The back-and-forth between Governor Greg Abbott and city leaders across Texas continues, including in Austin where Mayor Steve Adler appears more and more prepared to attempt to close down any private business deemed to be nonessential. But as the city continues to angle for another shutdown, Adler remains at the mercy of the governor to actually codify it into law, and on Monday, Abbott pushed back against the growing call for more local control during an interview with KFDM-TV in Beaumont.
“If local officials enforce the mask order, it will slow the spread of the coronavirus,” Abbott said. “They just need to step up and enforce the orders.”
Abbott is referring to his recent executive order requiring masks to be worn in most public areas of the state. For weeks leading up to that order, cities and counties pleaded with Abbott to implement a statewide mask order, citing the advice from doctors around the globe who say a mask can significantly slow the spread. It was only after Abbott’s order took effect, however, that the calls began to grow significantly louder for more local authority to shutdown the private sector.
Abbott believes local governments have ample capability to deal with the virus now that masks are mandatory.
“What they need to show is action, not absenteeism. They need to show up and enforce the law as it is before they are given anymore authority. They ask for it more and more, but they do absolutely nothing,” he said.
Abbott said another shutdown could signal the financial ruin of tens of thousands, if not more.
“To really shut things down completely, back into lockdown mode, that would really force Texans into poverty,” Abbott said.
Meantime, on Thursday, the Austin City Council will host an emergency meeting to discuss COVID-19, and a 35-day shutdown of the private sector is widely expected to be among the topics of discussion, even as the city lacks the full authority over the state to actually force any business to close. Adler told CBS Austin on Monday if a shutdown were called, he believes Tuesday, July 14 would be the optimum date in order to allow schools to reopen as planned on August 18.
“If we actually could get ourselves to open up the economy differently than before — wearing face coverings and social distancing — then we could also know we could open schools in the fall,” Adler told KEYE.
Thursday’s council agenda sets the stage for an emergency declaration that would create the framework for a shutdown, and also set rules and penalties for anyone caught in violation.
