TAMPA, Fla. Jane Castor, mayor of Tampa, on Monday expressed frustration over individuals not following her executive order to wear masks in certain outdoor areas in the city. The city handed out more than 200,000 masks, and still places like Ybor City were chock-full of maskless crowds of parties and concert-goers during Super Bowl festivities.
‘It’s a little frustrating because we worked so hard in collaboration with the NFL and the county and just a number of different agencies, which instituted the executive order that masks had to be worn in specific areas that we knew groups would come together. , ”Said Castor, Tampa’s former police chief.
These areas included suburbs near Raymond James Stadium, downtown Tampa and in entertainment districts including Ybor City, the Channel District (Channelside) and the Central Business District. The order remains in effect until February 13. It was a supplement to the NFL that requires masks to be worn in the stadium and NFL events at all times, unless they are actively eating or drinking.
Before the Super Bowl, masks were only needed indoors. As of Sept. 25, as part of the state’s reopening plan, which allowed bars and restaurants at 100%, Florida State Department Ron Desantis has banned fines from people who do not wear masks. Castor disagreed with the governor, believing that local municipalities should set the rules for their cities and provinces. She also previously disagreed with the governor on the reopening of pubs and breweries.
Some local jurisdictions, such as Miami – the center of the state of the COVID-19 pandemic – have fought DeSantis over this, but DeSantis has signed an executive order banning local governments from collecting fines from individuals, although private companies have the right had to deny service to those who do not wear masks. But some believe that leadership above Castor, as well as a ‘holiday mentality’, has made Castor’s work difficult.
“Yes, we did see some videos,” Castor said. “We did see some individuals who did not wear a mask. And at the moment there is some frustration when you see it. It can be transmitted to those who are least likely to recover safely from it.”
Still, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell praised the city on Monday for considering the league a safe Super Bowl, calling it an “extraordinary effort” to host the event. NFL-approved events, including the NFL Experience, which has moved outward, and the fireworks display along Riverwalk, have seen good compliance.
“In fact, the upside – the majority of people understand the importance of wearing a mask,” Castor said. “They also understood their personal responsibility, and without it we would not have been successful.”
“On this occasion a year ago, I don’t think any of us would have imagined the challenges we were going to face,” Goodell said. ‘The can-do attitude of the people above [the Super Bowl LV host committee, Castor and Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan] and so many others behind them – it was really an extraordinary effort. We always say, ‘This is a team game.’ It was an amazing team up here. They really found a way to find solutions to difficult problems and really showed that this community is a ‘can do’ community that can make things happen. ‘
But behind the stadium, shopping malls, concerts, bars and clubs not affiliated with the NFL have experienced problems.
Tom DeGeorge, owner of Crowbar, a live music, concert and event venue in Ybor City, has expressed frustration over other businesses in his district not complying with the orders. He’s seen the NFL and the City Sunday and the NFL Experience put a tremendous amount of effort into producing the Super Bowl, but he wishes local businesses could get more help fighting offenses and managing crowds, As he felt it was inadequate despite a larger police presence.
“For months, your area businesses have been saying, ‘What are we going to do with the abundance of increasing traffic to our district to keep our people safe?’ and it’s not really addressed, it’s a problem, ‘DeGeorge said, adding that he sees a number of local businesses violating the ordinances, such as allowing dance floors and putting money on security.’ “We can not pretend that these problems are eliminated, that if you have districts like Ybor and special occasions come into the city, that we will not be put in a situation where our health is in danger.”
“Those places were crowded, those people made a lot of money, and I think it’s really very unfair to everyone,” DeGeorge said. “I just think that, as a city, the story that we wanted to get out and as we wanted to portray it is not necessarily what really happened here. And I think it’s a shame that we’re more involved in PR when we go over “The care of our communities and the people who live here is very unfortunate. And it will happen again when Wrestlemania comes.”