More Ga. cities mandate masks despite Kemp

There’s a growing revolt among cities upset that Georgia isn’t doing enough to contain the coronavirus. And Gov. Brian Kemp isn’t yet doing anything to stop it.

A week after Savannah became the first Georgia city to require the use of face masks, two other local governments joined their ranks. East Point lawmakers approved restrictions on Monday and officials in Kemp’s hometown of Athens followed suit on Tuesday. Several others scheduled votes later last week.

The requirements could come into conflict with a statewide order from Kemp that “strongly encourages” — but does not mandate — the use of masks and bans local governments from enacting stricter or more lenient measure to fight the disease.

Supporters of the restrictions say they’re unfazed by what could be a thorny legal challenge. They point to pleas from public health experts, the growing number of states with similar requirements and the surging number of coronavirus cases in Georgia, which passed the 100,000 mark on Tuesday. near a burned-out Wendy’s where activists had camped to demand an end to racism and police brutality against Black people. Omilami himself had been involved in similar movements for many years.

Yet he, like the several dozen residents and community leaders who came to this vigil — the second in as many days — to stand against a recent surge of violence in the city, was outraged to learn the gunmen who killed Secoriea were ostensibly supposed to be advocates of Black lives. one-fourth of the $125 million that DeKalb County received from the federal CARES Act in March.

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and the DeKalb Municipal Association reached agreement on the new proposal during a Monday afternoon meeting, their fourth in recent months. It must still be approved by the county’s Board of Commissioners.

There was some pushback from members of that body when Thurmond presented the plan Tuesday morning. But the deal did not appear to be in immediate peril. sion on Tuesday approved the removal after an extensive discussion about who owns the structure and what to do with it once it is taken down.

The monument, which is believed to have been erected in 1910 by a local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy, is in McDonough’s downtown square on land owned by the county, the county said. Nearly 13,800 people had signed a Change.org petition to have the structure removed as of Tuesday morning.

Confederate statues from Rockdale County to Decatur have come down in recent weeks as national protests over the deaths of George Floyd and other Black Americans killed at the hands of police have renewed local pushes to remove the shrines.

The Henry Commission vote was 4-1, with County Commissioner Gary Barham in opposition.

ACROSS METRO ATLANTA

Here are other recent inspection scores for area restaurants.

■ Cuernavaca Grill, 455 Grayson Highway, Lawrenceville. 84/B

■ Gong Cha, 525 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee.

■ Hong Kong Garden, 455 Grayson Highway, Lawrenceville.

■ Las Terrazas Cuban Bakery, 722 Collins Hill Road, Lawrenceville.

■ Shane’s Rib Shack, 4835 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville.

■ CiCi’s Pizza, 240 Cherokee Place, Cartersville.

■ Steak ’n Shake, 610 E. Main St., Cartersville.

■ Sturk’s Wings & Things mobile, 18 Clear Pass, Adairsville.

■ Tropical Smoothie Café, 50 Main St. Market Place, Cartersville.

■ Zen Ramen & Sushi Burrito, 957 JFH Parkway, Cartersville.

■ Big Joe’s Bar & Grille, 1329 Bullsboro Drive, Newnan.

■ Fatboys Bar & Grill, 485 Ga. 16, Newnan.

■ Nikos Family Restaurant, 24 Main St., Grantville.

■ Shirley’s Country Kitchen Too, 1485 Ga. 34, Newnan.

■ Huskers Café, 209 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta.

■ The Yellow Chilli of Georgia, 11585 Jones Bridge Road, Johns Creek.