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Texas Tries to Balance Local Control With the Threat of a Pandemic Texas Tries to Balance Local Control With the Threat of a Pandemic
(3 days later)
HOUSTON — In Texas, where distrust for the state and federal governments runs deep, the State Legislature meets by law as infrequently as possible, once every two years.HOUSTON — In Texas, where distrust for the state and federal governments runs deep, the State Legislature meets by law as infrequently as possible, once every two years.
With 254 counties, the most of any state in the country, the Texas version of government has meant that local authorities, as opposed to the elected leaders in Austin and Washington, are often the ones really in charge.With 254 counties, the most of any state in the country, the Texas version of government has meant that local authorities, as opposed to the elected leaders in Austin and Washington, are often the ones really in charge.
But the bedrock Texas commitment to local control is now being put to a very public, life-or-death test amid the spread of the coronavirus.But the bedrock Texas commitment to local control is now being put to a very public, life-or-death test amid the spread of the coronavirus.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday continued to resist calls to issue a statewide order to keep millions of Texans in their homes as protection against the fast-moving virus. A day earlier, Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor and the Texas chairman of the president’s campaign, drew nationwide attention to the state when he endorsed President Trump’s desire to get the country back to work and said that he and other older Americans might be willing to sacrifice themselves to the virus to make that happen.Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday continued to resist calls to issue a statewide order to keep millions of Texans in their homes as protection against the fast-moving virus. A day earlier, Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor and the Texas chairman of the president’s campaign, drew nationwide attention to the state when he endorsed President Trump’s desire to get the country back to work and said that he and other older Americans might be willing to sacrifice themselves to the virus to make that happen.
“My message is that let’s get back to work,” Mr. Patrick, 69, said on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Monday. “Let’s get back to living. Let’s be smart about it, and those of us who are 70-plus, we’ll take care of ourselves, but don’t sacrifice the country.”“My message is that let’s get back to work,” Mr. Patrick, 69, said on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Monday. “Let’s get back to living. Let’s be smart about it, and those of us who are 70-plus, we’ll take care of ourselves, but don’t sacrifice the country.”
At a news conference on Tuesday, Mr. Abbott used strong language to encourage Texans to stay indoors, but he stopped short of ordering them to do so. “The best thing that you can do to ensure that we are not spreading Covid-19 in the state of Texas is stay home, unless you need to be out,” Mr. Abbott said, referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus.At a news conference on Tuesday, Mr. Abbott used strong language to encourage Texans to stay indoors, but he stopped short of ordering them to do so. “The best thing that you can do to ensure that we are not spreading Covid-19 in the state of Texas is stay home, unless you need to be out,” Mr. Abbott said, referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The country’s second-biggest state has been improvising its way through the crisis, influenced at times by the sheer span of Texas, by its partisan divides, by its rural-versus-urban split, by its top leaders’ support of Mr. Trump and by its small-government, low-regulation mythos.The country’s second-biggest state has been improvising its way through the crisis, influenced at times by the sheer span of Texas, by its partisan divides, by its rural-versus-urban split, by its top leaders’ support of Mr. Trump and by its small-government, low-regulation mythos.
A regulatory patchwork has unfolded in Texas in recent days, with restrictions, curfews and stay-at-home orders that change from county to county. Lacking a statewide mandate, several cities and counties have issued their own stay-at-home orders for residents, covering cities like Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, Arlington and El Paso.A regulatory patchwork has unfolded in Texas in recent days, with restrictions, curfews and stay-at-home orders that change from county to county. Lacking a statewide mandate, several cities and counties have issued their own stay-at-home orders for residents, covering cities like Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, Arlington and El Paso.
In cities like Amarillo and in much of rural West Texas, there is relative freedom of movement, although even many small towns have followed Mr. Abbott’s previous orders and shut bars and banned dining-in at restaurants.In cities like Amarillo and in much of rural West Texas, there is relative freedom of movement, although even many small towns have followed Mr. Abbott’s previous orders and shut bars and banned dining-in at restaurants.
“A pandemic does not respect political subdivisions, and it doesn’t care that on one side of the street you’re in Dallas County and on another side of the street you’re in Collin County,” said Mayor Eric Johnson of Dallas, who sent a letter with other local officials to Mr. Abbott urging him to consider issuing a statewide order. “I was willing to sign on to that letter because I was convinced not by my gut, but by our local health community that that would be the most effective approach.”“A pandemic does not respect political subdivisions, and it doesn’t care that on one side of the street you’re in Dallas County and on another side of the street you’re in Collin County,” said Mayor Eric Johnson of Dallas, who sent a letter with other local officials to Mr. Abbott urging him to consider issuing a statewide order. “I was willing to sign on to that letter because I was convinced not by my gut, but by our local health community that that would be the most effective approach.”
Texas has more than 700 cases of the coronavirus and 11 deaths, with most of the cases in the major metropolitan areas of Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. In nearly 190 of the state’s 254 counties, there are no confirmed cases at all.Texas has more than 700 cases of the coronavirus and 11 deaths, with most of the cases in the major metropolitan areas of Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. In nearly 190 of the state’s 254 counties, there are no confirmed cases at all.
