A 2021 Update:
Even though this Blog was written in 2020, it still serves well to illustrate the non-logical overreach by the powers-that-be-and-wishing-for-more.
We, at The Crooked Path attempted to comply with the directive given us (via contact by authorities) to cancel our 2020 Halloween concert. We were also verbally informed that gatherings would not be “allowed” in our private garden (which, upon studying the official directives does not appear to be exactly true). As good citizens and for the benefit of our fans, guests, wineries, music venues and neighbors in the Santa Ynez Valley we attempted to gain clarity of what, precisely, was and what was not allowed.
The best we could find was a decree (which may today be different) from the California Department of Public Health, authored by Gov. Newsom and acting director Sandra Shewry, (Link here) but it was difficult to find out which activities are permitted (though frowned upon) and which ones constituted an illegal act – punishable by fines and/or imprisonment. The document contained a mixture of justifications, admonishments, semi-legal speak and bad grammar. If you only have a minute, scroll down to read my “favorites”.
The headline reads:
- Recommendations & Mandatory Requirements for All Gatherings
A Gathering, the document says, is social situations that bring together people from different households. Does this mean a couple on a date is a Gathering? Two people talking together on a street corner is a gathering? If people are standing 10 feet apart are they still gathering? How close can you be to someone before you are “gathering”?
Then is says:
- Gatherings that include more than 3 households are prohibited. This includes everyone present, including hosts and guests.
Again, how many are in a Household? If 10 live in the same house this would mean 30 could potentially get together in the same Gathering. Second: Why 3 households and not 2 or 4? If this is a health crisis so urgent it justifies overruling the United States Constitution guaranteeing the right to peacefully assemble, along with the first Amendment, why allow any gatherings at all?
- The host should collect names of all attendees and contact information in case contact tracing is needed later.
What does “should” mean? It is a law or not?
It continues:
- A gathering of no more than three households is permitted in a public park or other outdoor space, even if unrelated gatherings of other groups up to three households are also occurring in the same park or other outdoor space.
So a group of 3 households may gather in a public park? – and other groups (unrelated) can be there also? How many such “unrelated groups” are allowed to be in a park or “other outdoor space”?
- If multiple such unrelated gatherings are occurring, mixing between group gatherings is not allowed.
So we are permitted to attend one 3-household gathering, but if we see someone we know in another gathering, we are not allowed to “mix” with them? What does it mean to “mix”? Can we stand 6 feet away and use sign-language? Can we dance to the same music? – and what is the punishment for “mixing between group gatherings”?
- Seating must provide at least 6 feet of distance (in all directions—front-to-back and side-to-side) between different households.
This means if we want to gather for something like a family Christmas dinner, we must first be outside in the cold, sitting in one of three groups, six feet apart from each other and wearing masks? Really?
- When gathering, face coverings must be worn at all times…
– From “should” we now move into “must”. So is this a law? Is it a misdemeanor or capital offense? And does this mean that if I have two guests in my private garden – they a gathering and they, and I must wear a mask at all times?
- People at gatherings may remove their face coverings briefly to eat or drink.
How long after they take a bite do they have before they must put on their masks again? Can they be allowed to swallow first? Is lingering over a cup of coffee is now grounds for imprisonment, or can we get off with a stern warning?
- Face coverings can also be removed to meet urgent medical needs (for example, to use an asthma inhaler, take medication, or if feeling light-headed).
I feel light-headed already.
The following sentence is noteworthy: “While face coverings are removed for this purpose [eating & drinking], they should stay at least 6 feet away from everyone outside their own household” – from this we understand that the face mask must stay 6 feet away from other households. Good to know.
The next ones are my favorites:
Rules for Singing, Chanting, and Shouting at Outdoor Gatherings
- Singing, chanting, and shouting are strongly discouraged, but if they occur, the following rules and recommendations apply:
- All people who are singing or chanting should wear a face covering at all times while singing or chanting, including anyone who is leading a song or chant.
- People who are singing or chanting are strongly encouraged to do so quietly (at or below the volume of a normal speaking voice).
So singing, chanting and shouting is “strongly discouraged”, but still legal and “if they occur the following rules and recommendations apply”. Following this pronouncement no rules are sited, only recommendations. In trying to comply, one must ask, how does one shout at a volume less than speaking voice? Singers “should” wear a face covering at all time. Singers and chanters are “strongly encouraged” to only sing softly. Apparently lifting your voice to praise God is still legal, but strongly discouraged. Good to know.
- Instrumental music is allowed as long as the musicians maintain at least 6-foot physical distancing. Musicians must be from one of the three households. Playing of wind instruments (any instrument played by the mouth, such as a trumpet or clarinet) is strongly discouraged.
So playing a wind instrument is “strongly discouraged”, but presumably not illegal. Next our governor’s health “experts” offer amazing advice for those daring to play a wind or brass instrument:
- Playing of wind instruments () is strongly discouraged, if played should use protective or tightly woven cloth barriers on the instrument bells or at the end of the instrument.
Apart from the sentence anthropomorphising the instrument (speaking to it directly and telling it to wear a cloth barrier. I have a little question for those about to write the next update: Does anyone at the governors office play music? Probably not. FYI: The sound (and breath) comes out of EVERY valve, not just the ends (called the bell) of flutes, oboes, clarinets, saxophones and harmonicas. AND putting a sock on a Tuba or Horn-in-F would only be possible using a panty hose or long underwear. Add to that, that an instrument such as a French Horn is a coiled tube about 18 feet long. You could play an entire Cadenza before your actual breath would reach the outside air. What’s next? Breathing into trash bags?
In conclusion, may I say that I have sympathy for those who have become ill or lost loved ones with Covid19 as a direct or contributing factor. Also, I understand the position workers in our bureaucracies are in, having to act out the will of politicians with myopic world views (and bad English). These are trying days and each of us must weigh the balance between public safety and personal freedom. Being reasonable would be lovely.
With regard to The Crooked Path, we do find it impossible to check our guests’ identification in order to determine what households they belong to, so for the time being: if we play music, we will do so for the benefit of visitors in the park next door and for those “gathering” in downtown Los Olivos.
BTW: Science is never “settled”, politicians are not doctors and making music is not a crime.
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