There are many serious issues facing our community, our state and our country right now. This is an incredibly stressful time for all of us, and combined with COVID and the effects it is having on our families, our businesses, our schools and so much more, it is even more difficult.

I recently addressed our community on a number of topics, including COVID-19. I hope you have a chance to watch the entire speech. You can do that here:
youtu.be/pFhLRZ0r8LI.

Life with COVID has been hard for all of us. But you have come through. We asked you to limit group sizes, which affected treasured events like parties and celebrations, some that had been planned for a long time. We asked you to wear masks to protect yourselves and each other. We asked you to keep your physical distance from others. We asked employers to change the way they do business to keep both employees and customers safe. We even asked you to keep your kids away from other kids, an almost impossible task. 

While we asked you to stay home, city staff and other essential workers hit the streets. First responders, health care workers, grocery clerks and public works staff all kept open lifelines to vital services. The city never paused in working for you. 

The city and Dane County worked together to provide emergency food and to get more than 500 at-risk and homeless people off the streets and into safer settings. And we worked to make sure there is free testing for everyone at the Alliant Energy Center. 

We will keep working together to get through this. Please wear your masks and wash your hands frequently.