Miami-Dade’s Gimenez might be all standing between COVID-19 caution and insanity | Editorial

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez finds himself doing a delicate dance among science, boosting the county’s withering economy and the call of the wild, as cabin-fevered residents push for a path back to “normal” — preferably a path that winds through a park.

So far, the mayor is overcoming early criticism that he’ll ignore science and open the county too soon, endangering lives as the coronavirus crisis rages on.

But “flattening the curve” must be the highest priority and, so far, the mayor gets it. He’s had his feet firmly planted on the ground where the medical experts dwell, unlike other mayors and governors across the country, including Florida, many swayed by conservative groups and voluble, gun-toting demonstrators, egged on by President Trump.

Gimenez, a Republican running for Congress, will surely face even greater pressure as the days drag on. So far, he’s standing smart and strong.

At his virtual town hall meeting on Monday, which elicited more than 400 questions and comments, Gimenez made it clear his decision to open up the county — beaches, parks, golf courses, restaurants and other businesses — will be based on advice from local medical experts, not political hacks.

Open beaches?

And that is exactly how it should be.

Will he open Miami-Dade beaches anytime soon? Gimenez was asked 50 different ways.

The response was an adamant No, despite bellyaching from some residents who accused the mayor of overreacting to the “flu.”

“I understand the frustration, but we have to open up in a deliberate manner,” Gimenez said. He’s right.

The mayor says his committee of medical experts, county administrators and local leaders has given an OK to open Miami-Dade parks, golf courses and marinas in Phase I of the return to normal — all with added restrictions for social distancing.

Like a stern dad, Gimenez said those outdoor opportunities will end immediately if abused. ‘‘There will be no congregating on sandbars (with boats) tying up,’’ he said.

Zero tolerance will be applied, tickets will be issued — and even arrests are possible. Good.

Other residents were right to warn the mayor not to move too fast:

“This silent disease is not going anywhere soon. More data is needed.”

“We need to step up the testing, people!!!”

Others were more cavalier:

“Open, open, open!”

Expert help

As he contemplates a timetable, Gimenez must remain firm in his promise to listen to the medical experts — not just here, but in Tallahassee, too. On Monday, he was named part of Gov. DeSantis’ Re-Open Florida Task Force, where the tone for reopening Florida is on a faster course. Gimenez shouldn’t hesitate to apply the brakes. Images of residents crowding onto Jacksonville Beach during the weekend were chilling.

The first meeting did not “include discussion about the health risks of returning people to work and the extensive testing requirements needed before returning people to normal life,” the Herald reported. That’s dangerous folly. The 90-minute meeting focused on statistics about Florida’s economy.

The state’s top two health officials, the surgeon general and the secretary for the Agency for Health Care Administration, were not heard from until the end of the call.

Gimenez should stay the wise course here and in Tallahassee — for all Floridians — no matter how much the pressure builds.