Coronavirus - actions taken in neighboring jurisdictions- Pinecrest

I recently featured a blog post of random thoughts - relating to the potential mixed messages in Palmetto Bay. I am looking over the fence at neighboring Pinecrest and Cutler Bay to see what action has been taken there. Cutler Bay officials Send County Mayor Gimenez Letter Encouraging a Shelter in Place Emergency Order. Pinecrest officials are urging residents to stay at home in the Pinecrest Emergency Statement, which provides for the following:

Pinecrest, in coordination with Miami Dade County has issued an Emergency Statement which, among other requirements, asks people to stay at home.

Please follow what the national and local medical experts are telling us. Stay at Home.

We have temporarily closed Village facilities and certain businesses including the temporary closure all non-essential retail and commercial establishments until further notice.

This safer at home warning is designed to protect the health and well-being of residents Pinecrest and Miami Dade county and , to enforce the social distancing required in an effort to limit community spread of COVID-19.

All persons living within the Village of Pinecrest need to remain in their homes, and move about subject only to the county exemptions for essential Retail and Commercial Activities, as defined in Miami-Dade County Emergency Order 07-20. These essential retail and commercial activities include grocery stores; convenience stores; food distribution centers; restaurants (for take-out and delivery only), hospitals, pharmacies, and health care providers. A full list is on our web site.

All public and private gatherings of more than 10 people occurring outside a residence are not allowed, except for the exempted activities.

All travel, including, without limitation, travel on foot, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, automobile, or use of public transit is strongly discouraged. Except for outdoor activity and recreation in areas not otherwise closed to the public, provided that the people do not congregate in groups of 10 or more and they maintain a distance of at least six (6) feet between each other. This includes without limitation: walking, hiking, running, or cycling. Please continue to do this but do it safely.

Our police department has been instructed to be proactive in encouraging compliance with these actions.

We need to stay at home until we see data that shows we have minimized the impact on our hospital system.

Thank you and continue to be safe. We are working around the clock to assure we are doing everything we can to impact this disease.

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I will continue the updates as they are brought to my attention. I ask our Palmetto Bay officials to get serious and focus. Stop waiting and relying upon the County to 'be the bad guy' (some call the County to be the responsive and responsible leadership). Going last only shifted out of towners to our parks, increasing the exposure, the risk, to Palmetto Bay.

There was a flutter and appearance of a start of action in Palmetto Bay when the Council actually held a "virtual meeting" but, let's be honest, they have nothing of substance to show for it. See the official Virtual Special Council Meeting- Summary- posted on the Palmetto Bay government website. There was no discussion of joining in with nearly every other municipality to call for a stay at home order. Not even a discussion of a RECOMMENDATION to stay at home. Only a weak attempt to require that food prep employees to wear masks (not a CDC recommendation) and a partial restriction on short term rentals. Again, read the official summary -  there no consideration of a stay at home order to stop the spread of the pandemic. There would be no action taken in Palmetto Bay if not for the action imposed by Miami-Dade County.

Cutler Bay's Mayor has called for action.

The contrasts are striking. Both Cutler Bay and Pinecrest cancelled public events early on - to avoid risk to the public - while Palmetto Bay went ahead with its 2,000 gathering celebration picnic. Both Cutler Bay and Pinecrest closed their parks early on -  at times leading to non-Palmetto Bay residents travelling into our village to have access to parks - long before there were verified reports of Coronavirus in south Miami-Dade County. 

Perhaps the fast and decisive action in both  Cutler Bay and Pinecrest is why there are currently no verified cases of Coronavirus in either Cutler Bay or Pinecrest. Municipalities may enact their own restrictions (such as the 2 acts attempted by Palmetto Bay officials at their virtual meeting).

I ask our Palmetto Bay officials to check in with their fellow elected officials (there is not one case of coronavirus being spread via telephones or e-mails) to get updates on how to attempt to manage this crisis.