The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mayor, governor clash over guidelines
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Friday she was rolling back reopening guidelines aftera steady surge in coronavirus cases, but Gov. Brian Kemp said her move was “legally unenforceable.”
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Friday she was rolling back reopening guidelines after a steady surge in coronavirus cases, but Gov. Brian Kemp said her move was “legally unenforceable.”
Under a return to Phase 1 guidelines, residents would wear face masks, restaurants would close dining rooms, nonessential city facilities would close and individuals would be encouraged to leave home only for essential trips.
“Based upon the surge of COVID-19 cases and other data trends, pursuant to the recommendations of our Reopening Advisory Committee,
Atlanta will return to Phase I of our reopening plan,” Bottoms said Friday in a statement. “Georgia reopened in a reckless manner and the people of our city and state are suffering the consequences.”
The rollback order comes as Georgia has set a series of record highs for new coronavirus cases this week.
The Phase 1 guidelines conflict with guidance from the state level, where Kemp has encouraged mask-wearing but asked cities not to require it.
According to the governor’s office, Bottoms’ move is unenforceable because Kemp’s executive orders supersede the mayor’s guidelines.
Kemp released a statement critical of the mayor’s plans.
“Mayor Bottoms’ action today is merely guidance — both nonbinding and legally unenforceable. As clearly stated in the Governor’s executive order, no local action can be more or less restrictive, and that rule applies statewide,” the governor said.
Bottoms announced Monday that she tested positive for COVID-19, then signed an executive order mandating face coverings in public Wednesday.
Critics of the mask mandate noted that it would be legally unenforceable as well.
“We are looking into what we can do to enforce it outside of our public facilities,” Bottoms said of the mandate. “But we’re just asking people to do the right thing.”