LOOKING AHEAD THIS WEEK
OPENING STATE BORDERS,
Sports are slowly coming back. Schools are slowly coming back. Even New Yorkers are slowly coming back. Well … two out of three ain’t bad. In all seriousness, Gov. Ron DeSantis is now lifting the 14-day quarantine mandate on those coming from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut and is doing away with checkpoints on the Florida border that have been in place since late March. It’s about time we allow every citizen of this country to move about with the God-given freedoms they were born with and allow every business to operate as they choose. Game on.
HELP POLICE’S APPROACH,
The efforts of faith leaders and other advocates to improve law enforcement’s approach to public safety can benefit both the citizens and the police officers. Why assume that all calls to the department fit into a crime category, or that law enforcement officers have the training to resolve issues that are predominantly mental or emotional, not criminal, in nature? Police have enough to do, actually subduing physical threats with acts that require force. Why not let them focus on violent lawbreakers by supplementing that valuable service with trained professionals who can restore order rather than just restrain suspects?
GOOD NEWS FOR PANTHERS,
After a frightening start to 2020 with four Florida panthers found dead along Florida roadways within the first two weeks of the year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation was relieved to report that not a single panther fatality was recorded between March 3 and April 30. Vehicle deaths are the top cause of death for the panther, but thanks largely to the stay-at-home orders, fewer vehicles were on the roads. Unfortunately, the proposed M-CORES Southwest Central Florida Connector toll road will cut straight through panther country. Let’s hope it will not reverse any of the progress made for the panthers.
BIKETOBERFEST DILEMMA,
Daytona City Council members are waiting to see the pandemic safety plan from the Biketoberfest organizers before giving approval for the gathering to take place. And well they should. Friends are at Sturgis, South Dakota, this week with thousands of people and bikes, very few masks in sight, and no one maintaining safe distances when stopped. Our friends drove through town and kept on going. Their comment was that the main Sturgis souvenir this year will be the coronavirus going back to everyone’s hometown. I hope Daytona finds a way to keep people as safe as possible.
TRUMP APPROVES,
It is with massive relief that Florida has been blessed with The Donald’s imprimatur, bestowing his approval of Florida’s mail-in absentee ballot system. Apparently, the president is relatively comfortable that the system has been purged, thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis, of the opportunity to vote for left-wing radical Democrats attempting to undermine the country, such as those in Michigan, Oregon, Illinois and California, which will produce “the greatest Rigged Election in history.” But, just in case, he stays on the ready to make sure the postmaster general is primed to slow the mail down if the problem gets out of hand.
VOTE EARLY, VOTE SAFELY,
Early voting in Florida’s primary began Aug. 3 and ends Aug. 16. The Trump administration will use every method of voter suppression they can including fear during a pandemic. Let’s show them we are united. Early voting is the easiest, safest way to do that. Early voting spreads out the opportunity to vote over 14 days plus Election Day, so working families can decide which location and time best fits their schedule. It increases the opportunities and locations for marginalized communities to participate in particular. Our democracy is under attack. Mask up. Fight back. Vote.
NURSING HOMES AND COVID-19,
For months, friends were thwarted from seeing relatives in local nursing homes. With great fanfare last month, the Trump administration announced what is now another apparent unfulfilled promise: Quick delivery to 15,400 nursing homes of one fast-testing machine. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services now reveals it will take 14 weeks to accomplish, adding there won’t be enough test kits to check staff and residents beyond an initial couple of rounds. Experts say the coronavirus likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unknowingly have the virus. CMS is working on regulations to require weekly testing of staff where the virus is 5% or greater. With what equipment?
POLICE AND PROSECUTION,
When it comes to preventing homicides in domestic-violence cases, successful police intervention and prosecution make all the difference. Although advocates perform a critical service, their role is to help victims after the fact. Before voting for state attorney and sheriff in the upcoming elections, keep in mind your decisions have significant implications. More than ever, we need individuals in office willing to break the mold, assess the latest research and act accordingly.