COMING SOON! How to keep your Homeowners Association Great!

With both Texas and Florida gearing up for their respective 2023 legislative sessions, County Examiner is pleased to announce a new section of online resources that affect the rights of residents who choose to live in a property owners association. 

 

We're also keeping an eye on what legislation gets filed for consideration in both Austin and Tallahassee. And if we come across court cases or interesting stories the team will highlight them here too.

But first a bit of a primer and the disclaimer: the team behind County Examiner is not comprised of lawyers but we are American citizens with a right to educate ourselves and be knowledgeable of our rights should we choose to live in a common interest community.

 

In Texas the website of the State Law Library provides a legal research guide to understanding "property associations" or what many refer to as a "homeowners association" defined in Section 202.001 of the Texas Property Code. If your property owners association has registered as a non-profit the Secretary of State website will allow you to search and view for your associations articles of incorporation and other documents related to its formation.

In Florida Section 718 and Section 720 provide procedures for how your condominium and homeowners associations should be operating. And in Florida the Department of State is your resource for searching and viewing your associations articles of incorporation and other documents.

 

 

 

 

 

DACA amnesty advocate scrubbed from RNC-linked GOP Hispanic group website

A Republican National Committee-linked Hispanic organization with chapters across the United States  scrubbed the name and biography of the groups top DACA and amnesty advocate from their website, County Examiner has learned.

Congressional candidates in Florida, Texas, and other states where this group has a presence would be wise to take heed in seeking and accepting endorsements from this organization.

The Republican National Hispanic Assembly quietly deleted their former National Press Secretary, Hilario Yanez, from the Leadership page of the organizations website.

A screen shot of the RNHA's website taken June 2020 contained the name, photo, title and biography of former spokesman Hilario Eli Yanez and County Examiner saved a PDF of that web page here. (PDF here)

The Leadership page of the RNHA website now shows Yanez scrubbed from the site, 

Hmmm, why would they want to HIDE Yanez's historical affiliation with the RNHA from voters and candidates for office?

County Examiner recently reported that Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw's stepmother Carmen Crenshaws name and role as Texas Chapter Chairwoman was also deleted from the RNHA website. 

Hmm, why would they want to HIDE the Congressman's stepmothers affiliation from voters and candidates?

Yanez, a foreign national and illegal alien DACA recipient was invited to Capitol Hill for a March 2019 House Judiciary Committee hearing and via meddling in US politics and our electoral process, lobbyied Congress on the issue of passing a mass amnesty for illegal aliens and other foreign nationals present in the country--the same type of mass amnesty contained in the $3.5 trillion budget bill pending before Congress.

  

When County Examiner asked Has the RNHA (and by alliance the Republican National Committee) been quietly advocating for an American Last, illegal alien amnesty of DACA recipients?  the answer is a resounding YES ! They have!

Here's Yanez thanking former Georgia Congressman Doug Collins for inviting NOT an American citizen but a foreign national to testify in front of Congress.

AND here's Yanez thanking the US Chamber of Commerce for their support of amnesty.

America First advocates and candidates running for office should be very skeptical of endorsements from this group. 

With a documented history of thumbing their nose at the Federal Election Commission, meddling in U.S. politics for benefit of their own personal agendas, lobbying without  FARA registration, and interfering in the endorsement processes affecting Texas Congressional AND Judicial races there are many reasons to not accept and outright reject an endorsement from this organization lest the Republican candidate become known as supporting the RNHA's objective of an American Last  mass amnesty.

Congressmen roasted for failure to demand release of Jan 6 political prisioners in the DC Gulag

Two Congressmen from Texas and Florida are openly and strongly supportive of freedom for the people of Cuba but when it comes to demanding the release of the January 6 political prisoners held in the DC Gulag right here in the United States--well, nothing but crickets.

And now a Congressional candidate from Georgia has taken to roasting  Florida Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw on Twitter for failing to demand the release of the Jan 6 political prisoners.

Walk your asses down the street and demand the release of J6 political prisoners. Then *maybe* you can talk about Cuba. Con Inc. at work. https://t.co/HEMIgU6oN6

— Patrick J. Witt (@patrickjwitt) July 27, 2021

Reporting over at American Greatness reveals the U.S. Constitutional rights stripped from our fellow Americans: (emphasis mine)

Dozens of Americans held in the D.C. Gulag have been incarcerated for months awaiting trials that aren't scheduled to begin until 2022 (Sixth Amendment speedy trial anyone?)

Many defense lawyers are complaining about lack of access to their clients and access to video evidence captured by the U.S. Capitol's security system (production of Brady material anyone?) which is under protective seal. 

