Holiday Wishes and Reflections Successes Worth Celebrating 2020 was tough. COVID-19 took the lives of over 8,000 Arizonans and exposed imbalances that threaten our American Dream: the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved. This year also had successes worth celebrating and heroes worth honoring. At the City, staff stayed on the job and on the frontlines to keep us safe and that included our furriest residents. A Human Voice The impact of COVID shattered people's lives seemingly overnight. Scottsdale's Human Service department went into overdrive to protect our residents providing the most important service of all: a human voice at the other end of the line. Staff guided residents through the maze of paperwork, followed up, and followed through. "From the moment Sheila connected with me on the phone her genuine care, empathy and transparency with the information she had and what she anticipated would be the time line for this to get resolved, was very reassuring. Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Tapping federal, state, and private funding, Human Service's programs tackled multiple areas of need with each program such as an innovative temporary hotel shelter program for those experiencing homelessness. The program included services that helped get participants back on their feet. Food delivery to homebound seniors and residents with disabilities increased sharply and included a meal delivery program to support local restaurants. Hundreds of residents received utility, rent, and mortgage assistance. To tackle isolation, staff paid "front porch" visits with the City's disabled youth and kept Special Olympians training with non-contact sports! Open For Business The City and Chamber of Commerce launched a successful (free) "Open for Business" banner program for local businesses along with an "Open for Business" app and a resource filled website: SupportScottsdale.com Economic development staff manned phones assisting four hundred businesses, small business received $200K in grants and $625K in reimbursement grants. Improved Environment, Improved Health Degradation of our environment and rising temperatures are underlying factors in the spread of diseases according to Cure Corridor keynote speaker, Dr. Michael Osterholm. (see below). Sustainability continues to be a City priority. With new studies linking air pollution to higher COVID mortalities, we have another reason to love trees. In my last newsletter, I wrote about the loss of trees in downtown and challenged staff to replant. Staff did, residents noticed: "Our recent walks have taken us by many new trees. On Thursday morning we saw a truck with a tree driving west ahead of us on 3rd Avenue, so we followed it.We caught up with it near Marshall Way, where it had stopped to meet a crew of workers. In front of the new Eggersmann store, a worker was digging in a large planter, so we asked him if that was where the new tree was going. He said "Yes" and pointed with a good amount of excitement to the truck! Then yesterday afternoon we walked by there and saw the new palo verde tree! " Scottsdale leads the State in the green building arena and added two LEED* certified City buildings in 2020: a firehouse & the Stadium, Of 74 LEED municipal buildings in Arizona,14 are in Scottsdale including 4 of the 9 Platinum level buildings. Cooler buildings equate to lower power bills, cleaner air, and reduce urban heat. * LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY_6KemuS9s&feature=youtu.be Hope for 2021 Scottsdale's 8th Annual Cure Corridor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY_6KemuS9s&feature=youtu.be) featured one of our nation's top public health experts, Dr. Michael Osterholm. Dr. Osterholm is serving on President-elect Joe Biden's COVID-19 Advisory Committee and discusses logistical and societal challenges that we must overcome. As well as the successful vaccine development by Moderna and Pfizer. Vaccines that will save millions of lives and thrust American ingenuity back in the global spotlight. Dr. Osterholm's 2017 book, Deadliest Enemy, outlines public health priorities and R&D investments that will prepare our nation for the next pandemic. Title notwithstanding, the book is a positive and fast-paced read. Vaccinations in America: A Brief History In the 20th century, vaccine immunizations eliminated three deadly and debilitating diseases in the US: smallpox (photo), diphtheria, and polio. Tetanus killed at a high rate until the vaccine dropped cases by 96%. Mumps and rubella cases, the source of devastating birth defects and mortality, fell 99% through vaccinations. In memory of the 300,000+ Americans lost to COVID-19.
