Kriseman Opposes DeSantis On Vaccine Passport Ban, COVID Rules

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Shortly after Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would use his executive powers to suspend all local emergency orders related to the pandemic until a new signed bill goes into effect, Mayor Rick Kriseman responded by denouncing the measure as a win for business over public health.

DeSantis also signed a bill that will ban COVID-19 vaccine passports in the state starting July 1. The bill that prohibits local coronavirus emergency orders also goes into effect July 1. Kriseman pointed out statements he found favorable to politics over community written on the newly signed bills.

"The first thing that I thought was very interesting is when you start looking at where it talks about the intent of the legislature, they don't hesitate to talk about the intent on the economy," Kriseman said with the bill in his hand. "But nowhere in the list of intent in legislative findings do they talk about the intent to minimize the negative effects to help save the communities caused by public health emergencies. To me, that's a pretty notable exclusion that's not in this document. They're more interested in the powers of the legislature and the governor, and the businesses—keeping them open than they are the health and safety of our public."

Kriseman's questions for the vaccine bill is if students already have required vaccinations for polio, chicken pox and other illnesses to attend school then why wasn't the COVID-19 vaccine added to the schools' list of required vaccines?

Kriseman said Monday during a news conference at The Big Catch at Salt Creek that Florida's new law means schools can't require students to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

"So we have to ask the governor and the legislature what's the difference," Kriseman said. "Why is it required for all these other vaccinations, and that's OK, but it's not OK to ask and required a COVID-19 vaccine? And what it comes down to is politics. And unfortunately this administration, this legislature, has applied politics to healthcare in the state of Florida."

Kriseman fears the rise of coronavirus numbers with DeSantis' immediate suspension. He said now with his orders, people can walk into an establishment without a mask.

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