Meaning all that evidence is hidden not just from the lawyers and their clients but from the entire country, including the media who wish to report on it.

County Examiner is saddened that US Congressmen believe freedom and liberty for foreign nationals suffering under communism are a higher priority than preserving the Rule of Law and preventing communism from gaining a foothold right here in America.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gives keynote address at Texas Public Policy Foundation event

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis; one of the best, if not THE best "Liberty State" governors in the land, gave the keynote address at last week's Texas Public Policy Foundation policy orientation event in Austin, Texas.

Among the results of his winning formula implemented after taking office in 2018 are:

• Proud of how Florida counted votes in the election this year and delivered a 400,000 vote win for President Donald J. Trump
• Accepted the resignation of the corrupt election supervisor in Broward County and removed the election supervisor in Palm Beach County
• No ballot harvesting
• Added one Republican in the Florida Senate and five Republicans in the Florida House of Representatives in the November 2020 general election
• Upheld the Rule of Law and banned sanctuary cities with huge public support across party lines
• Didn't touch the "rainy day fund" at all during the 2020 pandemic.
• ALL Business is OPEN in Florida
• The public schools are open, despite veiled threats from the teachers union
• High school sports open under his watch in spite of media fear-mongering

Florida: Important dates and activities on the 2020 Elections calendar

 Key milestones aligned to the 2020 Electoral College Timelines are right around the corner. Seven activities take place in Florida between Sunday November 15 and Wednesday November 18.

Sunday November 15 by noon: county canvassing boards to submit Official Results to the Department of State for the General Election.

Sunday November 15: supervisors file with the Department of State a copy of, or an export file from, the results database of the county’s voting system.

Sunday November 15:  county canvassing boards submit reports on the conduct of the General Election to the Division of Elections.

Sunday November 15: county canvassing boards to begin publicly noticed audit of the voting system for the General Election unless manual recount undertaken pursuant to §102.166, F.S.

Tuesday November 17: Elections Canvassing Commission meets to certify Official Results for federal, state, and multicounty offices.

Tuesday November 17: The Department of State certifies as elected the presidential electors of the candidates for President and Vice-President and preparation of Certificate of Ascertainment.

Wednesday November 18: Last day for Supervisors of Elections to prepare and upload daily electronic files of vote-by-mail ballot request information to the Department of State for the Primary Election and General Election.

See Florida Department of State Elections and Activities calendar here.

Is their turmoil at Fox News? Laura Loomer Parleys Fox directive

Is there turmoil over at Fox News? Florida Congressional candidate Laura Loomer "parley'd" an hour ago: 

Fox News has given a directive to their daytime hosts to not have anyone from the Trump campaign or the White House legal team on.

They have been told to not entertain or discuss any allegations of voter fraud and to keep reassuring the public that Joe Biden is the President Elect.

There has been a complete insurrection at Fox News and there are talks among the Murdoch run management of terminating the Pro-Trump hosts.

Florida, Texas among 17 states challenging PA extending Election Day beyond Nov 3

Florida and Texas are among seventeen states (think "interested parties") asking the United States Supreme Court to grant review and reverse the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts' extension of  Election Day three days beyond November 3 through judicial fiat.

I'm writing this in simple, easy to understand terms, so please no emails from lawyers that I'm not using Black's Law Dictionary.

According to Supreme Court.gov the States of Ohio and Oklahoma, and in a filing by the State of Missouri the following states assert the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overstepped its constitutional responsibility, encroached on the authority of the Pennsylvania legislature, and violated the plain language of the Election Clauses of the U.S. Constituion:

• Ohio, 
• Oklahoma, 
• Missouri, 
• Alabama, 
• Arkansas, 
• Florida, 
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky, 
• Louisiana, 
• Mississippi,
• Nebraska 
• South Carolina, 
• South Dakota, 
• Tennessee
• Texas
• West Virginia

As we've pledged as of the launch of this site, County Examiner will continue to publish links to court websites and documents.

A 4–3 majority of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court does not get to extend November 3 Election Day 2020 by three days to November 6th through judicial activism.

*A very special "Thank you" to Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Florida and Ken Paxton, Attorney General, Texas

The new civil asset forfeiture - fines for not wearing a mask

Commissioners in Miami Dade County, Florida unanimously voted to turn residents and tourists into walking ATM's yesterday when they made violation of the county mayors' mask order a civil infraction.

If you're now caught indoors or out without wearing a mask in Miami Dade County, you can be fined $100.00. The Miami Dade County Board of Commissioners voted for the civil fine during yesterdays meeting and goes into effect immediately. Miami Dade police and code enforcement officers will issue violations to residents and tourists who don't comply.

