Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston: landscaping, movie theaters, property tax)

[Cabound1]

Gotta laugh at the “sophisticated” globe trotters who are now so paranoid they can’t venture outside their homes.

**** you. You know who who are ..... ha ha ha

[redplum33]

Online petition calls for closure of Cape Cod bridges during coronavirus pandemic


"An online petition created by a Massachusetts woman is calling for the closure of the Cape Cod bridges amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Beth Hickman, of South Yarmouth, started the petition on Change.org, noting that hospitals on the cape cannot accommodate an influx of visitors, who may or may not be sick"

[porterhouse]

Do these people who want to close the bridges also support refunding the full freight property taxes paid by non resident homeowners?

[robr2]

Originally Posted by Williepaws

“A burdened health care system” yet Boston Medical is furloughing 10% of their staff due to falling revenue! If the hospitals are so overburdened, and the ins cos are suppose to be paying the full bill, with the furloughs, who is taking care of the patients?

The furloughs are administrative positions. For every patient facing position, there are close to 3 admin (finance, HR, purchasing, IT, marketing) people in the background.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by robr2

The furloughs are administrative positions. For every patient facing position, there are close to 3 admin (finance, HR, purchasing, IT, marketing) people in the background.

Also, elective surgeries are the moneymakers in any system, and they aren't being done now because of the virus crisis, at least in some states and areas (like mine here in Colorado, former long-time Mass. resident) and revenue is down.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by robr2

The furloughs are administrative positions. For every patient facing position, there are close to 3 admin (finance, HR, purchasing, IT, marketing) people in the background.

BMC is also a teaching hospital, like many in the state (e.g., MGH, UMass Med). With teaching activities severely limited and elective procedures more or less on hold, hospitals are being financially impacted by the current situation as staff supporting these efforts are generally expensive.

Hundreds of people seeking Covid-19 treatment don't financially replace the delayed cardio and ortho procedures. It's crudely analogous to restaurants selling take out, but the patrons are no longer buying buying 7 dollar beers or have a waitress to tip ... yes, still busy, but the margins suck.

This is all to say: if you don't understand the economics of U.S. healthcare, craft your critiques with a bit of humble ignorance. These institutions are being impacted negatively as well. It's not an enlightened "gotch ya".

[justyouraveragetenant]

This documentary is scary on how bad things could get with certain viruses.

some might be interested the spanish flu documentary.

https://youtu.be/UDY5COg2P2c

covid 19 is a cake walk in comparision.

its so nasty it sounds like something stephen king would write.

[Regina14]

Originally Posted by Bridge781

People just need to stay home. It’s at the point where going to a hiking trail is going to be off the table soon too. I told someone who is a medical professional who’s been working on all this with Boston and they said if the are is crowded even outside don’t stay. People are dying. I also just heard of a Somerville cop who is 34 and in a coma with coronavirus

There are some very nice paved walking paths near my apartment complex. I've tried walking there (I need to go out to take my dog for walks); but the paths are too narrow for walkers and joggers if both don't move; and often joggers (and bikers) seem to think that social distance means I should move off the path (even if it's muddy or there are bushes or another jogger coming in the opposite direction) rather than them. So I drive five to ten minutes to parks with wider paths and fields and (in one of them) no bikers or joggers.

People do need to get out and get some fresh air and move and around though; especially parents of young children (or owners of dogs). It's a pretty basic human need. Maybe there should be more law enforcement policing the parks and hiking trails, if that's available.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by porterhouse

Do these people who want to close the bridges also support refunding the full freight property taxes paid by non resident homeowners?

Or understand that Cape Cod isn't remotely self-sufficient? If those bridges closed, how long until everyone starved?

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

Or understand that Cape Cod isn't remotely self-sufficient? If those bridges closed, how long until everyone starved?

Of course the other thing within this is that if the bridge shuts down how does anything even get to the islands. When I was in retail there was one shipper at a high-end that had the Monopoly for shipping anything to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Outside of the bridge the only way to get anything and Crosses by both I know there is a little bit of a boat that goes between Pete down and Plymouth but in no way logistically is it possible to supply the cape. Long time ago I looked at Emergency Management and to be frank with you if there was ever an incident at the pilgrim plant (I know it's closed) no way to evacuate Cape Cod. If you're looking at 300,000 people the only real way on and off is that bridge.