Thread by @DavidBegnaud

In my hometown - Lafayette, La - the parish president refuses to mandate masks.
The parish council was considering doing it but members worry the President will undermine it.
The Governor issued a statewide mandate.
Every major city has one.
Not Lafayette.
thecurrentla.com/2021/lafayette…

“While the governor has had a mask mandate and other restrictions in place since the summer, Lafayette officials were ordered by Guillory (the parish president) to stop assisting the state with enforcement in September after the Lafayette Fire Department cited Grouse Room...”

“... which is owned by one of Guillory’s supporters, for multiple violations of the governor’s Covid restrictions.”

“In a number of cases, they’ve created more backlash than compliance,” Guillory said of local mask mandates. “We don’t want that kind of confrontational situation here...A local mask mandate seems likely to have significant enforcement costs and may...make our city less safe.”

Backlash?
Seatbelt laws created a backlash.
A Motorcycle helmet law created backlash.
Ordinances stopping people from smoking in restaurants created a backlash.
And All have saved lives.
Just as mask mandates have.

What seems to be contributing to the backlash is an administration that is resisting the scientific guidance & data which shows that masks work, and cities and counties around the country, that the CDC have tracked, have seen declines in Covid cases because of mask mandates.

“...Clerk of the Council Veronica Williams says the council office has received over 2,000 calls.
She says each call is being logged with some in favor of the mandate and some who oppose...”klfy.com/local/lafayett…