Miami Dade county mayor Carlos Gimenez lauded the commission's decision on Twitter:

I applaud @MiamiDadeBCC's unanimous decision to make the violation of our masks order a civil infraction. This allows code enforcement officers to issue citations to those who don't comply with the emergency order in @MiamiDadeCounty, helping police with this task. (1/2)

— Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) July 16, 2020

Individuals who are unable to pay the fine will be subject to community service.

Amid a deepening divide over the health aspects of wearing a mask we've already reported has the effect of suppressing expression and speech, cities and counties across the country for years have generated millions, if not billions of dollars from fines and fees in order to maximize revenues.

And in the age of coronavirus, prioritizing law enforcement efforts towards treating residents and tourists like walking ATMs sends a horrible message to the public about true public safety concerns.

On July 16th, the same day Miami Dade commissioners met and according to public records there were more than 30 bookings into Miami Dade county jail. The reasons for arrest ranged from battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, retail theft and battery to first degree murder.

I bet residents and tourists to Miami Dade would prefer law enforcement spend their time focused on real public safety threats such as homicides and murder as opposed to treating tourists and residents like cash cows to pad their budgets.

UPDATE: Page 2 of this memorandum backs me up:

"..a positive fiscal impact is anticipated but is undeterminable at this time as revenues are based on the number of civil citations issued."

Miami Dade mask ordinance is about suppressing freedom of expression

On June 29th Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez signed an amendment to a previously issued order about controlling residents of and visitors to Miami-Dade County, all while the feckless, lazy Florida media outlets regurgitate talking points about supposed "health" benefits instead of actually reading the order, analyzing the implications and reporting accordingly.

Of course, the insufferable Florida media would never do that.

Described as necessary to "limit the spread of COVID-19, to preserve hospital capacity and prevent unnecessary loss of life and health" the language of one "whereas" clause reveals the entire principle upon which Gimenez' has based his kingly edict.

"WHEREAS, COVID-19 is transmitted by infected person expelling respiratory droplets containing virus particles when they...or RAISE THEIR VOICE, which are then ingested or inhaled by persons around them."

Is that true? Is COVID-19 transmitted by infected persons when they raise the level of their voice ??? to SPEAK? What if you're not sick? 

Put another way, this order was written to be subject to misinterpretation.

Here's my interpretation--the order was written to tell everyone---sick or not--- to cover their smiles, hide their facial expressions and be quiet. All while the lazy, detestable Florida media tell us to shut up and follow the rules. Rules they say are "good" for us and support changing on a never-ending basis to divide us and pit neighbor against neighbor as we debate and discuss it.

How about we demand government officials like Gimenez follow rules that were ratified over 230 years and guarantee an individuals freedom of expression?

We suggest Miami Dade County Mayor Gimenez follow THOSE rules.

"Peaceful" Jacksonville protester & convicted felon caught with Molotov cocktail

A 27-year old "peaceful" protester from Jacksonville, Florida was caught in possession of a Molotov cocktail and charged in federal court this past week, says the press release from the United States Attorney's Office.

Please keep in mind a criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

Jacksonville, Florida– United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Ivan Jacob Zecher (27, Jacksonville) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted, Zecher faces up to 10 years in federal prison on each count.  

“The cooperation and expertise of our local, state, and federal partners in this case has led to a swift arrest without further incident,” said United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement and community partners to ensure that the rights of all individuals are protected during these protests and beyond.”  

According to the complaint, on May 31, 2020, during a protest in downtown Jacksonville that was related to the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Zecher was part of a group of protesters blocking traffic and throwing items such as water bottles and rocks at police officers and cars.  

After refusing orders to disperse, Zecher was arrested by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for unlawful assembly. An officer removed Zecher’s backpack to place him in flexcuffs and noticed a liquid leaking from it. A search of the backpack revealed a liquor bottle that smelled strongly of gasoline, a lighter, and a hatchet.  Zecher admitted that he was holding the bottle in his backpack for an associate, and that he knew the bottle contained gasoline.  

Preliminary analysis by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the bottle – which contained gasoline (a flammable liquid) and polystyrene (a flammable gel), and the cork to which was coated with polystyrene – constituted a “Molotov cocktail,” which is an incendiary bomb and destructive device, and therefore considered a firearm under federal law. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.'

