Manhattan Beach Launches COVID Campaign For Mask Wearing, Safety

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Early next week, if not sooner, folks out and about in Manhattan Beach will begin to see new banners aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19. The first banners will go up at city parks and probably the fire stations, George Gabriel, senior management analyst with the City of Manhattan Beach. After that, metal signage will be strategically positioned around town, particularly on The Strand. And just this week, the city launched the social media portion of its COVID campaign.

That campaign can be seen on Instagram and Facebook and reads, "Our Community, Our Health, Our Responsibility WEAR A FACE COVERING". Gabriel said a team of city staff works on the messaging. "Ever since COVID, there's been a big demand for information. We're trying to fill that gap. With COVID, it's created this demand for information unlike any other." He noted the team is "working tirelessly."

After banners are hung at city parks, Gabriel expects street banners to go up at all of the usual city locations where banners are routinely hung. The Strand will get metal signage, possibly affixed to or near existing metal poles identified by the Public Works department. Signs will also be placed on Veterans Parkway "where possible." Gabriel said city staff is aware of lots of existing not-uniform signage in the city and is "actively conscious" of not adding to the "sign pollution." As for adding more positions for street signs, he said there has "never been a clamor for any more street banners."

As for the signs called out recently by City Council member Suzanne Hadley (one is on the downtown fire station and reads, "We Are Here For You, Please Stay Home For Us" and the other is on a fence at a baseball diamond near Joslyn Community Center and reads, "Home Is Your Safe Place"), Gabriel indicated they will be taken down and replaced by newer signs. He said the city would "refresh" them "to avoid being stagnant." He also noted those banners may be used elsewhere in the city.

The new campaign message of"Our Community, Our Health, Our Responsibility WEAR A FACE COVERING" is designed to "ensure this [combatting COVID-19] is a team effort and [convey the message that] everyone just needs to do their part."