Governor DeSantis’ Actions Get Support from New York Governor

Florida Governor Ron Desantis has been taking a beating from the state-wide media and Florida Democrats for his handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the de facto leader of the Florida Democratic party, has aggressively called for a statewide “stay-at-home” order.

Gwen Graham, the former US Congresswoman, gubernatorial candidate, and a relentless DeSantis critic on Twitter, accused DeSantis of taking actions that spread the virus.

Others have viewed his consideration given to the Florida economy as driven by big business.

However, amid this criticism, comes comments from Democratic governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, that appear to support the actions of DeSantis.

Last Friday Cuomo required all workers in nonessential businesses across New York state to stay home. Less than a week later, on Thursday Cuomo said this:

“What we did was we closed everything down. That was our public health strategy. Just close everything, all businesses, old workers, young people, old people, short people, tall people. Every school closed, everything.”

“If you rethought that or had time to analyze that public health strategy, I don’t know that you would say quarantine everyone,” Cuomo admitted. “I don’t even know that that was the best public health policy. Young people then quarantined with older people was probably not the best public health strategy because the younger people could have been exposing the older people to an infection. “

Cuomo’s comments come just days after DeSantis questioned the wisdom of closing schools down. DeSantis said “there is no evidence to support the theory that closing the schools would slow the spread of the pandemic disease.”

DeSantis has also been criticized for giving consideration to the economic impact of policy decisions related to the coronavirus. DeSantis said there are ways to prevent the spread of the virus “without thrusting people into protracted economic misery.”

A report in the Miami Herald attemted to connect this approach to Trump. The report stated “DeSantis’ decisions have closely paralleled the comments and actions coming out of the White House, which has similarly emphasized the importance of the economy while avoiding sweeping national orders.”

However, on Thursday Cuomo addressed the consideration of the economy in dealing with the crisis. “How do you modify the health strategy to make it smarter but also start to get you back to work? People who have resolved can go back to work. That’s how I think you do it,” he said, adding it was not acceptable to focus either on the economy or on public health.

It will be interesting to see if Cuomo’s remarks will be the beginning of a bipartisan approach to addressing the health and economic consequences of the coronavirus.

Steve Stewart

Steve Stewart is the founder and editor of Tallahassee Reports which began in 2009 as an online blog. Steve received a Bachelors Degree from Clemson University in 1984 and a Masters degree in Political Science from FSU in 1990. He has been involved with state and local politics since arriving in Tallahassee in 1989.

View all posts by Steve Stewart →

11 Comments

  1. Dan S.
    Dan S.

    Except there is evidence that proactive school closures have a large effect on delaying the speed of community transmission. Does DeSantis not have access to the internet? https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/does-closing-schools-slow-spread-novel-coronavirus

    https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/208354

  2. Franklin Thompson
    Franklin Thompson

    So cuomo approves of our Governor's actions. Our governor has our validation. cuomo is playing catch up.

  3. Anon
    Anon

    Also, you will all he happy to know that under cover of Lockdown and massive military movement, many long-promised Indictments and arrests are going down.

    1. Anon
      Anon

      Ask yourself re: leaked picture of Gillum: whose bare white foot is in the picture? Not a police officer. Why is it there? Blackmail? Are there other pictures? Warning? TO WHO? Gillum on lockdown? How many others on lockdown?

      1. Anon
        Anon

        What 'emergency' meetings and measures called for immediately after leaked photos? The More You Know.

  4. James
    James

    This is going to turn out to be about the same as the common flu.

  5. TONY
    TONY

    Yesterday, the MSM was saying that Cuomo was Blasting DeSantis for how he was handling things.

  6. Alex
    Alex

    I agree with News Maven, schools need to reopen. In today's world, kids need friends, individual attention, organization, routine,and love. Not all of them are getting this at home. I am worried that parent stress may be hurting kids the most. We are a protective society for the most part and things will be OK if kids are in school. Start schools by the 15th or before.

  7. Mark
    Mark

    Rocky, you let students and adults go to New York knowing a viral threat was probable. Anyone that contributed to your campaign or endorses you is misguided. Rocky, you are a threat to public health. Step down, resign take your political appointments with you.

  8. News Maven
    News Maven

    The Maven recommends:
    •Kids back to school
    •Re-open businesses
    •Social distancing, hand washing & sanitizer stations for both of the above
    •Fried to work from home for two weeks, and
    •Andrew "Trip Up Trump" Guilty to self-quarantine for six months.

    Gov. DeSantis:
    "Let My People Go...Back to Work!"

    1. Brady
      Brady

      How about 2-1/2 years for Fried and Andrew to get us through the next election

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