[Written as a news writing exercise for UCSB's Beat Reporting course in January of 2021.]
Wednesday morning, on the steps of the Capitol, President Joe Biden took the oath of office, swearing to uphold and defend the Constitution as he takes over the executive branch of American democracy as the 46th president of the United States. Calling it, “a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve,” the President took to the podium to address a nation fatigued by pandemic, insurrection, racial injustice, economic downturn, conspiracy, misinformation, and governmental abuse of power. “Today,” he said, “we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause – the cause of democracy.”
And the Biden administration wasted no time in its efforts toward a more stable and united democracy, enacting more than a dozen executive orders before the day was over. A number of these actions are good news for the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced Wednesday that President Biden had mandated the wearing of masks on federal land and launched a nationwide “100-day masking challenge.”
Further, the President appointed an official COVID-19 Response Coordinator and reversed Trump’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization, appointing Dr. Anthony Fauci as the U.S. Head of Delegation. “This will strengthen our own efforts to get the pandemic under control by improving global health,” Psaki stated.
For Isla Vista, a firmer federal approach to the pandemic could mean a change in general public sentiment and, in turn, improved community safety. Director and Vice President of Isla Vista Community Services District Catherine Flaherty is hopeful. “I believe that the biggest thing we will see…is a change in messaging surrounding the pandemic,” Flaherty said. “Before this, the national level had a severe messaging issue, and because of this, national versus state versus local levels were disjointed – an error that caused very real and lasting damage.”
Flaherty has seen huge numbers of Isla Vista residents disregard county ordinances against large gatherings, witnessing house parties so crowded that lines of partiers form outside the homes. She largely attributes this reckless behavior to the previous administration’s lack of urgency in controlling the public health crisis. “All Isla Vista community members must take social distance guidelines seriously,” she said, “and I am hoping that Biden-Harris modeling behavior will help change the narrative.”
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