Guilford County Board of Commissioners Chairman Skip Alston recently invited NC Gov. Roy Cooper to come and observe Guilford County health officials giving out vaccinations – and Alston found out on Wednesday, Feb. 10 that the governor was taking up the offer.
On Thursday, Feb. 11, Cooper is scheduled to make a lunchtime visit to Mount Zion Baptist Church at 1301 Alamance Church Road where the county will be vaccinating people over 65 and others who qualify.
“I am glad he decided to come,” Alston said. “I think it will be a good thing for the community.”
Alston sent a letter to the governor just over a week ago after there were some major hiccups in the supply of COVID-19 vaccination doses to Guilford County. One reason the county got left high and dry one week last month is because the state didn’t feel Guilford County was pumping out vaccinations fast enough. That was a misunderstanding about how appointments were scheduled and one point of the Thursday visit is for the governor to check out the county’s vaccination operations in person.
The visit will be brief; Alston said the governor is expected to be at the church for about 45 minutes.
According to Alston, state officials have been very focused on making sure that COVID-19 vaccinations are getting out to minority and marginalized members of the community. Guilford County has been doing exceptionally well in that regard whereas the state is trying to improve the numbers statewide.
“We’ve had 38 percent of vaccinations going to minorities,” Alston said of Guilford County’s efforts. “The state is at about 22 percent.”
The two men have a relationship that dates back about two decades. Alston said that, when Cooper was first elected as the state attorney general in 2000, Alston, was president of the North Carolina NAACP and Cooper would always accept invitations to speak at those events.
“I know he cares about equity,” Alston said of Cooper.
I hope Mr. Aslton will define what he means by “equity” and explain how he views equity and what he sees the Governors view of equity is. Inquiring minds want to know. I gather that we are no longer doing equality.
So, was Skip’s invitation to Ol’ Roy an effort to get more vaccinations for ALL Guilford County residents (ie: his employers) or just for minority and so called marginalized individuals?
Proof again of where his priorities lie.
I think it’s good that the Governor came and if you are implying something just say it. It looks like all people are taking advantage of the ficilitiey at Mt. ZION Church.
Skip’s priorities are Skip, Skip, and Skip.
Thanks for providing the fine local reporting!
It has been obvious for decades that identity (politics) determines our society’s priorities. “Equity” is a very different concept as opposed to equality.
Lets not be cynical-It really warms my heart to know our great leader came all the way here from his headquarters to be with his subjects.
It’s just a free commercial opportunity for the re-election campaign under the guise of helping out the community. They believe that face time in the right places at the right times secures votes. Ask if either of them believe in equity or equality when it comes to face time and funding for whoever runs against them in the primaries. Politics is a brutal business.