DeSantis seeks counties’ virus regulations
Local officials in dark as to what governor will do with information
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis sent letters to leaders of all 67 counties on Friday, asking for information on any coronavirus orders they’ve issued, and the penalties placed on residents.
But it does not explain why he’s seeking the information or what he plans to do with it. A DeSantis spokesman did not return a phone call and an email seeking comment Friday.
Many counties and cities throughout the state have passed ordinances requiring masks to be worn in public since the pandemic hit Florida in mid-March. Some make violating the order a misdemeanor offense punishable by a maximum $500 fine and 60 days in jail, but some counties, like Orange, aren’t using penalties to enforce it.
In July, when the virus was at its peak, MiamiDade County began issuing $100 fines to individuals and $500 fines to businesses that don’t comply with their mask order. Miami Beach has imposed $14,400 in fines as of mid-August, according to multiple news reports.
DeSantis posted the letter on Twitter, but officials with Central Florida local governments couldn’t confirm they’d received it yet, or knew why DeSantis was collecting the data.
Melissa McKinlay, a Palm Beach County commissioner who is president of the Florida Association of Counties, wrote in a text message that she doesn’t know why DeSantis is requesting the information.
“I hope the governor is not trying to preempt local governments from being able to have more protections in place from the spread of COVID-19 locally than the state has required,” said Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat who has criticized DeSantis’ pandemic response.
In recent weeks DeSantis has emphasized that rules in place to combat COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, shouldn’t be permanent. He expressed skepticism that social dis
tancing protocols could be kept up for extended periods and has consistently noted the negative effects of lockdowns such as job losses and an increase in mental health care needs.
Citing a provision of the state constitution that gives the governor the authority to require information from county and city officials “upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices,” DeSantis asked them to respond by Sept. 15.
He’s asking for the text of all coronavirus-related orders; any clarification on those orders provided to businesses; enforcement guidance give to police; the amount of possible fines or jail times for violating the orders; citations issued and fines collected; and the end dates or renewal dates for the orders.
DeSantis has previously defended his decision not to issue a statewide mask order in response to the coronavirus because of Florida’s diversity, and that local governments could set their own rules to combat the virus. But he’s also been wary of having to enforce any such order.
“They have every right to do that. They’re then responsible for the enforcement of that,” DeSantis said in June. “Our view has been to have criminal penalties would not necessarily be the right thing to do.”
In recent weeks DeSantis has emphasized that rules in place to combat COVID -19, the virus caused by the coronavirus, shouldn’t be permanent. He expressed skepticism that social distancing protocols could be kept up for extended periods and has consistently noted the negative effects of lockdowns such as job losses and an increase in mental health care needs.