'I will not be muzzled like a mad dog': Face mask debate turns fierce in St. Lucie County
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) – The debate over a proposed mandate for face masks in certain areas of St. Lucie County turned heated.
"I will not be muzzled like a mad dog," said one man during the public comment session.
"I see any of you without mask on I will personally call the police on you, just so you get that fine," said another.
The St. Lucie County Commission held a special meeting on Friday to discuss a Proposed "Order of the St. Lucie County Administrator requiring face coverings be worn in certain circumstances to slow the spread of COVID-19 particularly in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain."
Such an order would be countywide.
"It ain't easy, but I don't want to be dead," said Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky.
“Hundreds of citizens have contacted me regarding this issue over the last couple of weeks and the overwhelming majority have been in favor of a mandatory order with a very spirited minority in opposition,” stated the mayor of the largest city in the county.
Port St. Lucie Mayor Greg Oravec said in a Facebook post, “Please note that Martin County went forward with a mandatory order, Alachua County stuck with their mandatory order after considering the input of the City of Gainesville, and the lawsuits against Alachua County failed to convince a state circuit court judge or a federal circuit court judge to grant an injunction against the order.”
For one Port St. Lucie mom of, there’s no masking it. The “coronavirus climb” in Florida is downright concerning.
Susan Rhodes, who started an online petition said the fast-spreading infectious disease puts her 84-year-old mother-in-law, who she cares for, at risk.
After a fierce debate, leaders decided to continue the meeting on July 1.
