Texas cities say state is making pandemic worse

[babylonsister]

Texas cities say state is making pandemic worse
By Reid Wilson - 06/27/20 06:28 AM EDT


City officials in Texas say the state’s government has hindered their ability to fight the coronavirus outbreak that is rapidly rising to a crisis as hospitals fill.

Local officials say executive orders from Gov. Greg Abbott (R) have limited their efforts to fight the growing number of cases; they are especially incensed by Abbott’s move to strip local police of the ability to issue tickets to anyone who refuses to wear a mask in public.

“I had the authority and I did require [masks in public] months ago,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (D) told The Hill in an interview. “We had great compliance, because law enforcement would show up and educate and folks would get it.”

Five days after Hidalgo issued her order on April 22, Abbott used an executive order to prevent local governments like Harris County, home to Houston and more than 25,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, from issuing fines.

“I no longer have the authority to require functionally anything,” Hidalgo said. “All I've been able to do is issue recommendations. All along, I kept my messaging that people really needed to not be going to bars and restaurants and clubs.”

Abbott's office declined to comment beyond the public statements he has made.

more...

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/504779-texas-cities-say-state-is-making-pandemic-worse

[Iliyah]

1. They wore mask in 1918 . ..

I don't know what the % were, but alas, the federal/states opened up to soon (San Francisco to name one) and I believe in October 1918 alone, 200,000 died. Altogether, there were approx. over 600,000 that died here in the USA.

We as the "superior" species should learn from the past, history, but alas, we don't. Human beings continue to ignore history, warning signs from the past. I guess that saying that "history repeats itself" is spot on.

[uponit7771]

7. +1, were doing less than what was mandatory 100 yrs ago

[RainCaster]

18. The GOP was more intelligent 102 years ago

They have gone down so low. They are now the party of losers and Putin.

[chriscan64]

2. Same thing here in San Antonio.

Local officials get it, but their efforts are being thwarted by the state. Additionally, the Trump fueled notion that mask wearing is a political statement is giving rise to incidents at businesses of angry customers refusing to comply. The absence of leadership at the federal level is astounding in its scope. Worse yet, the little bit of leadership that Trump does offer is to lead his base down these rabbit holes. Because the virus "makes me look bad."

[Renew Deal]

3. The cost of living in a red state is that the government doesn't care about you.

They care about getting elected. People are a necessary evil to them.

[DBoon]

11. That's what you get for "low taxes"

People love the lack of an income tax in Texas

This attitude gives you a government that is completely ineffective at protecting the population

[dalton99a]

4. For months Abbott actively prevented Texas cities and counties from enforcing their mask orders

And of course this stupidity:

[Liberal In Texas]

5. Like other large Texas cities, here in Dallas we were getting a handle on it

until Abbott acceded to The Con In Charge's selfish demand to open up. Now we've lost all the ground gained for the sacrifices made back then.

It's another example of repubs not having the guts to stand up to Little Mussolini when they know he's wrong and another example of repubs not knowing how to govern and another example of repubs not caring about the health and lives of people more than making businesses profits.

[Tommymac]

21. The economy would be ok if we had followed Obama's guidelines

at the start of this mess.

Donnie has crippled the economy unnecessarily through inaction.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

6. It's entertaining to scan some of the Texas papers today. Their tone had changed.

Typically when I scan through Texas news sites, it's all about conservative attitudes and machismo.

Today, I sense a bit of panic in the air with this sample of headlines (from Dallas News.com):

Demand for coronavirus tests soars at Dallas County’s main screening sites

Dallas County records 496 coronavirus cases, a new one-day high, and 10 deaths

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott closes bars, dials back restaurants to half-capacity, shuts river rafting

Multiple Rangers employees test positive for COVID-19, others reportedly ‘terrified’ to work at Globe Life Field

5 federally funded coronavirus testing sites in Texas granted extension following outcry from lawmakers

Off-duty officer attacked after telling people to leave Far North Dallas pool, police say

5 Dallas stores undergo deep cleans after employees test positive for COVID-19

KY...........

[world wide wally]

8. What these Republican anti-mask idiots don't understand when they talk about "freedumb" is

There was no "freedom' during the war, but only after the fighting was done. During the war the soldiers had complete discipline and common sense.
We are in the position at this time being the time of war. When it is over you can take your fucking masks off.

[dalton99a]

9. +1. And they want to give Trump the freedom to commit treason.

[Eyeball_Kid]

19. Trumpy gives Russia the green light

to pay the Taliban for killing US soldiers. Then he praises Putin for being a strong leader.

Who does Trumpy serve?

Texans and other Trump-humpers ought to take notice.

He’s not YOUR president. He’s Putin’s gopher.

[leftieNanner]

20. Just found out last night

That my sister in law's brother (right wing nut) has tested positive and his wife and daughter have symptoms. They will be tested early next week. From what I understand, he was one of those "you can't make me wear a mask 'cuz - Free-dumb" kind of guys. Arrogant asshole to my mind.

