The Mayors of Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson do not Think Reopening the State is a Good Idea

UPDATE 5/25: Thank you for reading BlogForArizona. If you are interested in this topic, you may also be interested in reading:
 Proof Ducey’s Lying: Arizona’s NOT Ready to Re-Open

Tomorrow (May 15, 2020,) the full Stay at Home Proclamation in Arizona mandated by Governor Doug Ducey to help mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus will expire.

Mr. Ducey, after exhibiting courage by rebuffing the more fringe elements in his party by extending the public health decree at the end of April, appears to have caved to the Trump Zone, Fox Island, and Disinfowar residents in the former party of Lincoln.

While the Governor has claimed that it is safe for Arizona to reopen provided proper safety and social distance measures are adhered to, the Mayors of Flagstaff (Coral Evans,) Phoenix (Kate Gallego,) and Tucson (Regina Romero) do not think Mr. Ducey acted prudently.

Mayor Coral Evans probably spoke for many in the reality community when she made her views known at the May 12, 2020, Flagstaff City Council meeting. She said:

“Governor Ducey’s existing Executive Order 2020-18 (which sunsets 5/15/2020) preempts Arizona mayors from further taking any actions related to COVID-19, and his new order 2020-33 even further and expressly prohibits local government from enacting any restrictions or mandates regarding COVID 19.”

“The State of Arizona is currently operating under his Executive Order and only he determines what restrictions are in place, what are lifted, and the timelines for reopening.”

“Governor Ducey has not mandated that face masks be worn, he has “recommended,” that people “consider wearing them” (meaning people do not have to wear them).”

“He has “recommended,” that people follow social distancing guidelines, but he has not mandated it.”

“He has suggested that people only travel if necessary, but has not mandated an end to non-essential travel.”

“He has suggested that retail establishments limit occupancy, but he has not mandated it.”

“He has suggested that people continue to stay home unless they are going to an “essential business” after declaring just about all businesses essential.”

“The majority of businesses are reopening, regardless of the situation on the Navajo Nation and the increase of cases and deaths in Coconino County.”

“The reason that some Arizonans are not taking this seriously is because the Governor is not taking this seriously.”

“When the City of Wilcox “opened” and the Sheriff refused to issue any citations the Governor did nothing.”

“The Public Health experts in Coconino County say we can expect COVID-19 number to continue to increase in our City and County for the next 2-3 weeks.”

“COVID-19 has turned our economy (locally and nationally) upside down.”

“Most of our small businesses never got the financial assistance that was promised and for some it came too late.”

“Many people have still not yet received the promised $1,200 COVID-19 stimulus that was promised by the Federal government.”

“Many people will have balloon payments in July for mortgage as most lenders refused to put the three months on the end of the loan. (My mortgage company has refused to put the three months on the end of my loan and therefore I have a balloon payment in July).”

“Many people will have balloon payments for rent in July as the monies promised to assist with rent has been woefully inadequate to address the need we have in our community.”

“The majority of people have still not received unemployment.”

“Here in Flagstaff many people worked 2+ jobs and although they lost 1-2 because they still have one and make more than $240 a week, they are not eligible for Arizona’s traditional unemployment program. I lost two of the three jobs that I had. My daughter was working part-time and was laid off. Neither of us qualify for unemployment.”

“The Arizona Legislature took a break on March 23 and have yet to return. They are still receiving a per diem, they aren’t working at the Capitol, and there is no plan to move forward.”

“Many have said that they do not feel like help is coming and that they will have to risk their lives because they haven’t received the stimulus or unemployment and their landlords are threatening them on a daily basis with eviction and incredible late fees.”

“Government at the federal and state level has failed us. And preempted elected officials at the local level from taking any action.”

“The COVID-19 infection numbers in Flagstaff AZ are increasing. The COVID-19 infection numbers in Coconino County are increasing.”

“The largest group of people impacted by COVID-19 are those between 20-44 (as of today, May 13th, in Coconino County 41% of the cases are people who are between 20-44 years of age).”

“Our economy was decimated based on the concept that we would be saving lives by taking direct, purposeful action.”

“Instead, our leadership chose to not follow CDC guidelines, ignore science, not mandate actions that were needed, not model the behavior that was needed, and deny/delay or provide woefully inadequate assistance to businesses and citizens.”

“The way things stand now it looks as if we will lose just as many if not more people.”

“I hope this answers some of the questions that you might have.”

Mayor Kate Gallego issued a short statement, relaying:

“We ask that people continue to follow CDC guidelines and practice physical distancing to protect public health.”
Mayor Regina Romero released a video update to Tucson residents today (May 14,) saying in part:

“This week, Governor Ducey announced that his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected” Executive Order, will be ending May 15 and new guidance will be put in place. As eager as we all are to return to any sense of normalcy, I believe that the Governor is moving too quickly and that we should proceed methodically and cautiously to prevent a re-emergence that would be even more damaging to our economy in the long-run.”

