Want to chime in on the state’s reopening process? Today’s the final day to submit input.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Re-Open Florida Task Force created an online portal on April 25 to gather how public members think the state should reopen its economy and gates to visitors.
The task force and three sub-working groups have been meeting since last week discussing plans for reopening and what it should look like given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that continues to see new positive cases. With a final report set to come out by the task force executive committee this week for the governor, members of the public can visit the portal and submit their comments.
Per an April 25 news release, officials say public feedback is a critical component of the task force’s final report to the governor.
“All interested Floridians are encouraged to submit their ideas regarding the safe re-opening of Florida’s economy,” state officials said.
The task force executive committee includes the likes of Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, Jimmy Patronis, Florida Chief Financial Officer; Ashley Moody, Florida Attorney General; President Bill Galvano of the Florida Senate; Speaker Jose Oliva of the Florida House of Representatives; Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez; Broward Mayor Dale Holness; and Palm Beach Mayor David Kerner, among others.
The industry working groups include one on agriculture, finance, government, healthcare, management and professional services; one on tourism, construction, real estate, recreation, retail and transportation; and another on administrative, education, information & technology, manufacturing, utilities and wholesale.
The two Keys connections on the task force include Nunez, who owns a home in Islamorada, and Sheldon Suga, Hawks Cay Resort managing director and chairman of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. Suga is a member of the tourism, construction, real estate, recreation, retail and transportation working industry group.
Locally, Multiple task forces from Key West to Key Largo are currently in the works to provide input and opinions from various industries, as well as a testing task force to determine the best way to increase testing so the Keys have the ability to rapidly test residents as well as visitors, when they return. County Mayor Heather Carruthers, during an April 23 press conference, said the starting point for any changes in current restriction will be after two weeks of no new cases. As of April 27, one new case was reported to bring the total number to 79.
In Key West, officials made the decision today to open beaches and parks to locals only. On April 20, the Plantation Yacht Boat ramp in Islamorada opened to village residents only. Besides open spaces at Founders Park, all other parks and beaches are closed. Beaches and parks in Marathon also remain closed, as are Florida State Parks.
To the north in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, Gimenez and Holeness announced Monday evening that parks, waterways and golf courses will begin to open Wednesday.