SMH: Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz undermines America First agenda; throws support to Tuberville & amnesty

The Alabama Senate race is intensifying as a Florida Congressman announced on Twitter he was throwing his support behind GOP Senate primary candidate Tommy Tuberville over immigration patriot Jeff Sessions

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who gives every indication he is a supporter of America First policies and American citizens has, in reality, given his support to America Last, amnesty for illegal aliens supporter Tommy Tuberville.

Jeff Sessions was a scared little employee of his own staff at Justice. @Jim_Jordan and I saw it with our own eyes. Total beta.

Coach Tuberville will be a leader and has my full support. https://t.co/0wWelQ1IKj

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) May 29, 2020

A television ad called "Tuberville for Amnesty"  debuted in February 2020.

Jeff Sessions and Tommy Tuberville will face off again in the GOP primary runoff race on July 14, 2020.

Florida Congressmen Neal Dunn, John Rutherford lobby for foreign workers, undermine America First agenda

Two Florida Congressmen are among 47 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives lobbying the Trump Administration to import more foreign workers while tens of millions of Americans are out of work. 

Florida Congressmen Neal Dunn (FL-2) and John Rutherford (FL-4) signed their name to a May 26 letter addressed to President Trump urging the White House to refrain from imposing any further restriction on the H-2B non-immigrant seasonal guest worker program. 
Citing a risk of harm to economic recovery efforts, the lawmakers assert that even with tens of millions of Americans out of work the businesses in their Districts are suffering from labor shortages.

"On behalf of the thousands of small and seasonal businesses in our Districts that are struggling in this unprecedented and uncertain economic climate, we respectfully urge you to refrain from imposing any further restriction on the H-2B nonimmigrant seasonal guest worker program as part of any forthcoming executive action relating to immigration and/or economic recovery. 

As you can understand, this pandemic has impacted the various economic sectors differently. While many are faced with reduced customers and degraded markets, others are struggling to meet customer demand due to seasonal labor challenges."

The H-2B nonimmigrant program permits employers to temporarily hire non-immigrants to perform non-agricultural labor or services in the United States.The employment must be of a temporary nature for a limited period of time such as a one-time occurrence, seasonal need, peakload need or intermittent need.

Pushing the lazy American narrative undermines President Trumps American First agenda and the financial, quality of life security a part-time, seasonal job can mean to the unemployed and underemployed Americans who voted for President Trump and continue to support him.

County Examiner previously reported remarks made during a Leadership Institute Digital Town Hall by Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw implying Alabama teens are lazy and a bunch of bums:

The representative claimed that places that had fewer immigrants, citing Alabama, couldn’t find workers to do those jobs. This, Crenshaw asserted, is a problem with the work ethic of Americans, not with business owners who prefer to pay ultra low-wages to foreign nationals.  

“That’s an American cultural problem that I wish we could fix,” Crenshaw said. “I wish our teenagers would actually go to work. They don’t.” Crenshaw added that he has to be “sympathetic” to “some of these business owners who are creating jobs and creating wealth in America, creating growth, building things — they can’t do it without anybody working there.”  

“For some reason, people who speak English just won’t go work there,” Crenshaw said.

County Examiner will continue to report on the Texas and Florida members of both chambers in the U.S. Congress who are undermining President Trumps' America First agenda and the future of all Americans by advocating jobs for foreign nationals at the expense of unemployed Americans who they clearly prefer be dependent of government welfare.

Black federal officer's life doesn't matter to Black Lives Matter protestors in Florida

A Southwest Florida television station news report glossed over a "dicey" interaction that occurred during Mondays' march to the Fort Myers Police station in downtown Fort Myers and now we have a pretty good idea why the death of a federal officer was omitted from their coverage.

The death of a federal officer didnt fit the agenda-driven narrative of a peaceful protest.

In their segment titled "Protesters march to Fort Myers police station in downtown Fort Myers" the NBC2.com reporter covering the event described it as "about protesting the death of George Floyd and others who have lost their lives due to police killings". 

Start at the one minute mark and watch for about 45 seconds.

NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida

What sparked that "dicey" scene between the man and some of the other "peaceful" protestors? He was holding a photo of Federal Officer Patrick Underwood with the words "his life mattered".

According to a Breitbart News and ABC7 article black federal officer, Patrick Underwood, was shot and killed in Oakland, California, Friday night as he attempted to keep the peace amid the violent riots sweeping California and the rest of the U.S. in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minnesota.

County Examiner located the footage of the loud, angry, triggered, screaming women who didn't want anyone to see the poster of Officer Underwood. Scroll to the 6 minute mark for the full "peaceful" effect. 





Notice what was glossed over and brushed aside as "dicey" in the NBC2 news coverage?

