St. Pete mayor takes to Twitter on masks, reopenings and protests
St. Petersburg mayor Rick Kriseman often takes to Twitter to share information on what’s happening in St. Pete and to show a little – well, a lot of – love for Tampa Bay’s sports teams. On Tuesday, though, he had had more serious things on his mind.
Following a press conference at Pinellas Ale Works Tuesday morning, Kriseman posted a rapid-fire series of tweets aimed at underscoring his key messages – that masks are still required in Pinellas County, that the city will begin to issue event permits Oct. 5 and that violent and lawless demonstrations will not be tolerated from either side of the political spectrum.
Here are the main takeways on face coverings and business operations:
The face-covering requirement adopted by Pinellas County remains in place. And any business in St. Pete has the right to refuse entry or service to someone not wearing a mask, the same way they would if someone was not wearing a shirt or shoes. Their business, their rules.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
In addition to the County’s face-covering requirement, the City established a requirement that all businesses that are open to the public must have a COVID mitigation plan based on CDC or OSHA guidelines.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
Kriseman praised the efforts of the community in limiting the spread of Covid through the use of masks and the practicing of social distancing.
Our 2 wk rolling avg of % positivity in Pinellas has been around/under 3%. The is the lowest % positivity of all of Florida’s 10 most populated counties. Staying under 5% is key for us. Our quality of life, our way of life, our economy, can all co-exist with the virus under 5%.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
Because the positivity rate has remained low and hospital capacities aren’t strained, Kriseman shared that city operations will “largely return to normal.”
Beginning Monday, October 5th, city operations will largely return to normal, with the majority of City facilities re-opening to the public, subject to requirements related to face covering, social distancing, and other measures recommended by CDC.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
Libraries, recreation centers and municipal service offices will also open again Oct. 5, and Kriseman said that he’s working with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, scheduled for Oct. 23-25, to allow a limited number of fans to attend. Other upcoming events include a food truck rally and the Come Out St. Pete festival.
We will begin to issue permits for events and occurring after October 5th. We know it’s safer to be outside, but if you cannot maintain social distancing and you’re not with members of your family or party, put your mask on.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
However, Kriseman cautioned people against getting complacent and encouraged them to continue using the safety measures outlined by the CDC.
Public health and safety is a priority, and will remain a priority regardless of state or federal actions or guidance. And if we see our rolling two week average tick up to 5% again, we will reevaluate and likely have to revert to tighter restrictions.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
Regarding the protests, some of which have taken a more violent tone after a grand jury announced only one officer would be charged in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, Kriseman said he was generally happy that the city has been spared the widespread chaos that has overtaken other areas.
St. Pete has not had the kinds of violence and vandalism we’ve seen elsewhere. Despite the rhetoric, we haven’t had mobs or riots, and we have our entire community to thank for that. We have our police to thank for that. This is a safe city, and we are going to keep it that way.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
That said, if things get out of hand, Kriseman didn’t mince words about what the consequences would be.
Let me be very clear about this – we are not a city that permits violence or destruction of property. If you do either, you will be arrested. Our police are fully empowered to keep our residents safe and they will continue to do so to the best of their ability.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
If you’re a victim of unlawful behavior, of a crime, you must call the police and be willing to press charges, to prosecute. If you are a business and someone is doing something illegal on your property, you must call the police and you, too, must be willing to press charges.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
Last Wednesday, a video of a verbal altercation between a couple having dinner at Parkshore Grill and protestors went viral. Several protesters sat down at the table with the couple while others chanted at them.
Those coming from out of town to cause trouble here, whether on the left or right, are not welcome here. If you intend to peacefully protest or counter protest, have at it, but keep your guns and knives or any other weapon at home.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
Kriseman also touched on an incident Saturday night when protesters clashed with counterprotesters along Beach Drive. St. Petersburg police are seeking three people for questioning, two of whom drew knives and a third who pulled out a gun.
You are not advancing your cause by brandishing a knife or a firearm, or by giving someone the finger, crashing someone’s dinner, or cursing at them and calling them names.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
He urged people to avoid judging entire groups based on the actions of a few bad apples.
Calling all police officers murderers and pigs and things worse than that because of the conduct of a few bad cops in cities in other states is not acceptable here. Those cops are not OUR cops.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
Labeling all protestors a part of a mob, anarchists, or enemies of this country because of the conduct of a few bad protestors is also not acceptable here.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
Finally, he made a plea for everyone to take a step back to diffuse the emotions that are running so high in the U.S.
And so it is incumbent upon everyone, from the President of the United States, to those protesting, to mayors, to turn the temperature down. This is not who we are, not as a nation and certainly not as a city.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
So again, let me be clear: Violence will not be allowed in our city. Period. We’ve made it this far, and we’re not going to go backward.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 29, 2020
And because he wouldn’t be Kriseman if he didn’t get in a plug for the home team…
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) September 30, 2020
