TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on Monday expressed frustration at individuals not following her orders to wear masks in certain outlying areas of the city. The city handed out more than 200,000 masks, and still places like Ybor City were packed with maskless crowds of revelers and concertgoers at weekend Super Bowl festivities.
“It’s a bit frustrating because we’ve worked so hard working with the NFL and the county and just a few different entities, putting in place the executive order that masks should be worn in specific areas that we knew groups were coming. Castor, former Tampa police chief, said.
Those areas include outdoor areas near Raymond James Stadium, downtown Tampa, and in entertainment areas including Ybor City, the Channel District (Channelside), and the Central Business District. The order will remain in effect until February 13. This was in addition to the NFL requiring masks to be worn in stadium and NFL events at all times unless actively eating or drinking.
Before the Super Bowl, masks were only needed indoors. As of September 25, as part of the state’s Phase 3 reopening plan that allowed bars and restaurants to open 100%, Florida Governor Ron Desantis banned places from collecting fines from those who did not wear masks. Castor disagreed with the governor on this, as he believed that local municipalities should set the rules most appropriate for their cities and counties. She also previously disagreed with the governor on the reopening of bars and breweries.
Some local jurisdictions, such as Miami – the state epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic – fought DeSantis about this, but DeSantis signed an executive order prohibiting local governments from collecting fines from individuals, even though private companies had the right to refuse service to those who don’t wear masks. But some believe that leadership over Castor, as well as a “vacationer mentality,” made Castor’s job more difficult.
“Yes, we saw a few videos,” said Castor. “We did see some individuals who didn’t wear masks. And right now there is a certain amount of frustration when you see that in dealing with COVID-19. safely recover from it. “
Still, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday praised the city for setting up what the league considered a safe Super Bowl, calling it an “extraordinary effort” to host the event. Events approved by the NFL, including the NFL Experience, which moved out, and the fireworks along Riverwalk, were well adhered to.
“The benefit is real: the majority of people understood the importance of wearing a mask,” said Castor. “They also understood their personal responsibility, and without it we couldn’t have been successful.”
“At this event a year ago, I don’t think any of us could have imagined the challenges we will have to face,” said Goodell. ‘The can-do attitude of the people here [the Super Bowl LV host committee, Castor and Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan] and so many others behind them – it was truly an extraordinary effort. We always say, “It’s a team game.” This was a great team here. They really found a way to find solutions to difficult problems and really showed that this community is a ‘can do’ community that can make things happen. “
But charging ports around the stadium, malls, concerts, bars, and clubs that were not affiliated with the NFL faced problems.
Tom DeGeorge, owner of Crowbar, a live music, concert and event venue in Ybor City, expressed frustration with other businesses in his district not following up on orders. He saw how the NFL and the city went to great lengths to produce the Super Bowl on Sunday and during the NFL Experience, but he wishes local businesses could have gotten more help dealing with violations and managing crowds. as he believes it was insufficient despite an increased police presence.
‘For months you have local businesses saying,’ What are we going to do about the flooding of more traffic into our neighborhood to protect our people? “And it’s not really being addressed, that’s a problem,” said DeGeorge, adding that he saw some local businesses violate regulations, such as allowing dance floors and putting money above safety. so many people come in. We can’t get rid of these problems, that when you have districts like Ybor and special events come to town, we’re not in a situation where all of our health is at risk. ”
“Those places were packed, those people were making a lot of money, and I just think it’s very, very unfair to everyone,” said DeGeorge. “I just think that the story we wanted to get out as a city and the way we wanted to portray it is not necessarily what really happened here. It really takes care of our communities and the people who live here. It’s a shame. And it will happen again when Wrestlemania comes. “