How should mayors reopen South Florida amid COVID-19? Very, very carefully | Editorial

Ready or not, the race to reopen South Florida has begun. As always, it’s the “or not” part that must be of most concern. And from Miami to Key West, elected officials disagree on what the pace of easing restrictions should be. But we must get it right.

After six weeks of closures, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said Wednesday is launching day for Phase 1 of reopening. The county’s parks, boat marinas and golf courses will swing their gates open. Forget about beaches, and that’s a good call.

Gimenez said that there will be rigorous restrictions under the new coronavirus reality, as there must be. Kiddie playgrounds and exercise equipment in parks will remain closed; no more than one person under a basketball hoop; one golfer per cart, unless they live together and no wild boat parties at sandbars in Biscayne Bay.

Orders for social distancing and wearing face masks remain in place and mandatory in public places. And enforcement will not be based on the honor system. Unfortunately, it can’t be. The stakes are just too high.

Gimenez, who has hired 400 monitors to uphold the rules at parks, says if people misbehave, they will be ticketed and fined. And he might send all of us back to our rooms. Broward and Palm Beach counties are following Miami-Dade’s lead. Broward Mayor Dale Holness went a step further and added the opening of community pools in condo and apartments.

In Key West, the city manager suddenly announced Monday that beaches and parks were opening. It’s only for residents; visitors are still being prevented from entering the Florida Keys.

But in Miami-Dade, as Gimenez was announcing the reopenings for the county’s open spaces, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said the city will not open its own parks.

Gimenez’s original county closure order applies to municipal parks, but cities are free to impose stricter rules.

And that’s just what Suarez is doing. He doesn’t agree that governments should let their guard down just yet. Suarez speaks from first-hand experience, having contracted the virus and quarantined for two weeks.

Yes, this is part of the continued tit-for-tat between Suarez and Gimenez.

“We want the experts to drive our decisions, not necessarily a group of people that are chosen that may have other interests,” Suarez said in a video news conference on Tuesday, obviously referring to a task force of county experts advising Gimenez.

Agreeing with Suarez across the bay is Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, who, incredibly, is battling with ally Commissioner Ricky Arriola, who has called the mayor a “dictator” for keeping the tourists n city’s economy locked down. It’s a loaded word, and inappropriate. Arriola’s no hack. He shouldn’t sound like one.

“I think it would be a monumental mistake for our city to lead the charge to reopen,” Gelber told the Editorial Board. “Our business model requires inviting thousands of people from all over the world to do everything but socially distance themselves from one another. I could not imagine a quick return to the crowds and the gatherings that I believe are dangerous. I believe we should rely on healthcare professionals to inform our decision making. They have been virtually unanimous in their advice,” he said. Gelber is right to be cautious.

Unfortunately, governments’ mixed messaging, from the federal to the state to the local levels continues, again leaving residents confused and, possibly, imperiled. Reopening our counties and cities, however, slowly is a like opening a Pandora’s Box. Again, it is everyone’s responsibility to not send us reeling back six weeks to when the pandemic was beginning its rampage.