On November 18, 2021, the City of Phoenix announced that would require all city employees to receive a COVID 19 vaccine by January 18, 2022, or receive disciplinary action including potential job termination.
This directive stemmed from the position that the city, since it is the recipient of many federal contracts, is subject to the vaccine federal mandates issued by the Biden/Harris Administration.
Seeing an opportunity to ingratiate himself with the science-denying anti-vaxer Republican base, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich filed a lawsuit claiming the Biden/Harris vaccine mandate for federal contractors is unconstitutional.
The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association and the United Phoenix Firefighters Association, whose leadership were hesitant when the City of Phoenix made its November 18, 2021 announcement, have joined the Brnovich lawsuit.
According to reporting by ABC News 15, Phoenix Firefighter Association Executive Vice President Bryan Williams said:
“I couldn’t tell you off the top of my head what percentage of our membership is vaccinated. Or unvaccinated. I just know it is dividing all of them. It’s hurting the community right now even before we get into the mandate…”
”…“Anyone who would want to judge us as a local for defending these members or those members who are choosing not to get vaccinated, the information has been confusing enough, I don’t know how anybody deciphers through it, I really don’t.”
Mr. Williams has undoubtedly seen the statistics regarding the communities hardest hit by these recent surges of the Coronavirus over the last several months. More often than not, they are areas where the vaccination rate is low.
He should know that Arizona is currently among the most affected states with the Coronavirus and hospitalizations are higher than this time last year.
He is not helping any of his members, who put their lives on the line every day helping Phoenix residents, by enabling the few naysayers that are risking spreading the virus among law enforcement and firefighter ranks.
The Phoenix City Manager, Jeff Barton, sounded an optimistic note, stating, “I think our employees will step up and do the right thing.”
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego supports Mr. Barton and the mandate, commenting:
“I support the city manager’s decision to require the COVID vaccine for city employees. We’ve lost 24 city employees. That is 24 empty spots at the family Thanksgiving dinner. Keeping our employees safe & healthy is a priority, and something I will continue to advocate for.”
Mayor Gallego is right.
There are too many needless deaths that could have been prevented. That number does not need to increase by the end of Hannukah or Christmas because of a few individuals claim their personal freedom is being compromised.
Mr. Barton is also right.
Most employees, including those from Phoenix fire and law enforcement, will “step up” and get vaccinated.
City Employees need to be protected and work in a safe and healthy environment. That includes the great majority of heroic Phoenix firefighters and law enforcement who have followed all the health and safety precautions and have been vaccinated.
The few that feel their personal freedom takes precedence over the public good can not be allowed to risk anyone’s safety and health.
Hopefully, the courts will see through this and not allow this lawsuit to succeed.
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