Article

2020-04-05 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

Mayor of Georgia coastal town assails governor's 'reckless mandate' to reopen the state's beaches

(CNN) Tybee Island, one of Georgia's most popular vacation destinations, depends on beachgoers to keep the town's economy alive.

But in an effort to curb the coronavirus, the city council voted to close the beaches March 20. The town went so far as to put up barricades and signs to keep beachgoers away.

The town's good intentions were upended on Thursday when Gov. Brian P. Kemp issued a statewide shelter-in-place executive order which supersedes all local orders relating to coronavirus -- and also opened up the state's beaches.

The governor put Tybee Island back in the beach business -- whether the town liked it or not.

Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions fired back on Saturday, issuing a statement saying she and the town council don't want the beaches reopened now.

"As the Pentagon ordered 100,000 body bags to store the corpses of Americans killed by the Coronavirus, Governor Brian Kemp dictated that Georgia beaches must reopen, and declared any decision-makers who refused to follow these orders would face prison and/or fines," Sessions' statement read.

"Tybee City Council and I are devastated by the sudden directives and do not support his decisions. The health of our residents, staff and visitors are being put at risk and we will pursue legal avenues to overturn his reckless mandate."

Posted by Besoeker 2020-04-05 10:20|| || Front Page|| [14 views ] Top

#1 Finding a place to park on Tybee during the busy season has been an issue, too.

Coligny Beach Park is just a few miles north and that's pretty nice, but I think that's closed now too.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2020-04-05 11:14|| 2020-04-05 11:14|| Front Page Top

#2 Tacky Tybee!

Posted by Beavis 2020-04-05 11:45|| 2020-04-05 11:45|| Front Page Top

#3 A few weeks ago we had a rare sunny weekend on the Washington coast. Beachgoers swarmed the beaches in spite of the Coronavirus advisory. Beach towns finally had to close down the hotels and such and literally kick them out.
One mayor, I believe it was Long Beach (Wa), stated that they can't close the state beaches, but they can close the shops and hotels in town. The following monday the useless Governor issued his emergency order.
Perhaps this mayor should do the same. Close the town tight.

Posted by CrazyFool 2020-04-05 13:28|| 2020-04-05 13:28|| Front Page Top

#4 It's all a racist plot to destroy the upcoming Myrtle Beach Bike Week. You'll see.

Posted by Besoeker 2020-04-05 13:31|| 2020-04-05 13:31|| Front Page Top

#5 I’d be more worried about the lost nuke off Tybee than Covid

Posted by Beavis 2020-04-05 16:42|| 2020-04-05 16:42|| Front Page Top

#6 I dredged a 5 acre pond, scraped and sanded a beach, planted some pampas grass, palm trees and built a lakehouse.

Going to the shore is a 5 minute walk hauling my cooler.

Posted by Skidmark 2020-04-05 17:33|| 2020-04-05 17:33|| Front Page Top

#7 you're gonna regret the pampas grass

Posted by Frank G 2020-04-05 18:01|| 2020-04-05 18:01|| Front Page Top

#8 Just burn it annually

Posted by Beavis 2020-04-05 18:03|| 2020-04-05 18:03|| Front Page Top

#9 last time I went to Tybee, has been 20 years, I wouldnt want to go back.

Posted by Chris 2020-04-05 20:48|| 2020-04-05 20:48|| Front Page Top

#10 I dredged a 5 acre pond

Seriously? Fantastic.

Posted by Woodrow 2020-04-05 21:41|| 2020-04-05 21:41|| Front Page Top

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