Put down Trump’s pompoms, DeSantis

Last week, the Sun Sentinel published two views about how to reopen Florida’s economy.

The responsible approach came from Dan Lindblade, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

The irresponsible approach came from

Gov. Ron DeSantis.

He was in Orlando with Vice President Mike Pence as President Trump’s economic cheerleaders. Pence said Florida is “leading the way” toward recovery from near-Depression unemployment because of COVID-19.

DeSantis waved his own pompoms. He wants water parks in the land of Disney and Universal to open — yesterday. Public health experts, DeSantis said, “haven’t seen evidence that this virus is transmissible in things like pools and water.”

The governor added, “I really want to see which theme park opens the first water park. Who’s going to make the first move?”

Three days later, Arkansas Gov. Asa

Hutchinson revealed that a cluster of new cases had resulted from a high school swim party. Hutchinson had bragged about his state’s comparatively low number of cases without a stay-at-home order. Hutchinson now acknowledges that Arkansas faces a second wave.

DeSantis may have been right about water not carrying the virus. The water, though, isn’t the problem. It’s the people in and out of the water.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises those at “recreational water venues” to protect themselves and others. That would include theme park employees, who will be at risk when Disney, Universal and the others reopen.

Maybe DeSantis tried too hard to change the subject. During Pence’s visit, the governor had to deal with allegations by a former state employee that the DeSantis administration fired her for refusing to cook the virus books.

Lindblade’s job is to promote Broward County businesses. Apparently, though, he takes the job of representing them seriously enough to know that successful recovery will take more than cheerleading.

“Now is not the time,” Lindblade wrote, “for #Floridamorons, the viral hashtag that dominated social media after pictures of crowded Florida beaches became an online sensation.” Though business owners want clients back, “They are also aware that flouting prudent practices is bad for business.”

Lindblade added, “We are still in the middle of a pandemic. Florida’s confirmed cases and death statistics continue to rise, and while those figures fall far short of New York’s, it still shows the need to take necessary precautions.”

Unlike DeSantis and Trump, Lindblade understands that reopening won’t matter if customers don’t come. So smart businesses are devising ways to promote consumer confidence until a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment arrives. Yes, it’s unfair. Yes, their challenge may not arise from a faulty product or poor service. But Lindblade offers what Republican politicians don’t: reality.

Trump claims that all jobs lost because of COVID-19 “will be back, and be back very soon.” He’s wrong.

Example: The airline industry’s business model was to cram as many passengers as possible into as small a space as possible. That model is done indefinitely and perhaps forever. Fewer passengers per flight will mean less revenue, which will mean fewer flights and fewer employees.

Lindblade understands. “For the foreseeable future,” he wrote, “say goodbye to crowded cafes, bars and extended treatments at hair salons … Happy hour will take a hiatus as bars remain closed, and large gatherings at funerals and weddings will no longer be appropriate.

“We know the virus is more likely to spread when a lot of people gather in an enclosed area for a prolonged period of time. Business owners will do their part in upholding physical distancing guidelines, but we’ll need the public’s help to consistently practice safety precautions to keep consumer confidence high and businesses open.”

Floridians should understand that every pronouncement DeSantis makes about the virus is designed to help Trump win the state in November. Note that DeSantis pays little attention to South Florida, which has most of the state’s cases and deaths. Trump expects to lose this region. To beat Democrat Joe Biden, Trump has to carry Orlando and Tampa Bay. So DeSantis lavishes praise on Central Florida.

Lindblade, though, is a local. He’s thinking beyond Election Day. A responsible governor would do the same.