It’s tough to work in jobs that require meeting the public these days. Schools are struggling to staff up as full-time teachers, substitute teachers, custodians and bus drivers are exposed to, or fall ill from Covid. Central High School had 26 classrooms without substitutes last Friday and some hospitals are calling on the National Guard for help.
Meanwhile, Republican state Rep. Jason Zachary (here) has accused teachers of faking it so they can take extra time off.
Last week, Christine Cruz, an announced Republican candidate for the at-large Knox County Commission seat occupied by Republican Larsen Jay, took to her Facebook page to express outrage over being stopped by a mask-wearing security guard as she was walking into a county satellite office to renew a license tag for her husband. She said the security guard “strongly encouraged” her to wear a mask. She declined the suggestion and was further outraged when he asked her to step aside to allow for social distancing as others entered the building.
Cruz, who first registered to vote in Knox County a year ago next week and has been involved in the very vocal anti-mask group that has been attending school board and commission meetings, said she complied with his second request, entered the building and went about her business, noting that the county clerk’s employees were not masked (although they do have safety shields and monitor air quality inside the office). She finished the post with this commentary:
“As I left I approached the security guard and asked what his name was. I made a note of it for my complaint and told him that it is absolutely inappropriate for him to try to force people to wear a mask by bullying them. He needs to be dealt with accordingly. I will follow up. I immediately called Sherry Witt’s office and left a message. I am waiting for a response. This is absolutely out of control!”
Witt got back to Cruz promptly and informed her that the guard works for the PBA (Public Building Authority), and not for Knox County, whereupon Cruz called the head of PBA’s security guards, who referred her to Jayne Burritt, the PBA’s CEO. A little more than an hour later, Cruz posted an update, saying that Burritt had called her back and apologized.
“They are removing him from that post and I am very grateful and thankful to those in authority who took swift and appropriate actions to protect the public. Thank you.”
Cruz basked in the approval of her supporters, one of whom informed her that he was a member of the regional PBA (apparently thinking the initials stood for Police Benevolent Association rather than Public Building Authority).
After hearing a rumor that the security guard had resigned, I spoke to Burritt, who said she moved him to another location after he “erred on the side of caution.” She said the guard’s family member had been hospitalized with Covid and that he’d been planning to retire in a few weeks. Because of confidentiality rules, it is not clear whether he did resign or is waiting out his time.
“He’s been a really good officer and I didn’t want him to face a lot of issues with this, she said. “He was mad that this happened and didn’t feel like he’d done anything wrong.”
Burritt said pandemic protocol gets confusing for PBA employees because they work for a joint city/county agency. The two governments share several buildings and have different regulations in place. County Mayor Glenn Jacobs is allied with the anti-mask group while Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon is a strong believer in masking (and other anti-Covid practices).
“Masks aren’t required in county offices, but if you are going to a city office, you must have a mask. The courts keep going back and forth – people would be wise to carry one with them.”
Betty Bean writes a Thursday opinion column for KnoxTNToday.com.