Apparently a black federal officers life; one lost in the line of duty in the California riots while attempting to KEEP the peace--- doesn't matter when there's a specific narrative and agenda to be pushed. 

President Trump remarks on our ranchers, farmers and food supply

President Trump met in the Roosevelt Room of the White House today with several of our country's farmers and ranchers to discuss the nations food supply. One guest from Florida is of special note; Marty Smith, a Florida rancher serving this year as President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

A plentiful supply of beef and pork are back on the shelves of many SW Florida supermarkets.

Scroll to the 25:33 minute mark to hear Mr. Smiths' remarks:




MR. SMITH: Thank you, Mr. President. You have provided unprecedented leadership and -- to the United States and to the world throughout this crisis. And with that, you've shown so much concern and so much support for American agriculture. And on behalf of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the rest of agriculture, I want to say thank you.

I'm Marty Smith and I'm a rancher from Florida and serving this year as President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Your executive order a few weeks ago directed toward the packers -- we're starting to see the impact of that. We're getting beef, pork back online and getting the products back on the shelf.

You know, America's farmers and ranchers continue to work around the clock to feed the public, to feed all of our nation, to feed a lot part of the -- a large part of the world. What you've done with that and what we're doing with this -- with this current program enables us to stay in business and continue to do that.

Again, we thank you for that. We thank your administration. Working with Secretary Perdue has just been a great way for us to all move forward.

But even more importantly than that, I want to thank you and your family. You know, with us it's all about our families and our family operation. Your family is just as dedicated to this. And, Ivanka, we thank you for the support you've shown to us. It's just -- it's so meaningful. And together we get through this and we do beat this. And we keep the highest quality, safest, most-sustainable protein sources on the plate of Americans all through this. And we thank you.

Full remarks here.

How is YOUR county using CARES Act dollars?

Question: are your local county commissioners promoting how taxpayer money allocated through the CARES Act signed by President Trump is helping distressed workers get through the coronavirus crisis? 

The horror stories have been on the news for weeks; people suddenly out of work, unable to make their rent, mortgage, utility payments and put food on the table due to the decision to shutdown the American economy due to the coronavirus crisis. 

In a County Examiner exclusive, we take a peek into how one Southwest Florida county board of commissioners propose spending over $134 million received under the Act.

But first a recap:

As a supplement to the Paycheck Protection Program Federal coronavirus stimulus checks of up to $1200 per adult and $500 per dependent were electronically deposited or mailed to eligible families. Federal Enhanced Re-employment relief provided an additional $600 weekly benefit for individuals eligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits.

Under the $2.2 trillion CARES Act $150 billion was also allocated to provide financial relief for families, government and business impacted by the public health crisis (Lee County, Florida public information)

Under the CARES Act Florida received $8.328 billion; $4.6 billion for the state and $3.7 for local governments:

Using the presentation to the Lee County (Southwest Florida) Board of Commissioners $194 million was allocated to the County Board of Commissioners, LeeTran, Human Services, Public Safety, the Lee County Port Authority and the Lee County Sheriff's Office as follows:

As for individual assistance the presentation recommended Lee County Commissioners devote over $23 million to help eligible households with mortgage, rent and utilities relief.

There's also a proposed voucher program for daycare assistance so parents can return to work :

The above presentation to the Lee County Board of Commissioners was a spending proposal; when the minutes from the May 12 board meeting are certified, County Examiner will report on the final spending plan. 

Open government advocates IMHO should obtain this information from their own county governments so they can "follow the money" and ensure your taxpayer dollars are spent as they were intended.

Dear Hospitals: please rethink your bans on visitors for female patients

Well intentioned policies to designed to keep female patients safe in hospitals may have the opposite effect.

Media outlets are publishing the details of precautions South Florida hospital administrators are implementing to keep non-COVID 19 patients "safe" from exposure to the coronavirus. A recent Miami Herald article reported the precautions of four South Florida hospitals include suspension of visitors (with a few, limited exceptions). 

While this policy of barring family, friends, husbands, boyfriends, relatives from visiting their female relatives, spouse or partner in the hospital portends to keep the female patient "safe" from exposure to COVID-19  the policy may well have the unintended effect of exposing the female patient to the risk of sexual assault and rape from male hospital employees.

It's not like it hasn't happened before. In Florida.

In February 2020 a 30-year old physical therapist employed at a Tampa hospital was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a female hospital patient (emphasis mine):

TAMPA, Fla. — A 30-year-old physical therapist was arrested Monday after deputies say he was caught sexually assaulting a hospital patient. 

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said late Monday night, an alarm began to sound in the room of a 75-year-old patient at St Joseph's Hospital South. When a nurse went to check out a live feed from inside the room, she said she saw Regginald Jackson sexually assaulting the woman, according to the sheriff's office. 

