Janelle Irwin Taylor
Hillsborough County residents will no longer be under curfew, effective immediately.
The Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group voted unanimously to rescind the order Thursday, just days after putting it in place.
Members of the group, who represent local governments, county government, the Hillsborough County School Board and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, received hundreds of emails from residents complaining about the curfew.
The group voted 5-3 Monday in favor of the curfew. Hillsborough County Commissioner Kimberly Overman, Plant City Mayor Rick Lott and Temple Terrace City Council member Andy Ross voted no.
Hillsborough County Commissioners Les Miller and Sandra Murman, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister and School Board member Melissa Snively voted in favor of the curfew, shifting their views three days later to remove the short-lived curfew.
The curfew had been in effect seven days a week from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
While Miller voted to rescind the order, he expressed reservation in doing so and defended the policy flip.
“I’m trying to save lives in this county,” Miller said. “Our numbers have not been what we’ve seen in New York … and I think we should thank the Lord for that, but that does not mean it won’t happen.”
Overman reiterated her original objection to the curfew, arguing it was confusing to residents to have two orders in place. The county already had a safer-at-home order in place limiting gatherings to 10 people and requiring people to remain six feet apart in public. Both are CDC-recommend guidelines to prevent the virus’ spread.
Murman shifted her position after evaluating data and said she would be amenable to re-implementing it again in the future if data showed a need.
“I don’t think anything was done wrong, I just think that looking at the data will kind of reserve any motion like that for a later date if it is needed,” she said.
The group also declined to implement a mandate for wearing facial coverings in public, instead opting to renew communication “strongly encouraging” use.
2 comments
Kurt J Donley
April 16, 2020 at 3:41 pm
So to be clear a couple hundred out of 1.5 million people complain about a policy that will save lives and restart the economy faster. Instead of trying to explain it to the couple hundred confused people they chose a path that will kill more people.
How about this:
1) Don’t go outside without wearing a mask, gloves and covering your hair.
2) Don’t gather with people outside of those living in your home.
3) Wash your hands after touching anything that came from outside your home.
4) Clean your home, like you need to pass a health inspection.
If you ignore 1) or 2) pay a $1000 fine that goes directly to the nearest hospital to the infraction.
john barrior
April 16, 2020 at 11:56 pm
i know you mean well and i appreciate your concern, sincerely BUT All this has been totally unwarranted and unhelpful; have a look at the facts— Sweden NEVER closed their businesses, and had very few & limited restrictions on large gatherings. Yet, there is factually ZERO difference between them (no closings, no economy shutdown, no masks, no “social distancing” and NO difference in sickness or death) between them and the US. Those are facts, HillsCounty is acting NOT on any medical data only well intended but not needed precautions.
Comments are closed.