Texas and Florida are the largest states whose governors have declined to order residents statewide to stay at home.Texas and Florida are the largest states whose governors have declined to order residents statewide to stay at home.
Mr. Abbott has been under pressure by Mr. Johnson and other local officials and by several Democratic state legislators to order a statewide measure keeping people largely in their homes, similar to those in place in California and New York. But he has resisted, touting the concept of local control that Texas has always adopted in responding to disasters. And in the state’s tradition of independent thinking, the governor has earned both praise and support for his strategy.Mr. Abbott has been under pressure by Mr. Johnson and other local officials and by several Democratic state legislators to order a statewide measure keeping people largely in their homes, similar to those in place in California and New York. But he has resisted, touting the concept of local control that Texas has always adopted in responding to disasters. And in the state’s tradition of independent thinking, the governor has earned both praise and support for his strategy.
“I’m a Republican, and we always talk about local control,” said Mark Henry, the county judge and top elected official in Galveston County, on the Gulf Coast southeast of Houston, which issued its own, local stay-at-home order. “This is what it looks like. He’s in a tough spot in that he’s got 254 counties, the most of any state in the country, and trying to apply a one-size-fits-all solution just doesn’t work.”“I’m a Republican, and we always talk about local control,” said Mark Henry, the county judge and top elected official in Galveston County, on the Gulf Coast southeast of Houston, which issued its own, local stay-at-home order. “This is what it looks like. He’s in a tough spot in that he’s got 254 counties, the most of any state in the country, and trying to apply a one-size-fits-all solution just doesn’t work.”
Mr. Abbott has said that with so many counties unaffected so far by the coronavirus, what works in urban Texas does not necessarily work in rural Texas. He said on Tuesday that his primary obligation was to public health and safety, but added, “If the goal is to get the economy going, the best thing we can do to get the economy going is to get Covid-19 behind us.”Mr. Abbott has said that with so many counties unaffected so far by the coronavirus, what works in urban Texas does not necessarily work in rural Texas. He said on Tuesday that his primary obligation was to public health and safety, but added, “If the goal is to get the economy going, the best thing we can do to get the economy going is to get Covid-19 behind us.”
Mr. Abbott has taken a series of steps to curb the spread of the virus, including deploying the National Guard, banning dine-in service at restaurants, shutting schools and limiting social gatherings to groups of 10 or fewer people. He suggested that more severe measures may be on the way, remarking that he was surprised to see how many drivers were on the road when he was on his way to the news conference in Austin.Mr. Abbott has taken a series of steps to curb the spread of the virus, including deploying the National Guard, banning dine-in service at restaurants, shutting schools and limiting social gatherings to groups of 10 or fewer people. He suggested that more severe measures may be on the way, remarking that he was surprised to see how many drivers were on the road when he was on his way to the news conference in Austin.
“It is clear to me that we may not be achieving the level of compliance that is needed,” he said, adding, “We will continue to evaluate, based upon all the data, whether or not there needs to be a heightened standard and stricter enforcement.”“It is clear to me that we may not be achieving the level of compliance that is needed,” he said, adding, “We will continue to evaluate, based upon all the data, whether or not there needs to be a heightened standard and stricter enforcement.”
Mr. Abbott’s remarks on Tuesday came amid a national backlash over Mr. Patrick’s statements on Fox News, in which he echoed comments by the president, who had expressed hope that the economy could be restarted sooner rather than later.Mr. Abbott’s remarks on Tuesday came amid a national backlash over Mr. Patrick’s statements on Fox News, in which he echoed comments by the president, who had expressed hope that the economy could be restarted sooner rather than later.
Mr. Patrick took it further.Mr. Patrick took it further.
“I’m not living in fear of Covid-19. What I’m living in fear of is what’s happening to this country,” he said. “And you know Tucker, no one reached out to me and said, ‘As a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival, in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?’ And if that’s the exchange, I’m all in.”“I’m not living in fear of Covid-19. What I’m living in fear of is what’s happening to this country,” he said. “And you know Tucker, no one reached out to me and said, ‘As a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival, in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?’ And if that’s the exchange, I’m all in.”
Updated August 12, 2020 Updated August 17, 2020
On social media, humorous GIFs about whether the old should sacrifice themselves for the young spread like wildfire, and #NotDying4WallStreet began trending on Twitter.On social media, humorous GIFs about whether the old should sacrifice themselves for the young spread like wildfire, and #NotDying4WallStreet began trending on Twitter.
In Texas, some elected officials were silent on the lieutenant governor’s stance, while others scratched their heads.In Texas, some elected officials were silent on the lieutenant governor’s stance, while others scratched their heads.
