DeSantis signs bill banning vaccine âpassports,â suspends local pandemic restrictions
DeSantis said ending local orders was the âevidence-based thing to do.â
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Governor Ron Desantis speaks in St. Petersburg, Monday, May 3, 2021 in St. Petersburg. [ ALLISON ROSS | Times ]
Updated 3 hours ago
ST. PETERSBURG â Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday he was issuing an executive order immediately suspending any local pandemic-related restrictions.
During a bill signing at The Big Catch at Salt Creek, a restaurant near downtown St. Petersburg, DeSantis said ending local restrictions was the âevidence-based thing to doâ considering the availability of vaccines.
âI think folks that are saying that they need to be policing people at this point, if youâre saying that, you really are saying you donât believe in the vaccines, you donât believe in the data,â he said.
Fungi on a log, captured at the USF Forest Preserve.
Overman pointed out that this area directly abuts protected lands, such as Lettuce Lake Park and Cypress Creek.
She also mentioned the habitats on this particular site are considered globally imperiled, specifically the upland sandhill habitats, which she said are “extremely rare to find in an ever-increasing urban setting.”
“In addition to its ecological significance, its historical significance is extremely important. There are significant archaeological artifacts and mounds of Florida s indigenous peoples on this property first discovered in the 1930s,” she said.
“Like any other project with a valued community partner, such as USF, I envision working together to find a solution that s befitting of our shared commitment to sustainability,” said Overman.