. The Los Angeles City Council — right now going through electoral turnover and a massive scandal involving racist comments and corrupt redistricting — has the power to handle most of the city's policy options. And Garcetti himself is out of office shortly, now that Rep. Karen Bass handily beat billionaire Rick Caruso. Garcetti has no political risks at this point, if he wanted to take action, he could.
And he still has some power. He used those powers when the pandemic broke out. He's just not using them now. He could require masking inside city facilities (the most recent order has them only be “strongly recommended” which means almost no one masks). He could limit gatherings. He could even do a lockdown to avoid a surge of cases that could crush already overwhelmed hospitals. Two years ago he ordered people to stay home to avoid a “tipping point.” Yes there are vaccines now, but the virus' spread is much worse. It seems urgent now, Mr. Mayor.
This also isn't to say that a memorial is a bad idea. Considering how the United States has essentially chosen to ignore the pandemic, every reminder and acknowledgement is important. When the New York Times dedicated its front page to the COVID death toll reaching 100,000, it mattered. It was a call to action, showing how bad the situation had gotten. When Joe Biden held a moment of silence at his inauguration for those lost, it was important because there had not been such a national level of acknowledgement of the loss and its toll on the population. But it was also met with Biden's own promise to do something about the virus after mismanagement from Donald Trump. And there were some initial wins — relief measures and free masks and tests, even if the public had to essentially harass the White House for the assistance after then-Press Secretary Jen Psaki mocked people for wanting the help.
But now it's November 2022. Joe Biden called the pandemic “over” despite all evidence to the contrary. And in Los Angeles, Garcetti seems more interested in getting out of the city than doing anything to take action. The current City Council, even with its own internal turmoil and two members who refuse to resign, is looking to end the protections that are still on the books. The council voted to end COVID eviction moratorium, with those policies stopping in February.
It's clear the city government wants to be done with the pandemic, but the problem is the pandemic isn't going away yet. A memorial is good, but without actual help for people who are vulnerable, it is at best a hollow gesture and and worse mocking. Heading into what is likely going to be a brutal winter surge, Los Angeles needs protective measures from city and federal leadership. It doesn't seem like it will get that.