Governor Ducey did the right thing on March 30, 2020, when he issued a State at Home Proclamation for Arizona Residents to adhere to during the Coronavirus Public Health Emergency through April 30, 2020.
Earlier that day he and Superintendent Kathy Hoffman took the proactive step in closing schools for the rest of the school year.
Unfortunately, the Governor, when he issued the declaration, did not narrow the list of the businesses that qualify as “essential services.”
Currently, the list includes beauty salons, pawnshops, and golf courses.
Coral Evans, the Mayor of Flagstaff already took the initiative last week and mandated the closure of beauty salons.
The Mayors of Phoenix and Tucson want Governor Ducey to follow Evan’s lead and issue a statewide proclamation closing the salons and other nonessential business operations.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego posted on social media shortly after the Governor’s announcement that:
“Governor Doug Ducey just issued a #StayAtHome order starting at 5pm tomorrow. This order is insufficient if he does not narrow his list of “essential” services. Essential services during #COVID19 are not golf and beauty salons. They are first responders, grocers, pharmacists, and a few others. #StayHome”
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero issued a press statement which relayed:
“Governor Ducey’s order is a step in the right direction. I urge the Governor to take further action to narrow his list of ‘essential’ services to those that are truly critical to maintaining public health, safety, and community well-being.”
If past is prologue, Governor Ducey will probably shortly follow the lead of Mayors Evans, Gallego, Romero, and the other Arizona local leaders that have called for the narrowing of businesses that qualify as essential services.
Most people can live without playing golf or getting their hair cut for the next six weeks. They may not be able to live if they needlessly get the Coronavirus.
This is not a tough decision for the Governor to make.
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As I write this (3/31/20 at 12:28PM,) according to the Parks and Recreation department websites of Tucson, Phoenix and Flagstaff, their public tennis courts are still open for use. (Phoenix will close theirs later today.)
So the three mayors who have been criticising Governor Ducey for keeping golf courses open do not realize that their own parks have open tennis courts. The scorer yells foot in mouth FAULT!!!!
If you’re saying Ducey and the mayors are all in the wrong and we should listen to the scientists and doctors and stay away from each other for awhile for the good of the country, then I agree with John Kavanagh.
Everyone wash your hands and stay safe.
I agree with you on this one John. Take care and stay well.