So now what? Our niece is getting married tomorrow (we're not going) and had he not been tested before the wedding, he would have been a super spreader - killing of his own family.

Nuts.

[Igel]

10. Some issues.

Her authority a month ago was basically "nobody's told me I can't." It's not the case politicians can do anything unless the law forbids it; rather the other way around. Legislature's not in session, so either the state government just says, "Screw the law, do whatever you want" or it enforces the restrictions.

When Hidalgo issued the order a month ago, it came with stipulations. No fines for a while. At least in some areas. In those areas police would educate and hand out masks. In wealthier areas, they'd fine fairly soon after it took effect. Houston has a racial skew tied to ethnicity. This rankled.

The problem isn't just the state. If people listened to advice and complied because it was the right thing to do, instead of requiring politicians to order police to compel compliance, there'd be no problem. The whole having strangers say, in effect, "Yeah, I am the boss of you and I'll shame and insult until you genuflect!" is counterproductive bullying. In some areas you continued to see more compliance and the masks never went away. The upsurge in cases in Harris County/Houston aren't to the same extent across the board. And they're in the areas where you'd certainly not expect the people to be saying, "Hey, I wanna be just like Trump!"

There's currently a face-mask requirement in businesses in Harris County/Houston. Businesses can be fined $1000 for each person inside not wearing a mask. Employee or customer. There *is* justification for that in the law.

[Lonestarblue]

12. Another "gift" from Texas Republicans who absolutely do not care about citizens' health.

“The rate of Texans without health insurance rose for the second year in a row, making it once again the most uninsured state in the nation, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

In 2018, 17.7% of Texas residents — about 5 million people — had no health coverage, up from 17.3% in 2017. Both years, Texas had almost double the number of uninsured people compared with the national average of 8.7% in 2017 and 8.9% in 2018. It was one of only nine states to record an increase in the uninsured rate.“
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/10/texas-has-most-people-without-health-insurance-nation-again/

I’m sure the rate increased in 2019. And Abbott gave the okay for Pence to appear at a Dallas megachurch so they can spread the virus even more. Republicans are the stupidest people on Earth when it comes to economics. Open big churches, which pay no taxes, so the virus can spread, necessitating that bars and restaurants, which do pay taxes, close down because of the rapid spread of the virus. Every state’s budget relies on taxes, including sales taxes. The economy will not fully operate again until the virus is under control. Is it such a hard concept to learn that policies that allow the virus to spread are counterproductive to the economy working again!

[BobTheSubgenius]

13. Bowing to lobbyists or other pressure groups?

Pathological belief in The Market? Or something more sinister?

Either of the first two are completely plausible, but I can't take the third off the table, based on various govt. actions and statements. Sometimes, the political landscape seems like a Bosch painting adapted for the screen by Terry Gilliam.

[Scalded Nun]

14. Of course they are making it worse. It is all about the money

This is the Texas leadership that says it's too bad if grandma or mom dies as long as the economy stays open. The state AG sues any city wanting to impose restrictions. The only thing sadder than all this is the dumbshit majority that has kept these asshats in power for over 20 years. Even after 20 years in power their campaign ads warn that democrats will keep doing bad things and that the GOP is trying to make things better. And these fucking ignorant, hating fools keep on buying the bullshit.

[azureblue]

15. of course it has not dawned on Texas pols

that they are killing the people who vote for them... I'm waiting for that idea to enter their minds - I bet they will spring into action then...

[Wolves ov Siberia]

16. we are doomed

The cities of Garland, Rockwall, and Colleyville have straight up said they are not implementing a mandatory mask order. Heck, some are even having fireworks shows tonight. We are f'n doomed...

[Scruffy1]

17. Same here in El Paso.

Judge Saminiega wrote an eloquent letter to Abbott pleading for the lives of El Paso residents and the mayor and city council have begged buut the ashole ignored it. Too bad he's not up for reelection.

[iluvtennis]

22. I'm convinced the GOPers want to kill us. nt

[paleotn]

23. And this is summer...

When infectious diseases like flu and colds are on slow burn. This is going to be one hell of a Winter.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

24. Lina Hidalgo is so impressive along with Police Chief Art Acevedo and Mayor Sylvester Turner

I live in some pretty red burbs in Harris County but not within the city of Houston. The Democratic wave that Beto brought to the 2018 election replaced the long time old white male County Judge with Lina because Harris County As a whole is indeed blue. These people are besides themselves about it, especially the good old boy jacked up pickup truck types. On Nextdoor they call Lina “Dora the Explorer” or “that little girl” and insists she is totally in over her head. But that’s not what I see.

I think she has tremendous potential and is definitely a rising star in Democratic politics. Read her Wickipedia page And you will be impressed too. And all of this before her 30th birthday.

[LudwigPastorius]

25. All this Freedumb is killing me.

[McCamy Taylor]

26. I want to see someone wave a medical exemption from wearing pants