Keeping golf courses open draws fire
Five mayors criticize Arizona governor
PHOENIX — Municipal leaders criticized Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Tuesday over his decision to classify some businesses like golf courses as “essential” during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayors of five cities, including Tucson and Flagstaff, sent Republican Gov. Doug Ducey a letter saying his executive order should not have included golf courses and payday lenders in the definition of “essential services” that cannot be shut down in response to the outbreak. They also requested a statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures.
Ducey agreed to pause evictions for 120 days for renters quarantining due to coronavirus or who are struggling from the economic fallout. To qualify, renters will have to provide documentation that they’ve been ordered to quarantine, have a health condition that leaves them vulnerable or suffered a substantial income loss. Renters will be required to acknowledge in writing that the terms of their lease haven’t changed.
On Monday, Ducey outlined an expansive list of essential services that cities and counties are prohibited from shuttering. His action came after mayors took the lead in closing bars and gyms and prohibiting dine-in service at restaurants.
Patrick Ptak, a spokesman for Ducey, sidestepped questions about why the state’s estimated 300 golf courses were on the list. “This order is about protecting public health and preserving critical financial lifelines for many communities across our state,” he said in an email.
Ducey was initially criticized by Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, for only ordering the closures of schools but seeming to drag his feet on businesses.
The governor later adopted his own restrictions on businesses in all counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The mayors of Tucson, Flagstaff, Tolleson, Somerton and Winslow asked for “clear and direct guidance” on the closure of nonessential services and asked for “assurance that no Arizonan loses their home due to the economic hardship imposed by COVID-19.”
“We acknowledge that these are painful decisions with severe economic repercussions, but immediate action will save lives,” the mayors wrote.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said Ducey’s order gives him sole authority and blocks cities from putting limits on crowded parks, golf courses and beauty salons.
While golf courses are open, national parks are not. National forests in northern and eastern Arizona and outside the Phoenix metro area announced this week the closure of picnic sites, day-use areas and developed campgrounds. Some already had suspended the rental of cabins. Grand Canyon National Park suspended private, commercial and research trips on the Colorado River, starting Tuesday until late May.
Arizona had at least 326 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, according to the state Department of Health Services. That is a jump of nearly 100 from a day earlier.
There also was a sixth death reported — a Coconino County man in his 50s with an underlying health condition.
Of the previous five deaths, no details were given by health officials about the last three. The other two were already reported to both be men above age 50 with underlying health conditions.
Navajo Nation officials announced the discovery of 10 more cases, bringing the total to 49 with most in Arizona and a few in New Mexico. The tribe has instituted a “stay-at-home” order as well and told nonessential businesses to temporarily close.