{"id":28809,"date":"2020-03-31T19:03:02","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T00:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=28809"},"modified":"2020-04-02T10:24:29","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T15:24:29","slug":"florida-governor-suspected-of-ignoring-calls-for-covid-19-shutdowns-due-to-business-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2020\/03\/31\/florida-governor-suspected-of-ignoring-calls-for-covid-19-shutdowns-due-to-business-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Governor Suspected of Ignoring Calls for COVID-19 Shutdowns Due to Business Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph\"> As Florida struggles to combat the COVID-19 outbreak that has currently infected 6,741 people <a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/96dd742462124fa0b38ddedb9b25e429\">within the state<\/a> and claimed the lives of 85, Gov. Ron DeSantis has not acknowledged pleas from local politicians and Democratic Congress members to implement a shutdown of non-essential businesses. Instead, DeSantis has spent time corresponding with some of Florida\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/news\/politics-government\/state-politics\/article241492156.html\">most powerful business lobbies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> According to The Tampa Bay Times, DeSantis, who was elected governor in 2018, has been in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/news\/health\/2020\/03\/25\/gov-ron-desantis-wont-shut-down-florida-heres-who-hes-talking-to-about-that\/\">frequent contact<\/a> with entities such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flchamber.com\/about\/\">Florida Chamber of Commerce<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/frla.org\/about\/\">Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association<\/a>. The message both groups have attempted to convey to the governor is to keep businesses open and to keep the economy going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber, praised DeSantis on his decision to not order shutdowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re recommending that the governor continue to do what he\u2019s doing,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cI don\u2019t think the data says we need to do a statewide shutdown.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On March 11, in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flchamber.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Memo_Please-Follow-Facts-Not-Fear_031120.pdf\">memorandum<\/a> addressed to his fellow chamber members, Wilson stated that \u201cAt times like these, it\u2019s important to remember this is a global situation and misinformation and overreacting is causing a secondary impact on our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first five words of the following paragraph read \u201c<strong>Florida is open for business<\/strong>\u201d in bold font, followed by a mention of both travel and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2020\/03\/21\/spring-breakers-coronavirus-140609\">spring break<\/a> and assurance from Wilson that&nbsp; \u201c&#8230;we are in 24\/7 contact with Governor Ron DeSantis\u2019 office.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mYelM2zxob0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption>South Florida lawmakers urge DeSantis to issue a stay-at-home order, which he fears will threaten Florida economically. (Source: YouTube\/WPTV News West Palm Beach Florida) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chamber, whose members spent a combined total of $481,400 in <a href=\"https:\/\/littlesis.org\/org\/275347-Florida_Chamber_of_Commerce\/political\">contributions<\/a> to politicians and political organizations in 2018\u2014with 62% of the recipients being Republican-related\u2014is responsible for donating a total of $15,700 in campaign contributions to DeSantis. Robert J. Grammig, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flchamber.com\/team-members\/robert-j-grammig-esq\/\">chair<\/a> of the chamber and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hklaw.com\/en\/professionals\/g\/grammig-robert-j\">partner<\/a> at high-powered Florida-based international law firm Holland &amp; Knight, has been the chamber\u2019s most generous donor, accounting for 49.6% of the organization\u2019s financial contributions over the years. The aforementioned $15,700 that DeSantis received from the chamber, a total which accumulated from March 31, 2012 to Aug. 23, 2016\u2014roughly four years and five months\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/littlesis.org\/relationships\/1360621\">was paid for by Grammig himself<\/a> in contributions between $2,500 and $2,700 according to FEC filings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, who\u2019ve also been in contact with DeSantis, posted a link on their <a href=\"https:\/\/frla.org\/news-release\/governor-ron-desantis-requests-major-disaster-declaration-from-president-donald-trump\/\">website<\/a> to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flgov.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Governor-DeSantis-Major-Disaster-Request-COVID19-002.pdf\">letter<\/a> that the governor sent to President Trump. In it, DeSantis requests that the commander-in-chief declare a Major Disaster for the state of Florida, referencing the <a href=\"https:\/\/news.bloomberglaw.com\/us-law-week\/insight-coronavirus-and-the-stafford-act-what-it-means-for-contractors\">Stafford Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Carol Dover, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/carol-dover-27963311\">president and CEO<\/a> of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, has praised DeSantis, saying \u201cI think it\u2019s great that he\u2019s still allowing communities to do what\u2019s in the best interest of their communities.