By T.A. Hendrickson
More than 100 new signs warning of Covid-19 risk have been placed throughout City Council District 1, including 38 in Cypress Park, Highland Park, Glassell Park and Lincoln Heights.
The signage is the latest effort by CD 1 Councilmember Gil Cedillo to fight the coronavirus in his district.
“It is critical to make people aware of the dangers that still exist,” said Cedillo, “particularly in parts of my district with challenges of poverty, immigration status, and density.”
In Northeast L.A., the CD 1 neighborhoods of Lincoln Heights and Highland Park are among those hardest hit by Covid-19. Lincoln Heights had 4,418 positive cases and 116 deaths through Jan. 18. Highland Park had 4,960 positive cases and 52 deaths.
“There’s no value in soft-selling the conditions,” said Cedillo. In addition to reminding residents to protect themselves and others — by wearing a mask, social distancing and frequent handwashing — the signs also provide information on Covid-19 tests and vaccinations.
The signs are part of Cedillo’s ongoing outreach and education efforts during the pandemic. Through 2020, Cedillo has provided 70,000 hot meals to his constituents in CD 1, as well as 35,000 bags of groceries and 92 tons of produce, 11,000 masks, 6,000 diapers and 4,000 gallons of sanitizer.
The pandemic is clearly not over, but there is hope, said Cedillo, citing the roll out of the vaccine and the Biden administration’s commitment to ending the pandemic.
To arrange for a test, visit https://corona-virus.la/covid-19-testing. For information on vaccination, visit vaccinatelacounty.com or call 213-473-7001.
Please help the Boulevard Sentinel survive the pandemic.
If you can, please Thank you.
T.A. Hendrickson, a native of Eagle Rock, is the editor of the Boulevard Sentinel and a former member of the Editorial Board of the New York Times.
