[M T]

I'll admit since I'm in SF right now I'm more SF-focused, but to me, what would undercut effectiveness would be if the announcement came from unelected bureaucrats (mostly outside of SF) telling me what I'm supposed to do in San Francisco. I 100% think that should have come from the highest elected office in the City, and I think she made the right call doing so with her director of public health and chief of police by her side. Maybe you feel it undercut the authority of public health officers in other counties, but I personally don't see that as her problem. She received a lot of national media criticism for announcing the emergency prior to there being any diagnosed cases, and so I absolutely think it's appropriate that she took ownership over what was then a very big deal even at the national level. Like it or not, but Dr. Sara Cody is not a highly recognizable name, her office carries no authority over San Francisco, and I don't even know if she's electorally accountable by anyone, let alone anyone in SF.

It does seem political for the 4th largest county of the 6 counties involved to try to claim leadership by press conference.  The SF Mayor has no authority over 87% of the population affected by the collective orders.

The SF Mayor declared a local emergency on Feb. 25, pursuant to the city's charter.  It wasn't until March 6 that the Health Officer of SF County (Dr. Aragón) declared a local health emergency, pursuant to state law.

The authority to declare a health emergency due to a contagious disease is delegated to the director of public health or local health officer, not the mayor, city council, or county board of supervisors.  The mayor doesn't even have the authority to ratify such a declaration, per the state laws.   I believe the state laws authorizing quarantines and such are also delegated by the state to the same non-elected officials.

"bureaucrat", really?

[M T]

I'll admit since I'm in SF right now I'm more SF-focused, but to me, what would undercut effectiveness would be if the announcement came from unelected bureaucrats (mostly outside of SF) telling me what I'm supposed to do in San Francisco. I 100% think that should have come from the highest elected office in the City, and I think she made the right call doing so with her director of public health and chief of police by her side. Maybe you feel it undercut the authority of public health officers in other counties, but I personally don't see that as her problem. She received a lot of national media criticism for announcing the emergency prior to there being any diagnosed cases, and so I absolutely think it's appropriate that she took ownership over what was then a very big deal even at the national level. Like it or not, but Dr. Sara Cody is not a highly recognizable name, her office carries no authority over San Francisco, and I don't even know if she's electorally accountable by anyone, let alone anyone in SF.

It does seem political for the 4th largest county of the 6 counties involved to try to claim leadership by press conference.  The SF Mayor has no authority over 87% of the population affected by the collective orders.

The SF Mayor declared a local emergency on Feb. 25, pursuant to the city's charter.  It wasn't until March 6 that the Health Officer of SF County (Dr. Aragón) declared a local health emergency, pursuant to state law.

The authority to declare a health emergency due to a contagious disease is delegated to the director of public health or local health officer, not the mayor, city council, or county board of supervisors.  The mayor doesn't even have the authority to ratify such a declaration, per the state laws.   I believe the state laws authorizing quarantines and such are also delegated by the state to the same non-elected officials.

"bureaucrat", really?