Texas cities say state is making pandemic worse
Last edited Sat Jun 27, 2020, 04:02 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: The Hill
City officials in Texas say the states government has hindered their ability to fight the coronavirus outbreak that is rapidly rising to a crisis as hospitals fill.
Local officials say executive orders from Gov. Greg Abbott (R) have limited their efforts to fight the growing number of cases; they are especially incensed by Abbotts move to strip local police of the ability to issue tickets to anyone who refuses to wear a mask in public.
I had the authority and I did require [masks in public] months ago, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (D) told The Hill in an interview. We had great compliance, because law enforcement would show up and educate and folks would get it.
Five days after Hidalgo issued her order on April 22, Abbott used an executive order to prevent local governments like Harris County, home to Houston and more than 25,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, from issuing fines.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/504779-texas-cities-say-state-is-making-pandemic-worse
This is a different from California where you have Republican, Trump friendly local governments like Imperial County refusing to enforce Statewide social distancing and mask requirements.
sakabatou
(42,134 posts)All they want is to be re-elected.
douglas9
(4,358 posts)In Starr County, Texas, the pandemic has become a "before and after" story before the state took over, and after it did.
The large but sparsely populated county on the Texas-Mexico border had managed to keep the coronavirus contained in the early months by imposing 14-day quarantine restrictions on people who tested positive, closing businesses before the state ordered closures, linking with private businesses to provide testing, and implementing a curfew with fines and jail penalties.
Then, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott overrode the local decisions and began a phased-in reopening of businesses in the state in April.
They took the teeth away from us to be able to enforce anything, said Alberto Perez, the city manager for Rio Grande City, the largest city in the county with a population of more than 64,000.
In the two months after Abbott exerted his authority, Starr County has watched its handful of cases on many days there were no new ones steadily climb and spike this month.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/texas-border-county-had-coronavirus-under-control-then-governor-stepped-n1232267
bucolic_frolic
(43,027 posts)It's greed, self-interest, and cutthroat capitalism vs. cooperation, public health, and community.
This is a war. Buckle up.
marie999
(3,334 posts)What if they start fining them, take them right before a magistrate and fine them?
efhmc
(14,721 posts)He is the main problem not the cities and towns. Most of not all large Texas cities have Dem mayors and county officials.
efhmc
(14,721 posts)dem4evah
(75 posts)and walk RIGHT off the cliff at this point. Don't double or triple down on the ignorance and stupidity: why not quadruple down? Pieces of garbage.
cannabis_flower
(3,764 posts)Abbott has said that cities and counties can mandate that businesses enforce people wearing masks in their place of business. In Harris County they now have a $1000 fine for businesses that don't enforce the mask requirement. Instead of fining individuals, they can fine businesses that don't enforce mask wearing. People can call 311 to report businesses that are allowing people to come in without masks. I myself have call and reported the corner convenience store. When I said something to the clerk they replied that people don't want to wear a mask. I told them they should put up a sign saying it's required. Then I called and reported them.
TomCADem
(17,382 posts)Rather than issue federal guidelines to combat the spread, Trump says it is up to the States, then he attacks States that try to control the spread. Likewise, Abbott is passing the buck to local local governments even as he bars local governments from taking more aggressive actions. Rather than find a solution, the Republican goal from the top to the bottom is to find a scapegoat.
Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)So what happens if Democrats say: FUCK MASKS IN PUBLIC?
LiberalFighter
(50,767 posts)Mentally not fit to govern.
Skittles
(153,104 posts)I think he has been a lifelong asshole.
displacedtexan
(15,696 posts)4 generations were exposed on Fathers Day In Fort Worth by one family member who tested positive a few days afterward. My friend is self-quarantining, but I don't know about the rest of them. She has since hosted several lunches & volunteered for several Meals On Wheels visits.