Jackson is employed as a physical therapist at the hospital in Tampa, according to detectives. 

Detectives said they tried to question Jackson about the incident, but he refused to comment on the allegations.  

Jackson was charged with sexual battery and booked into the Orient Road Jail.

In January 2020 a former Cape Coral male nurse accused of raping a female patient was found guilty.

CAPE CORAL, FLA — UPDATE: The jury has found Jeovanni Hechavarria guilty on all counts of Sexual Battery. The State asked that Hechavarria remain in custody and the Judge agreed. 

He was sentenced to  30 years in prison.

It's not clear if these "no visitation" hospital policies were developed by the hospitals themselves or mandated by the state. In either case and as can often occur, policies that sound great; designed to "do good" by protecting people from one type of risk can cause more harm by exposing them to another. 

Miami Beach mayor hopes stores refuse to serve customers not wearing a face mask

The idea is for the businesses to enforce the rule and turn away customers who do not have masks.

I've posted a few articles about the emerging public safety issue stemming from the SWFL media non-stop,day after day, over hyping the "safety" features of people wearing face masks in public---when in reality the message and the policies have resulted in just the opposite---four store customers and employees robbed by emboldened face mask-wearing thugs.

What would be the next rubicon crossed in the mask-wearing age of coronavirus? At the time I opined it might be the cultural phenomenon of public shaming--when I was a teenager we called it "peer pressure".

And I called it.

Over in the City of Miami Beach the Mayor actually hopes businesses refuse to service --under the pretext of "public health"---customers not wearing a facemask.

Courtesy of the Miami Herald (emphasis mine):

"...The city agrees, and on Friday Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber — with a tropical-themed mask in hand — announced an emergency measure ordering customers and employees to wear face masks at grocery stores, restaurants and pharmacies at the risk of being turned away from the businesses. 

The city’s new emergency measure, signed into law Friday evening (April 3) by City Manager Jimmy Morales, orders people to wear cloth masks, scarves, bandanas or other similar items to cover their faces. The order encourages residents not to purchase medical-grade masks. 

Like the city’s other emergency orders, violating the mask rule is a criminal offense. But, like smoking indoors, the cops aren’t going to arrest someone for baring their face at Publix, Gelber said. The idea is for the businesses to enforce the rule and turn away customers who do not have masks.

And it's a criminal offense that won't result in an arrest---noooooooo! We're waaaaayyy beyond the Rule of Law now. The Miami Beach mayor wants the business to refuse entry, hoping to shame, essentially guilt people into obeyance.

Keep in mind none of this went through the standard city council, public health department, open meeting, public comment process. 

Still think some of this mask-wearing, media overhype, virtue signaling is for "public health and safety"? Or to make people feelz good? 

Two more SW Florida robberies by men wearing masks

Criminal opportunists are more emboldened  to rob people and businesses under even the slightest mention of guidelines or suggestions about folks wearing masks in public. 

Last week County Examiner shared stories reported by Southwest Florida news outlets NBC-2.com and the Englewood Sun about the law enforcement search and subsequent arrest of a man (emphasis mine) wearing a makeshift face mask who robbed a woman at a Publix supermarket.

And now on April 16 the News-Press reported two North Fort Myers convenience stores were robbed by a man wearing a bandana over his face.

A suspect alleged to have robbed two North Fort Myers convenience stores within an hour overnight is being sought by Lee County authorities. 

Police reports said the first incident occurred at 11:27 p.m. Wednesday at the 7-Eleven at 15999 North Cleveland Avenue. 

A store clerk said the male suspect entered the store wearing a bandana over his face and approached the counter.

Roughly a half hour later, at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, the same suspect walked into the Circle K at 4600 Bayline Drive.

After briefly browsing through the store, he approached the check-out county and pointed a gun at the clerk, again demanding all the money in the register. In fear for her life, the clerk complied, after which the suspect fled eastbound on foot. 

Now is not the time to let your guard down with the false sense of security that everyone you see wearing face masks is "safe" to be around.  On the contrary, the age of COVID-19 is a reminder to always be cognizant of your surroundings. 

















https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/city-of-miami-orders-people-to-wear-face-masks-at-grocery-stores-more/2217409/

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article241864981.html

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article241746246.html

https://www.news-press.com/story/news/crime/2020/04/16/two-north-fort-myers-convenience-stores-report-armed-robberies/5143511002/?fbclid=IwAR3ARg1JA62Y3feC8LS_urAD9yIoW-SilD5Sj8I_vYhDUzxdVFArSl1Juqk

President Donald J. Trump Announces Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups

After more than ten years observing and participating in the Texas & Florida political processes while working in the private sector, when I contrast the achievements of entrepreneurs and business risk takers of all sizes; the millions of jobs they create by providing goods and services people want to buy with the partisan bickering & inertia at every level of government ----it is easy to see why President Donald J. Trump turned to the private sector to form the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups.

