Here's a brief history of how we got here:
I am a military planner, and when we send American's into harm's way we do so with a plan to overwhelm and defeat our enemy. Scaling our operations makes sense, and so do common-sense public health responses.
We have beaten back every previous wave of this disease (before vaccines) with masks and individual responsibility and we can and must do so again.
Please be safe. Hospitals in North Florida are reporting oxygen shortages, ICUs are short-staffed after a year+ of COVID, and even our pediatric units are getting full. Get your shot, wear your masks, and use common sense.
Above all, we should be encouraging, not preventing, local leaders from doing what's best for their communities. Schools in downtown Tampa look a lot different than they probably do in the panhandle and we should give both sets of leaders the flexibility and support they need.
I have been a vocal defender of our Governor's decision to resume in-person learning early last year, at the time, I do believe the science was with us. But as this graph shows, we have not continued that science-based approach.
And again, I'm not advocating anything here other than for us to allow local leaders to make the best choices for themselves without threats, without intimidation, and without partisan political pressure.
Please share this post on Facebook, retweet it on Twitter and forward this e-mail to anyone who needs to hear it. But know this, nothing will change unless we make anti-science politicians pay a price at the ballot box and for that, I need your support.
In 2020 I won the closest election in Florida for the Democrats, our fight is what held DeSantis' from a 2/3 super-majority in the Florida House. We MUST hold the line here; please consider contributing so we can keep fighting into 2022.
Together, we can and will defeat this virus, turn our state around, and build back better. Let's get to work!