“Dr. Fauci and our nation’s top health experts testified earlier this week that without widespread testing and a robust contact tracing plan in place, states that are re-opening risk a second wave of the virus. Although some improvements have been made, we lag the rest of the country in both areas. I don’t want our economy to just re-open, I want it to remain open. That will NOT happen if there is a second wave of the virus and we are forced to shut down again.”

“As more businesses open up, I encourage everyone to continue following CDC guidelines by practicing social distancing and wearing a face covering while out in public. My deepest gratitude goes to all the businesses and employers that are taking adequate precautions to protect their employees and patrons. Restaurants in Pima County that are opening up for dine-in services should review the regulations adopted by the Pima County Board of Supervisors yesterday. All businesses that are opening should also review the recommendations and guidelines put out by the Governor’s office……….”

“STAY HOME. STOP THE SPREAD. SAVE LIVES.”

“Somos uno.”

“I’ll talk to you soon Tucson.”

Clearly, the three Mayors of the largest regional cities in the state have misgivings about what has (or has not) happened and what may yet come.

It is important to note that:

  • Arizona has not had 14 days of consecutive declining numbers in Coronavirus cases. Actually, there have been three consecutive days of rising cases.
  • The death totals are still climbing. Today, the number of fatalities moved past 600.
  • While testing quantities have improved, there is still no statewide capability for mass examinations or tracking yet. Arizona, according to AZ Central, ranks 50th out of 50 in completed Coronavirus tests.

These are statistics that show Arizona IS NOT ready to reopen. 

It is also imperative to acknowledge that enforcing social distancing, as evidenced by the below picture of the C.A.S.A. restaurant in Tempe on May 12, maybe difficult to monitor on a consistent basis if legal authorities do not seriously enforce these public health safety measures.

From AZ Central

It is clear that the small-government, Laissez-Faire, every state for themselves, deny the science and reality mindset of the current incarnation of the Republican Party has failed to meet the challenges of this public health emergency.

Their inaction has led to an expansion of this pandemic that could have been avoided and a severe contraction of the economy when preventive healthcare actions could have mitigated the depths of the downtown.

People should listen to credible scientific and medical sources and the local and state leaders who have been consistently cautious and right before venturing out and possibly catching a virus that, despite what Donald Trump says, is not going away.

As the Mayors of Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson have said in their statements: Follow the CDC Guidelines. 

Even if Donald Trump and, now, Doug Ducey do not.

 

17 thoughts on “The Mayors of Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson do not Think Reopening the State is a Good Idea”

  1. There is a whole lot of crazy here
    Why don’t you Leftists just stay home?
    We don’t need you

    • Well, now, you sure showed us, what with your well thought out argument and proven facts.

      Truly, sir, your taking time to convince us dirty libs that your ideas are superior was well worth the effort.

      I’m a changed man.

      Jesus 2020!

  2. These three mayors, or wannabe dictators, should never have that kind of power over the people. Who voted for these power hungry bimbos in the first place?

    • “Bimbos”.

      Trump’s base is every bit as classy as he is.

  3. These Mayor’s have likely never looked at any peer reviewed study or statistical analysis regarding Covid….Public fear gives them power.

      • A quick look at Ceaser’s twitter feed shows he’s Against Not Being For Freedom.

        These are the same folks who scream at employees that I THOUGHT THIS IS AMERICA when told they need to wear a mask in Costco, and that making them wear a mask in someone else’s place of business while forcing them to shop there is against the Constitution.

        I guess? I’m not smart enough to understand the Patriot mindset.

        I’m also reading about churches and these armed “Patriot” protests spreading COVID because oh my god who didn’t see that coming.

        Social Darwinism is a hell of a drug.

        • These are the same jackasses who are fine with child victims of school shootings and traumatic lock down drills so long as they can flaunt their interpretation of Second Amendment. Yet believe being required to don a mask on private commercial property, like Costco, is an horrible imposition on their self-defined “rights”.

        • Yeah, I guess I wouldn’t care what he thinks if it were only his ass that ended up in a coffin from spreading these lies.

  4. Gov Ducey’s latest actions regarding the virus is just another in a long list of actions proving his total incompetence to govern and provide effective leadership. He should step down.

      • What empirical evidence do you have that they are correct? They mention the CDC guidelines, which are changing every day. Now the CDC says that surface to human contamination is remote and no need to wipe everything down or wash your clothes after going to the grocery store. Don’t believe me and don’t believe these mayors. Seek real evidence. Use Google Scholar or search Firefox. Avoid opinion. Good luck

          • So I run toward the sound of gunfire during the Bowling Green Massacre, I go deep into enemy territory to mark the coordinates for Ivanka’s rhinoplasty, and then I risked it all fighting that damn hurricane…

            And now instead of a Noble Prize I am mocked?!

            I thought this was American, man.

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