Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory has responded to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, who spoke in an interview Friday with the Washington Post about the reversal of a local mask warrant by City Hall. Lafayette.
Guillory questioned the governor’s own execution of a state-wide mask warrant, accusing Edwards of not properly enforcing the rule and failing to write citations to nearly 4,000 complaints received statewide.
The mayor also defended the decision not to have a masked mandate in Lafayette, alleging “challenges” and “costs” it would entail to enforce the mandate.
The city council voted Feb. 9 to reject an emergency ordinance to order masks or facial coatings at certain establishments and public places. The ordinance was rejected by a 3-2 vote, with Glenn Lazard and Pat Lewis in his favor.
Opinions about wearing a mask and whether to ask people to wear them in public has been a debate since the pandemic began, which has since reached national headlines.
Guillory made clear his stance on a term in January as he spoke at a meeting for a group called Acadiana Patriots. Questions were subsequently raised about the role of the government in emergency situations after Guillory applied for a stay-at-home order during the winter storm.
The governor said Friday that the debate over masks has become a partisan issue.
“As I don’t have to know this has taken on an air of partisanship,” Edwards said. “This virus doesn’t know it and doesn’t care if someone is a Republican or a Democrat.”
Guillory ended his statement Saturday by saying, “If the governor wants to use the national media to test a job in Washington, DC, he may want to make sure his own home is in order.”
The following 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 acknowledging the challenges and costs of enforcing a local mask mandate. Where is the governor’s fulfillment of his mask mandate? The state fire commissioner informs him. ATC informs him. How many quotes have you written about the nearly 4,000 complaints you have received? Zero.
The real failure of the leadership is immediately evident in Governor Edwards ’decision to use his“ mask mandate ”as a partisan weapon, rather than effectively doing so. What part of the $ 1.9 billion provided to the state by the federal government in response to COVID-19 has been devoted to the execution of its mandate? Why do you expect local governments, once again, to bear the cost of state mandates?
If the governor wants to use the national media to try out a job in Washington DC, he may want to make sure his own home is in order.
Mayor-President Josh Guillory
Related stories:
Lafayette board member responds to governor’s criticism over rejection of local mask warrant
Home Maintenance Order and Mask Warranty: What’s the Difference?
Edwards considers Lafayette’s rejection of the mask mandate a “leadership failure”
Guillory never asked Stefanski about the rejection of the mask order
The renewed effort for the local masks mandate gathers the support of residents, council members
Guillory: Fulfilling the mask’s mandate is impractical
Two council members are asking for a mask ordinance for the entire parish
Petition urging the mayor-president to make masks mandatory in Lafayette parish
The state fire commissioner’s office was unable to locate the complaint about the mask’s compliance with LCG
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