\u201d Dover has asked DeSantis to consider hotels and restaurants to be deemed essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis\u2019 method of suggesting Floridians take social distancing safety measures while refusing to order shutdowns has angered many. Over 800 healthcare workers in Florida have signed a <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLScjeV7iZP6M1VO3dukQY9IuFSpzhLAoEIMkRqoly3BsGmPb3g\/viewform\">letter<\/a> urging him take control of the situation. Among the short list of seven demands, the plea encourages DeSantis to ensure that healthcare professionals receive additional PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and to implement a \u201cshelter-in-place\u201d order for the entire state to minimize potential for the virus to spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On March 22, in an opinion <a href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/opinion\/editorials\/article241403236.html\">piece<\/a> titled \u201cCoronavirus is killing us in Florida, Gov. DeSantis. Act like you give a damn,\u201d the editorial board of The Miami Herald blasted the governor for his inaction, accusing him of \u201cworking overtime to preserve our status as the world\u2019s leading exporter of political comedy\u201d for his approach regarding the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Further in the article, the Herald\u2019s editorial board presents an ultimatum, saying that DeSantis must \u201cstep up\u201d to aid healthcare professionals and those out of work due to the coronavirus outbreak, the alternative being \u201cOtherwise, he\u2019s as derelict as the President.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Saturday, Tampa Bay Times\/Herald reporter Mary Ellen Klas was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/news\/health\/2020\/03\/28\/timesherald-reporter-barred-from-gov-ron-desantis-news-conference\/\">banned<\/a> from attending a news briefing in which DeSantis spoke on Covid-19 testing and access to medicine. The reason for her denial of entry, according to the governor\u2019s spokeswoman, was due to Klas asking the governor\u2019s staff to hold video conference briefings in place of live ones as a means to protect reporters from possible Covid-19 infection days prior. Because of this, the spokeswoman suggested that Klas view the conference via live stream. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Klas took to Twitter and wrote that a reporter from The News Service of Florida in attendance at the briefing was threatened of being kicked out of the room by DeSantis\u2019 staff if he kept suggesting that Klas be allowed into the conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.GovRonDeSantis decided to violate the state&#39;s public meeting laws and chose to exclude the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MiamiHerald?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@MiamiHerald<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TB_Times?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TB_Times<\/a> from a media briefing at the Capitol. He was so determined to keep us out, he had an FDLE vehicle pick up TV reporter Mike Vasilinda to give him back door access<\/p>&mdash; Mary Ellen Klas (@MaryEllenKlas) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MaryEllenKlas\/status\/1243974180082769921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 28, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Monday, DeSantis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.local10.com\/news\/local\/2020\/03\/30\/gov-ron-desantis-holds-news-conference-at-hard-rock-stadium\/\">announced<\/a> that he would be signing an order that urges residents of Florida\u2019s hard-hit southeast region to remain inside their homes until mid-May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Quinton Bradley is an Ohio-based writer. He runs a <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@qbabstract\"><em>blog<\/em><\/a><em> on Medium and can be followed on Twitter<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/QBAbstract\"><em> @QBAbstract<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Florida struggles to combat the COVID-19 outbreak that has currently infected 6,741 people within the state and claimed the lives of 85, Gov. Ron DeSantis has not acknowledged pleas from local politicians and Democratic Congress members to implement a shutdown of non-essential businesses. Instead, DeSantis has spent time corresponding with some of Florida\u2019s most [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10416,"featured_media":28813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[4025,2781,4152,4153,4150,2905,4145],"class_list":["post-28809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tartan-news","tag-coronavirus","tag-florida","tag-florida-chamber-of-commerce","tag-florida-restaurant-and-lodging-association","tag-gov-desantis","tag-quinton-bradley","tag-ron-desantis"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":false,"source_text":false,"source_url":false},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5s3vR-7uF","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/desantis.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10416"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28809"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28809\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28833,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28809\/revisions\/28833"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}