Lafayette’s mayor, Josh Guillory, responded to Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, who spoke in an interview on Friday with the Washington Post about the repudiation of a local mask mandate by the Lafayette City Council.
Guillory questioned the governor’s own application of a statewide masking mandate, accusing Edwards of failing to apply the rule properly and of not writing citations for nearly 4,000 complaints received across the state.
The mayor-president also defended the decision not to have a masked mandate at Lafayette, citing “challenges” and “costs” that this would bring to enforce the mandate.
The city council voted on February 9 to reject an emergency ordinance to oblige masks or facial covers in certain establishments and public places. The ordination was rejected by a 3-2 vote, with Glenn Lazard and Pat Lewis voting in favor of it.
Opinions about the use of masks and whether people should be forced to wear them in public has been a debate since the beginning of the pandemic, which has since made national headlines.
Guillory made his position on a mandate clear in January, speaking at a meeting for a group called Acadiana Patriots. Subsequently, questions arose about the government’s role in emergencies after Guillory imposed an order to stay home during the winter storm.
The governor said on Friday that the debate about the masks had become a party issue.
“I will never know how it took on an air of partisanship,” said Edwards. “This virus does not know and does not care whether someone is a Republican or a Democrat.”
Guillory ended his statement on Saturday by saying, “If the governor wants to use the national media to audition for a job in Washington, DC, he may want to make sure his own home is in order first.”
Below is the full statement released by Guillory on Saturday:
It is deeply hypocritical for Governor John Bel Edwards to attack Lafayette in the national media, criticizing our City Council for recognizing the challenges and costs involved in applying a local mask mandate. Where is the governor’s application of his mask mandate? The State Fire Department reports to him. ATC reports to him. How many quotes did they write for the nearly 4,000 complaints they received? Zero.
The real failure of the leadership is immediately evident in Governor Edwards’ decision to use his “mask mandate” as a party weapon, rather than actually applying it. How much of the US $ 1.9 billion provided to the State by the Federal Government for the COVID-19 response was dedicated to fulfilling its mandate? Why does he expect local governments, once again, to bear the cost of state mandates?
If the governor wants to use the national media to audition for a job in Washington DC, he may want to make sure his own home is in order first.
Mayor-President Josh Guillory
Related stories:
Lafayette council member responds to criticism from the governor over the rejection of the local mask’s mandate
Request to stay at home vs. mask’s mandate: What’s the difference?
Edwards calls Lafayette’s rejection of the mask’s mandate “leadership failure”
Guillory never asked Stefanski about rejecting the mask order
Renewed effort for local mask mandate gathers support from residents, board members
Guillory: imposing the mask’s mandate is not practical
Two council members ask for ordination of mask for the entire parish
Petition urging the mayor-president to make masks mandatory in Lafayette Parish
The State Fire Department’s Office is unable to locate the mask compliance complaint at the LCG
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