“I got to tell you — my children and my grandchildren really like to have their Tootsie around for a while longer, and I think everybody else would, too,” said the Republican mayor of Fort Worth, Betsy Price, who issued a stay-at-home order in her city on Tuesday. “I can’t imagine where he was coming from with that.”“I got to tell you — my children and my grandchildren really like to have their Tootsie around for a while longer, and I think everybody else would, too,” said the Republican mayor of Fort Worth, Betsy Price, who issued a stay-at-home order in her city on Tuesday. “I can’t imagine where he was coming from with that.”
In the central Texas tourist town of Fredericksburg, in a county that has zero confirmed coronavirus cases, Greg Werts was one of three employees on duty at the Peach Basket General Store downtown. Mr. Werts, the store’s 50-year-old general manager, said he shared the lieutenant governor’s desire to “get this great nation of ours moving” but did not support Mr. Patrick’s remarks.In the central Texas tourist town of Fredericksburg, in a county that has zero confirmed coronavirus cases, Greg Werts was one of three employees on duty at the Peach Basket General Store downtown. Mr. Werts, the store’s 50-year-old general manager, said he shared the lieutenant governor’s desire to “get this great nation of ours moving” but did not support Mr. Patrick’s remarks.
“That is very extreme,” said Mr. Werts, who describes himself as a libertarian. “Extremism in any form is bad,” he said, adding that “something more moderate would have been more reassuring.”“That is very extreme,” said Mr. Werts, who describes himself as a libertarian. “Extremism in any form is bad,” he said, adding that “something more moderate would have been more reassuring.”
And in Waco on Monday, Mayor Kyle Deaver announced a citywide stay-at-home order for the city’s 138,000 residents, though before he could say a word, a gloved woman stepped in front of him and quickly sprayed down the microphone and stand with disinfectant.And in Waco on Monday, Mayor Kyle Deaver announced a citywide stay-at-home order for the city’s 138,000 residents, though before he could say a word, a gloved woman stepped in front of him and quickly sprayed down the microphone and stand with disinfectant.
Mr. Deaver expressed both disappointment that Mr. Abbott had failed to issued a statewide stay-at-home order and regret that as mayor he had to issue one at all.Mr. Deaver expressed both disappointment that Mr. Abbott had failed to issued a statewide stay-at-home order and regret that as mayor he had to issue one at all.
“This is not easy, not easy for any of us,” Mr. Deaver said. “We’re Americans and we’re Texans and we’re used to our independence and freedom, and I hate taking that away from us. But we must do this together if we’re going to get through this quickly.”“This is not easy, not easy for any of us,” Mr. Deaver said. “We’re Americans and we’re Texans and we’re used to our independence and freedom, and I hate taking that away from us. But we must do this together if we’re going to get through this quickly.”
Another Republican county executive with a personal stake in the issue said he supported Mr. Abbott. That official, Jeff Branick, the county judge in Jefferson County, near the Louisiana line in East Texas, has been self-isolating recently after his wife developed symptoms of the coronavirus. The couple is now awaiting test results.Another Republican county executive with a personal stake in the issue said he supported Mr. Abbott. That official, Jeff Branick, the county judge in Jefferson County, near the Louisiana line in East Texas, has been self-isolating recently after his wife developed symptoms of the coronavirus. The couple is now awaiting test results.
“I trust his judgment,” Mr. Branick said of the governor.“I trust his judgment,” Mr. Branick said of the governor.
In San Antonio’s Bexar County, the county judge, Nelson W. Wolff, a Democrat, said he also agreed with the governor’s local control approach. His problem was that he wished the state’s leaders abided by it at all times, not just during a public-health disaster.In San Antonio’s Bexar County, the county judge, Nelson W. Wolff, a Democrat, said he also agreed with the governor’s local control approach. His problem was that he wished the state’s leaders abided by it at all times, not just during a public-health disaster.
The state’s conservative leaders have at times abandoned their belief in local control, he noted, and inserted themselves into the affairs of the state’s large cities — most of which are controlled by Democrats. The state in recent years has become involved in Houston’s public schools and Austin’s homelessness problems, for example, which has not sat well with some local leaders.The state’s conservative leaders have at times abandoned their belief in local control, he noted, and inserted themselves into the affairs of the state’s large cities — most of which are controlled by Democrats. The state in recent years has become involved in Houston’s public schools and Austin’s homelessness problems, for example, which has not sat well with some local leaders.
“He fought us on local control issues and stuffed it down our throat,” Mr. Wolff said of the governor. “Now he’s leaving everything to us. I don’t mind leaving everything to us. I wish he was consistent is the only thing I would say.”“He fought us on local control issues and stuffed it down our throat,” Mr. Wolff said of the governor. “Now he’s leaving everything to us. I don’t mind leaving everything to us. I wish he was consistent is the only thing I would say.”
Manny Fernandez reported from Houston, and David Montgomery from Austin, Texas. Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Alan Yuhas and Michael Gold contributed reporting from New York.Manny Fernandez reported from Houston, and David Montgomery from Austin, Texas. Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Alan Yuhas and Michael Gold contributed reporting from New York.