These bipartisan groups of American leaders will work together with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future of unparalleled American prosperity.  The health and wealth of America is the primary goal, and these groups will produce a more independent, self-sufficient, and resilient Nation.

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2020 President Donald J. Trump Announces Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups Today, President Donald J. Trump announced many of the esteemed executives, economists, scholars, and industry leaders who together will form various Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups.  These bipartisan groups of American leaders will work together with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future of unparalleled American prosperity.  The health and wealth of America is the primary goal, and these groups will produce a more independent, self-sufficient, and resilient Nation. Agriculture American Farm Bureau Federation – Zippy Duvall Sysco Corporation – Kevin Hourican Tyson Foods, Inc. – Dean Banks Perdue Farms, Inc. – Randy Day Cargill, Inc. – David MacLennan Archer-Daniels-Midland Company – Juan Luciano Corteva Agriscience – Jim Collins Tractor Supply Company – Hal Lawton Seaboard Corporation – Steven Bresky Grimmway Farms – Barbara Grimm Mountaire Farms – Ronnie Cameron Banking Bank of America – Brian Moynihan JPMorgan Chase – Jamie Dimon Goldman Sachs – David Solomon Citigroup – Michael Corbat Wells Fargo – Charles Scharf U.S. Bancorp – Andrew Cecere Morgan Stanley – James Gorman Grand Rapids State Bank – Noah Wilcox Southern Bancorp – Darrin Williams Construction/Labor/Workforce International Union of Operating Engineers – Jim Callahan North America’s Building Trades Union – Sean McGarvey Laborers’ International Union of North America – Terry O’Sullivan International Brotherhood of Teamsters – Jim Hoffa National Electrical Contractors Association – David Long Bechtel – Brendan Bechtel Fluor – Carlos Hernandez National Association of Home Builders – Jerry Howard Associated Builders and Contractors – Michael Bellaman Associated General Contractors – Stephen Sandherr AFL-CIO – Richard Trumka GH Palmer – Geoff Palmer American Council of Engineering Companies - Linda Bauer Darr Defense Lockheed Martin – Marilyn Hewson Honeywell – Darius Adamczyk Northrop Grumman – Kathy Warden Raytheon – Gregory J. Hayes General Dynamics – Phoebe Novakovic Energy ExxonMobil – Darren Woods Continental Resources – Harold Hamm Chevron – Mike Wirth Southern Company – Tom Fanning Alabama Power – Mark Crosswhite ConocoPhillips – Ryan Lance Occidental Petroleum – Vicki Hollub Kinder Morgan – Steven Kean Hess Corporation – John Hess Perot Group and Hillwood – Ross Perot Jr. National Mining Association – Rich Nolan Valero – Joseph Gorder Financial Services Blackstone – Stephen Schwarzman Paulson & Co. – John Paulson Citadel LLC – Kenneth Griffin Elliott Management – Paul Singer Vista Equity Partners – Robert Smith Fidelity Investments – Abigail Johnson Mastercard – Ajay Banga Visa – Al Kelly Chubb – Evan Greenberg Sequoia Capital – Doug Leone Stephens, Inc. – Warren Stephens Charles Schwab – Chuck Schwab FIS Global – Gary Norcross  TD Ameritrade - Todd Ricketts  Intuit – Sasan Goodarzi Food & Beverage National Restaurant Association – Marvin Irby McDonald's – Chris Kempczinski Darden Restaurants – Gene Lee Jr. Coca-Cola – James Quincey PepsiCo – Ramon Laguarta Chick-fil-A – Dan Cathy Subway – John Chidsey Bloomin’ Brands – David Deno YUM! Brands – David Gibbs Papa Johns – Rob Lynch Wendy’s – Todd Penegor Waffle House – Walt Ehmer Starbucks – Kevin Johnson Wolfgang Puck Thomas Keller Jean-Georges Vongerichten Daniel Boulud M Crowd Restaurant – Ray Washburne Jimmy John’s Founder - Jimmy John Liautaud Kraft - Michael Mullen