A Double Standard?

Several fisherman who rely on ocean-caught
protein for subsistence have urged me to open
the beach.  We have thus far said no.  Is this
fair and is this the right call as in other areas
"block parties" happen without consequence?

Over the weekend in Pensacola there was a neighborhood "block party" held that ended up going viral on the internet.  In it, hundreds of residents were shown partying and dancing in the streets.  Music was playing, folks were hugging in huge groups.  Dancing, partying, and carrying-on.  Purportedly it was going to be some kind of a charitable food distribution gathering.  I didn't see that on the video, but okay...

What I did see:  The event totally and completely disregarded the governor's "safer at home" edict that the rest of us in Escambia County have all been living with and abiding by.  People have shuttered businesses and foregone leaving their houses except for essentials and work.  It has been one huge shared sacrifice--not for ourselves, but for the greater good of the community.

No sacrifices at this Pensacola gathering though, no social distancing was happening at this block party, and very little mask wearing was observed.  The police were there---- and they attempted as best they could to shut the party down.  They were in an impossible situation where no matter what they did--they would be vilified.  Arrest some of the attendees, that would have been deemed heavy-handed at best, racist at worst.  Do nothing, and the party would go on.

Eventually, a couple of hours later, the party did die down, and most residents of the complex went back to normal activities and the "outsiders" that instigated the party left.

Some estimates point to 70% of the participants being residents of the housing complex--which made breaking up this big gathering difficult at best.  Although officers were politely asking residents to go inside, many residents replied with "I live here, this is my back yard!"  So how do you really respond to that?

more than 50 surfers have emailed us urging us to re-open the beach for
surfing.  We have not done so because we are all trying to abide by the
governor's "safer at home" edict.  Surfers can certainly maintain social distancing
better than revelers at a community block party though.....

Meanwhile, as I watched this gathering on the Facebook Video--I couldn't help but recall another story I recently heard about Pensacola Beach--where some residents there have had to stop going out their "back yards" to the actual beach!  And they have done so, by and large, compliantly and without a fight.  One incident of which I am aware saw a local successful businessman, multi-millionaire resident of the beach go out for a run, and he actually crossed Via Deluna to run on the beach and when he did--he was immediately cornered by officials and told to get off the beach.

So the question that naturally comes to mind is this:  Is there a double standard at play here?  Some believe yes, there is.

If 200 East Pensacola Heights Resident paddle boarders showed up at Bayview Park to have a Paddle Boarder Block Party with food and dancing and partying--would such a gathering be given the latitude to finish on its own--or would it be broken up by the police immediately?

If several dozen college fraternities decided to hold an impromptu rugby tournament at a Pensacola park--would that be allowed to happen, or would it be broken up instantaneously?

If hundreds of surfers came to the beach in violation of the "safer at home" edict---would they be allowed to continue surfing for hours--or would they be immediately run off?

Nobody likes the new normal we are in.  I am getting literally dozens and dozens of emails begging me to open the beach so folks can "fish for food!" or "surf."  I am also getting literally dozens of emails begging me to "keep the beach closed!"

I have erred on the side of the medical community, the professionals in community health when I have reluctantly voted to keep the beaches closed locally.

But everyone saw this video from last weekend.  They saw it and I am sure thought to themselves we can't go to the beach--but parties like this happen with no recourse, no consequence?

It's a fair question........