A.G. Gancarski
Roughly 24 hours after the Republican Mayor of Miami blasted Gov. Ron DeSantis for blocking “common sense” virus mitigation measures, the state GOP put him on blast.
In a tweet Monday, the Republican Party of Florida said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was “another ‘good for me, not for thee'” politician when it came to mask mandates.
Suarez “complains on Face the Nation that he wants a mask mandate. Yet he himself violated his own mask mandate in the Summer of 2020,” the GOP tweet read along with a photo of a maskless Suarez and a link to an article about him dining at a crowded restaurant.
Suarez, during an appearance on the CBS network the previous morning, expressed frustration with the Governor, who has blocked local governments from issuing “commonsense” mask mandates with enforcement components.
“I’ve tried to reach him on multiple occasions to tell him ‘give us the opportunity not just here in the city but in the county to institute things that we think are commonsense, that we think are backed up by science, and we can demonstrate are backed up by science’,” Suarez said on Face the Nation.
Asked by host Margaret Brennan about how the city is tackling its emergence as a hotspot for the British mutation of COVID-19, Suarez said DeSantis had blocked Miami from being able to institute a mask mandate with teeth.
This is a recurring concern for South Florida lawmakers, but this time rehearsed by a Republican on a national broadcast stage.
“We’ve been restricted from being able to put in mitigation measures,” Suarez said. “I had implemented a masks in public order back when we were allowed to do it during the summer, and it drove down cases by 90%.”
“Now we’re not allowed to implement a masks in public order,” Suarez continued. “I had been speaking to the coronavirus task force about it.”
That may have been the wrong approach as the Governor previously disregarded guidance from the White House Coronavirus Task Force to take stronger measures.
The Mayor then said that despite the lack of state leadership, citizens are masking up of their own accord.
“They’re concerned about their health,” Suarez said, “and we’ve been hammering home the point in PSAs.”
“I’m very thankful that our residents are listening,” the Miami Mayor added, “despite the fact that it’s something we can’t mandate.”
Suarez also distanced from potential issues with open bars and gyms, disclaiming responsibility by saying regarding such restrictions that “unfortunately, those are not in our purview” and that they were “something the Governor has decided.”
9 comments
Tim
January 31, 2021 at 12:20 pm
If the ‘resident’s are listening and masking up”, then what’s the problem? Jeeese! SMDH!!
Ron Ogden
January 31, 2021 at 2:22 pm
Somebody’s ambition showing?
lavittapow
January 31, 2021 at 5:54 pm
JUNE 20, 2020 06:30 AM, UPDATED AUGUST 20, 2020
After warning of new COVID cases, Miami mayor ate at busy restaurant that defied rules
Facing an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Miami-Dade County, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez held a press conference Monday to “sound to alarms” and “reiterate” the importance of social distancing and wearing facial coverings.
Three days later, Suarez — who tested positive for COVID-19 in March — was seen at a crowded restaurant where guests appear to have violated a host of coronavirus rules as they dined at packed tables, sat too close to other parties and danced without masks.
Social media posts from late Thursday, including Instagram, show people, without masks or with masks pulled down, partying at Swan. Large groups of unmasked people crowded the bar while servers wore masks.
https://www.miamiherald.com/article243675427.html
Definitely need to make sure he gets voted out. Authoritarian hypocrites are the worst and should not be tolerated.
Bob
February 1, 2021 at 6:17 am
Science! Once upon a time most scientists believed the earth was flat! Some still do!
Luis Alberto Fors
February 1, 2021 at 10:16 am
Suarez is a clown. We have the best governor in the entire country. God Bless De Santis!
Barry T Reinitz
February 1, 2021 at 11:07 am
DiSantis is a crook. Where are those missing million doses? Why the sweetheart deal with Publix when CVS or Walgrens would do a better job and are in all neighborhoods including the ones of minoritiess
Sonja Fitch
February 1, 2021 at 1:26 pm
Lol watching the whatever used to be Republicans acting like spoil petulant jerks to each other is pathetic . Do any of these men have any sense of good and decent and the duty to serve and protect Floridians ? Vote Democrat up and down ballot for the 2022 elections in Florida!
Palmer Tom
February 2, 2021 at 12:25 pm
We can do better. To deny that and to criticize those who think so is ridiculous.
Yatusabes
February 3, 2021 at 8:18 pm
This guy is a total fake RINO, I hope more regular citizens run for office with common sense and oust these power hungry selfish career politicians that only care about deepening their pockets. BTW Francis you cheated on your wife several times you disgusting pervert! I hope one of those girls has the guts to come forward… I sure know one 😉
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