Nancy Stebbing, who has lived in Marion Township for nearly 14 years, was taken aback when she opened her summer property tax bill.
It wasn’t how much she owed that shocked her; it was the notice on the back of her property tax bill, which began: “Due to potential risks of the Wuhan/Covid-19 virus, and for everyone’s safety, we are encouraging payments by mail …”
The use of the word “Wuhan” to refer to the COVID-19 virus was “completely unprofessional and needlessly political,” Stebbing said.
Although it is widely believed that COVID-19 originated in China, the use of “Wuhan flu,” “Chinese flu,” and “kung flu,” as names for it has been criticized by some for stoking xenophobia, and during the past several months, incidents against Asian Americans have risen.
Since the World Health Organization named the virus SARS-Cov2 in February, Stebbing said the “use of a name other than the official name is either ignorant or intentional.”
The Livingston Post refers to the virus as “COVID-19.” It’s short and accurate. Some call it “coronavirus,” but that term describes a large family of viruses that cause a wide range of illnesses, from the common cold to the current pandemic caused by COronaVIrus Disease 2019, a potentially deadly respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus.
“The intention (of using the term ‘Wuhan Flu’ on the back of the tax bill) could be to make a racist statement or to make a provocative statement,” Stebbing said. “Personally, I find the term racist. No matter what the intention, it is completely inappropriate on official township communications.”
Stebbing, who describes herself as “not a Conservative or a Republican,” has dealt with township officials on homeowner association-related issues as an HOA board member, and she said township officials have always done a fairly good job fulfilling their duties, even when she’s disagreed with their decisions. But this tax bill notice is something altogether different.
“It is unprofessional,” she said. “Bush league stuff. I do not appreciate my tax dollars being used in this manner.”
