Days semi-sans Petanque: Thus Spake Matty Lackey

From: Matty Lackey <mattylackey@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, May 21, 2020 at 8:57 AM
Subject: Re: one guy's opinion
To: valleyofthemoonpetanqueclub@gmail.com <valleyofthemoonpetanqueclub@gmail.com>

This is what I'm not understanding, the tennis courts at Maxwell Park our packed, with people who are obviously not family members playing each other and touching the exact same ball every 45 seconds and that's seems to be just fine, we play a game where we don't touch boulles and can kick the pig, hell, most of us want to stay 6 feet from each other anyway, haha, so what's the problem with us?

And the reply which may have been sent to full membership. I can't tell.

From: Joe LaTorre <latorrej@aol.com>

Subject: Re: one guy's opinion

Date: May 22, 2020 at 9:46:02 PM PDT

Hi Matty, I completely understand, and share, your frustration. I feel sure that resuming play with adequate precautions is as safe or safer as reopening outdoor restaurants. We have expressed this to the City, and I think they are in fact sympathetic. 

They are not, however, willing to defy the County's health orders, which are very specific about limiting outdoors activities to individuals and family groups. So their requirements for the petanque courts are the same as the County's.

I can't speak to the situation at the tennis courts, but I don't doubt that noncompliance with the City's rules is common - not only there, but also using picnic areas, etc. Presumably those individuals are willing to take the risk. 

The difference for VOMPC is that the City leases the courts to us, and expect us to follow their restrictions. If we don't, they would have every right to terminate our lease. We are not willing to risk that. We have to restrict our club's activities accordingly, and tell members to follow the City's direction. If they don't do so, we are all at some risk of losing the courts.

The communication we have had with the City has helped them understand how we can comply with social distancing, and even could influence decision making at the County level. I hope that it isn't too long that we will be able to resume, but we have no way of knowing. We will, of course, let the club know immediately if we hear good news.

Joe LaTorre

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