HoCo Detention Center: No Inmates with COVID-19

Jack Kavanagh, Director of the Howard County Detention Center told the County Council that as of Saturday morning April 25, 2020 no staff or inmates at the Howard County Detention Center have tested positive for COVID-19. Kavanagh made his comments during a rare Saturday Council work session on capital projects at the detention center. Even rarer, the work session was held remotely and Kavanagh called in by phone.

However, Kavanagh added that one part-time evening shift nurse has tested positive for COVID-19. Video confirms that she wore her personal protective equipment the entire time and that she stayed in the medical suite. Thus, Kavanagh believes that there was only minimal contact with inmates or other staff.

Though Kavanagh complimented the inmates for their cooperation and social distancing for COVID-19, he told the Council that three inmates were on medical observation for drinking hand sanitizer. One drank nearly a whole bag, Kavanagh told the Council who expressed disappointment at hearing this news. The sanitizer is 70% alcohol. The inmates have told the staff that they sprinkle the hand sanitizer with salt to make it more drinkable.

Kavanagh also stated that staff are screened for COVID-19 and questioned on their travel history.

Hill Restaurant Group Must Never Come to Howard County

While many eateries have announced plans to come to Columbia, with the new economic situation, I doubt that they will all follow through with their original intention.

However, should the Hill Restaurant Group of Washington, DC ever desire to come to Howard County, the answer must be NO!!!

This is their response to the coronavirus closing order in DC:

Hill Restaurant Group operates Finn’s, Hawk ‘n’ Dove, Tortuga, Lola’s, Willie’s, Ophella’s Fish House, and Orchid.

Hill Restaurant Group and their owners should never come to Downtown Columbia. They should never be granted a liquor license in Howard County

Neither should their ownership of William Sport, Tom Johnson, and Rene Jean.

https://www.hillrestaurantgroup.com/about/

UPDATE: Reply from DC Mayor Muriel Bowser

Hogan Will Decide Soon Whether To Make April Elections Mail-In Only

Talking Points Memo reports that Governor Hogan is considering making the April 28 primary and special general elections mail in only.

Maryland General Assembly Must Extend Session

The Maryland General Assembly needs to extend its 90-day session. Like an athlete playing through injury, the General Assembly likes to plow through, literally, during blizzards while the rest of the state stays home. Now with coronavirus, it must like the rest of us take a break. The Constitution provides that the 90 days may be nonconsecutive; so an emergency law can be passed to pause the session and pick up when the health situation improves.

Alternatively, the session can be extended 30 days, and hopefully things will be better in May to finish the session.

SEC. 15. (1) The General Assembly may continue its session so long as in its judgment the public interest may require, for a period not longer than ninety days in each year. The ninety days shall be consecutive unless otherwise provided by law. The General Assembly may extend its session beyond ninety days, but not exceeding an additional thirty days, by resolution concurred in by a three-fifths vote of the membership in each House.

Major Columbia Property Owners – Brookfield Up, HH, Kimco, Macy’s, JCPenney at 5 Year Lows

And the Band Played On

And the band played on. Everybody read the COVID-19 update from CA? Well, of course you have not yet.* The Board did not begin to discuss closings and disruptions until 10:30 pm Thursday–3.5 hours into their regular meeting. And then they only discussed it as part of the president’s report.

EVERYTHING Milton Matthews admitted was to be determined Friday. After school care. Kids at CA facilities. Group classes. Contact with children and swim instructors. Paying lifeguards if the pools are closed. Extending memberships. Employees working at home.

The effect of the Governor’s closing order. The closing of the schools. The County Executive’s scheduled announcement Friday.

Board members also raised questions about CA elections. Making the villages vote by mail.

For the prior 3.5 hours the band played on. Changes in swim center schedules. Temperatures of pools. Columbia Clippers. Waterslide usage. Lap swimming. Standards of care for outdoor facilities. Neighborhood centers and a schedule for the villages to respond so that action can be taken in April. Whether to oppose a redline development at the Planning Board on March 19. Precedent of allowing drive-through additions to get a reduction in parking requirements. Landscaping. Berms. Where to locate dumpsters. No concerns that the Planning Board meeting might be cancelled. No concern that CA’s meetings themselves will be cancelled.

And all this was after a presentation by Greg Fitchitt of Howard Hughes on Downtown Columbia. The same presentation he would have made 3 weeks ago. No concern of the coming bankruptcies in the retail and hospitality sector. I will be very surprised if all of the announced restaurants and businesses come to Columbia after the economic disruption that we are in.

And the band played on. I asked questions whether the open house on Saturday will be cancelled, not the Board. I asked about the schedule of future meetings, not the Board. I told Milton Mathews that the CA website was one of the few large entities that I have seen that does not have a COVID-19 update on the main webpage. The response. The usual arrogant silence that is to be expected from MM.

I hope that CA takes action before the stern of the ship begins to rise from the water.

* UPDATE – The Columbia Association sent out its COVID-19 email at 7:47 PM on March 13, 2020. This blog was posted around 4:40 am March 13, 2020.