Letters to the Editor: Fine those who refuse masks, but only after leaders and police set a good example

To the editor: Columnist Nicholas Goldberg calls for immediate enforcement of the state’s mask mandate, an action that some police feel would jeopardize public trust.

Here’s the truth: Leaders must lead by example, and the message must be reinforced. This is part of change management using the ADKAR approach (which stands for awareness, desire, knowledge, ability and reinforcement).

Step one is that our leaders must wear masks and continue to restate and reinforce the message, and police officers must also wear masks. Step two is engendering trust, so police could hand out masks to people not wearing them to gently reinforce the importance.

Finally, step three is to start citing people in 15 days or so. Like reopening, it’s a phased approach.

Wendy Winter, Altadena

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To the editor: Other than potentially contracting COVID-19, I agree that there have not been enough consequences for people who refuse to wear a mask. I think that in light of the recent protests against police brutality, officers now tend to back off rather than confront anyone who is in public barefaced.

Some of the people so concerned about their personal freedoms being taken away probably don’t know anything about the Constitution. But, they should know that other countries seem to be doing much better than we are. The people there appear to have a different mind-set and care more about the well-being of all.

Unless we do what it takes to enforce mask compliance, we will be dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic indefinitely.

Barbara Segal, Carlsbad

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To the editor: For those patriots who truly believe mask wearing is too great an imposition to bear, I would suggest issuing a citation for $500 or requiring community service consisting of eight-hour shifts changing linens, emptying bedpans and empathetic hand-holding in a busy COVID-19 ward.

Dan Proctor, Northridge