Florida businesses were one step closer to a Rebound Friday, as phase two began in the state.
Virus protections were loosening further after nearly three months of restrictions.
But who’s been enforcing those rules?
STEP CLOSER TO A REBOUNDTODAY, AS PHASE 2 BEGINS.VIRUS PROTECTIONS ARELOOSENING FURTHER AFTER NEARLYTHREE MONTHS OF RESTRICTIONS.BUT WHO HAS BEEN ENFORCINGTHOSE RULES?
REPORTER FORRESTSAUNDERS DISCOVERED A LOT OFTHE RESPONSIBILITIES FELL ONTHE PUBLIC.RESTAURANT OWNER JERI MADDENIS BREATHING A LITTLE EASIER ASPHASE 2 CLICKS INTO PLACE.THOUGH NOT MUCH WILL CHANGEFOR HER EATERYLOOSENED RULES MEAN NORMAL ISGETTING CLOSER.“SUPEROPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT.
ITCOMING BACK.
THE WEIGHT HASBEEN LIFTED SLIGHTLY” LIKEANY RESTAURANTRESTRICTIONS BROUGHT NO INDOORSEATING.
EARLY-MAY IT WASUPPED TO 25% CAPACITY.
NOWHOLDING AT 50% SINCE THE 18TH.“PHASE 2 WILL BE OUR 64COUNTIES” GOVERNOR DESANTISPLACED THE DEPARTMENT OFBUSINESS AND PROFESSIONALREGULATION IN CHARGE VIRUSRESTRICTION ENFORCEMENT.BUSINESSES IN VIOLATION COULDFACE FINES OR JAIL TIME.
WHILEYOU MIGHT THINK THIS WOULDMEAN INCREASED ACTION FROM THEDEPARTMENT, MADDEN SAYS NOT SOMUCH.“REALLY THERE HAS BEENNO INTERACTION OTHER THAN JUSTLIKE THE UPDATES ON ALL THEPHASES.// I KNOW THAT THEYMAINTAINING IT, BUT I MEANREALLY I THINK ITUP TO THE INDIVIDUALS” DBPROFFICIALS TELL US THEY RELIEDAN ONLINE COVID COMPLAINTPORTAL ON TOP OF THEIR TYPICALHEALTH INSPECTIONS.
WITH IT,ANYONE COULD FINGER A BUSINESSBREAKING THE RULES BYSUBMITTING A FORM.
THE PORTALSTARTED MID-MARCH AND WASSUSPENDED LATE LAST MONTH ASRESTRICTIONS LOOSENED.
ITCOLLECTED 3,900 SUBMISSIONS.THE STATE SAYS WHILE SOME WEREJUST QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS,INSPECTORS FOLLOWED UP ON ALLOF THE COMPLAINTS.
THOUGH THEYCOULDNSPECIFICALLY.
WE ALSO LEARNEDNOT A SINGLE CITATION WASISSUED.
DBPR TELLING US IN ASTATEMENTWORKED WITH LICENSE HOLDERS TOEDUCATE THEM ON THE EXECUTIVEORDERS AND BRING THEM INTOCOMPLIANCE” (KAREN SMITH,DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS)“ILEAVING IT UP TO US” OWNERSOF EATERIES, LIKE MADDEN, AREOKAY WITH THE CIVILIANOVERSIGHT.“ITHEYRESPONSIBILITY TO US TO SEEHOW ITISSUEANTHONY SABATINI LABELING THEPORTAL A“TAXPAYER FUNDEDSNITCH SIT” SUGGESTING ITWOULD LEAD TO UNNECESSARYFINES.
NOW THAT THE SITE ISCLOSED, YOU CAN STILL SEND INCOMPLAINTS.
DPBR IS RELYING ONTHEIR TYPICAL COMPLAINT FORMFOR ANY KIND OF VIOLATION.
ITCAN BE FOUND ON THEIR WEBSITFORREST SAUNDERS.REPORTING.A LOCAL RESTAURANT I
SWFL restaurants say they are struggling to juggle phase two reopening rules with keeping businesses running.
