March 9, 2020
Dear Dublin Community,
It is with a heavy heart that we, at the City of Dublin, have decided to cancel this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration due to the heightened health risk of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Believe me when I say that we did not make the decision lightly. This call to cancel was made after tremendous thought and numerous consultations with both the Alameda County Public Health Department and the Alameda County Office of Emergency Services, and after noting that other popular festivals and events have been similarly cancelled.
The annual Dublin St. Patrick’s Day festivities have taken place faithfully for the past 36 years. It is a staple in our community and is a beloved celebration of our City’s pride and heritage. However, the festival, parade, pancake breakfast, and 5k Fun Run, have become regional events that annually bring close to 80,000 people into our community. It is our duty and obligation to protect our citizens, as well as the many visitors who would be coming into our City for the events.
Over the coming days, it is expected that the number of infected will likely rise in the region. Cancelling the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Celebration is simply the prudent thing to do.
On behalf of the City Council, we would like to thank the Dublin community for your understanding and support at this time, as well as to the sponsors of the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and other City events. We look forward to festivities in 2021!
Sincerely,
Linda Smith
Dublin City Manager
This is ridiculous. Attendance should be optional. Panicking isn’t the answer. Take the same necessary precautions you’d take for any virus. Wash you hands well. Avoid sick people. Stay home if you’re sick, etc. Should I stop going to work, the grocery store and the gas station because there are too many people who might be carrying the virus? Should I not have fun when I’m off work and cancel all vacation plans too? Keep it in perspective, and quit panicking. Other regions of the state aren’t. The media is driving this in the Bay Area.
Yeah, doggone media…
You’re not doing it, but there are news sites I read that post 3-4 stories (every day) regarding coronavirus. It creates panic, and leads to people buying out all the toilet paper and bottled water at Costco. A half hour news segment is 10-15 minutes of coronavirus. It’s sensationalism. It’s nice that you’re not blowing this way out of proportion – just for ratings.
Kudos to the cities in CA that aren’t cancelling the parade.
Thanks. Not in this game for the ratings, so that’s not an influencer. Also saddened to note that festivities were also cancelled in Dublin, Ireland and other venues across the Island. And that hit home, too…
I find it “interesting” that Los Angeles and San Diego (the two largest cities in CA) are carrying on with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in San Diego and the St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Los Angeles. If the two largest cities aren’t cancelling (the larger the city, the larger the crowd) why do other cities find it necessary? Coronavirus is a threat in Southern CA too. Maybe “life in the big city” is more fun…
Shame. We enjoyed going.
Still can’t get tested. A lot of zombies among us. County is rationing the tests. Their hide your head in the sand approach might have a helluva payback down the road. Let’s hope for the best. Right now my ER doctor is trying to persuade County I should be tested. Quite a mess.
Doesn’t a declaration of State of Emergency from the state and county ask for a change in routine? Is it just a polite request? Are they just being silly? Ridiculous? Let’s see where we are in 2 weeks.
We believe it is a prerequisite declaration necessary for possible future requests for funding from state and federal agencies.
Ok, can we agree on a definition of “emergency”, “a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action”, and can we agree that THIS is out of the ordinary? Not regular flu and cold season…Yes? We can debate what action to take, but this is a declared “emergency”. Unusual! Not a time to panic, but a time to act.
“it is a prerequisite declaration necessary for possible future requests for funding”? So, it’s pro forma? Is that your journalistic take on what this is? Why would they do that? Are they anticipating a real emergency? Or are they refinancing old debt or something? I don’t know why you replied as you did, but you needn’t have replied at all. You imply that an emergency declaration might be no more than a bureaucratic request through normal channels, divorced from any “dangerous situation requiring immediate action”. I take a different view. Clearly I was stating that a State of Emergency implied some necessary response, some action. You completely minimized that to be just pro forma paperwork. I was not asking you for clarification. It was rhetorical!
“Needn’t have replied at all…” Got it.