This lawsuit is brought on behalf of Atlanta business owners and their employees who are struggling to survive these difficult times
, he wrote on Twitter.
I refuse to sit idly by while disastrous policies threaten the lives and livelihoods of our citizens. We will fight to end these reckless actions and put people before the political games linked to the pandemic.
The governor had previously ruled that cities and counties did not have the right to impose more stringent restrictions than the state, but several cities and counties had overruled it. The republican elected official therefore returned to the charge on Wednesday, by specifically prohibiting cities from making the mask compulsory in public places, including in municipal buildings and grounds.
Far from having put an end to the confrontation, his decision, announced in the evening, fueled tensions.
Accusing him of privileging his political interests to the detriment of the health of their fellow citizens, democratic mayors had indicated, before the announcement of the prosecution, that they did not intend to bow.
Mayor’s ordinance remains in effect as science and data will continue to guide city decisions
, spokeswoman for Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, told The Associated Press. Masks save lives.
The capital of Georgia, the most populous city in the state, is one of the fifteen cities and counties that have imposed the wearing of masks.
The city of Savannah was the first to do so, at the end of last month. Its mayor Van Johnson, was quick to denounce the decree too.
At Savannah, we will continue to keep faith and follow science. Masks will continue to be available!
, he tweeted.
It’s officially official. Governor Kemp doesn’t care about us. Each for himself. Ignore the science and survive as best you can.
Other officials were less incisive, but just as determined.
When it comes to protecting the lives of the citizens of Augusta, we will not back down
said city mayor Hardie Davis.
We want our local requirements to stay in place
, for his part wrote in an email to the Associated Press, the mayor of the county of Athens-Clarke, Kelly Girtz, who said he was in contact with several other mayors. We firmly believe that this is within our authority.
Brian Kemp does not oppose the wearing of the mask and he even encourages it, but he has maintained for weeks that imposing go too far
and that local authorities do not have the authority.
The state reported Thursday nearly 3,500 new cases, for a total of 131,275. There were also 2,800 people in the hospital, a peak since the start of the pandemic.
Half of the American states as well as the District of Columbia made the mask compulsory in public places.
–
With information from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, et Associated Press