National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors – Dirk Van Dongen International Franchise Association - Robert Cresanti Inspire Brands – Paul Brown Healthcare NewYork-Presbyterian – Jerry Speyer HCA Healthcare – Sam Hazen Ascension Health – Joseph R. Impicciche CommonSpirit Health – Lloyd H. Dean Community Health Systems – Wayne Smith Trinity Health – Benjamin Carter Cardinal Health – Mike Kaufmann McKesson – Brian Tyler 3M – Mike Roman Procter & Gamble – David S. Taylor Abbott Laboratories – Robert Ford Johnson & Johnson – Alex Gorsky Merck – Kenneth Frazier Pfizer – Dr. Albert Bourla Eli Lilly and Company – Dave Ricks Thermo Fisher Scientific – Marc Casper Gilead Sciences – Daniel O’Day AbbVie – Richard Gonzalez Regeneron – Leo Schleifer Biogen – Michel Vounatsos Roche Diagnostics – Matthew Sause Anthem – Gail Boudreaux UnitedHealth Group – David Wichmann Aetna – Karen Lynch Cigna – David Cordani Humana – Bruce Broussard Centene – Michael Neidorff Hospitality Las Vegas Sands Corp. – Sheldon Adelson Marriott – Arne Sorenson Carnival – Micky Arison Hilton – Christopher Nassetta Hyatt – Mark Hoplamazian Wyndham Hotels & Resorts – Geoff Ballotti Intercontinental Hotels Group – Elie Maalouf Royal Caribbean – Richard Fain Norwegian Cruise Lines – Frank Del Rio Treasure Island Hotels – Phil Ruffin Manufacturing Caterpillar – Jim Umpleby III Deere & Company – John May Cummins – Tom Linebarger Dow Inc. – James Fitterling Emerson Electric Company – David Farr General Electric – Larry Culp Tesla – Elon Musk Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – Mike Manley Ford Motor Company – Bill Ford  General Motors Company – Mary Barra National Association of Manufacturers – Jay Timmons Pernod Ricard – Ann Mukherjee Nucor - Leon Topalian  Real Estate Simon Property Group – David Simon Caruso – Rick Caruso Vornado Realty Trust – Steven Roth Related Companies – Stephen Ross Blackstone – Jon Gray Irvine Company – Don Bren Starwood Capital Group – Barry Sternlicht Witkoff Group – Steve Witkoff Greystar – Robert Faith  Retail Walmart – Doug McMillon Home Depot – Craig Menear Home Depot – Ken Langone Home Depot – Bernie Marcus The Kroger Co. – Rodney McMullen Lowe’s – Marvin Ellison Target – Brian Cornell CVS Health – Larry Merlo Rite Aid – Heyward Donigan Walgreens – Stefano Pessina Amazon – Jeff Bezos Menards – John Menard Best Buy – Hubert Joly Life Time – Bahram Akradi National Retail Federation – Matthew Shay Tech Apple – Tim Cook Google (Alphabet Inc) – Sundar Pichai Oracle – Larry Ellison Oracle – Safra Catz Salesforce – Marc Benioff SAP – Jen Morgan Microsoft – Satya Nadella Facebook – Mark Zuckerberg IBM – Arvind Krishna Intel – Bob Swan Qualcomm – Steven Mollenkopf Cisco – Chuck Robbins Advanced Micro Devices – Lisa Su Broadcom – Hock Tan Micron – Sanjay Mehrotra Telecommunications Liberty Media – John Malone Verizon – Hans Vestberg T-Mobile – Mike Sievert Charter Communications – Thomas Rutledge Comcast – Brian Roberts Altec – Lee Styslinger Transportation FedEx – Fred Smith United Airlines – Oscar Munoz UPS – David Abney J.B. Hunt – John Roberts III YRC Worldwide – Darren Hawkins Crowley Maritime – Tom Crowley Jr. Uber – Dara Khosrowshani DHL – Scott Sureddin  LDJ Global Strategies - Louis DeJoy  American Trucking Associations – Chris Spear Sports NBA – Adam Silver MLB – Rob Manfred NFL – Roger Goodell UFC – Dana White PGA – Jay Monahan LPGA – Mike Whan USTA – Patrick Galbraith MLS – Don Garber WWE – Vince McMahon NASCAR – Lesa Kennedy NHL – Gary Bettman New England Patriots – Bob Kraft  Dallas Cowboys – Jerry Jones Dallas Mavericks – Mark Cuban WNBA – Cathy Engelbert NWSL - Lisa Baird Thought Leaders/Groups John Allison Kay Coles James Condoleezza Rice Art Laffer Steve Moore Steve Forbes Larry Lindsey Catherine Reynolds Jim DeMint Bill Hagerty Scott Gottlieb