A dozen or so anti-mask militants held up the Flagler County Commission meeting for 30 minutes this morning as they refused to comply with a county-building requirement to wear masks inside the meeting chamber, and Commission Chairman Dave Sullivan, with striking resolve, refused to start the meeting without their compliance.
The group wanted to address the commission to dispute health department guidelines about mask-wearing and call for the firing of the Flagler Health Department’s Bob Snyder and Dr. Stephen Bickel, who the group claims, falsely, are calling for business shut-downs and imposing medically inaccurate requirements. Snyder corrected the record later in the meeting. (“I took the high road and refuse to engage with these folks,” he said in an email after the meeting.)
“In this county, we must be doing something right based on the sobering statistic that I am about to share,” Snyder told commissioners. “A National Geographic article from a week ago, that tracks positive cases and deaths by each county and state in the nation, showed that on a per capita basis, as measured by cases per 10,000 people, Flagler County has the lowest case rate in the State at 125.1 per 10,000 people and the 3rd lowest death rate per 100,000 people at 15. A remarkable outcome such as this does not occur by accident. Absolutely Not! It takes our entire community of 113,000 to make this happen. Just about everyone has played a role in this response. This good outcome takes all of us to achieve including every resident who complies with common sense, simple, inexpensive acts like mask wearing, social distancing, avoiding large crowds, businesses and restaurants who ended up supporting mask wearing campaigns like the County’s Pledge to Prevent and the resolutions passed by our three major cities. Oh, and maybe just a little bit of luck!”
But Snyder made his statement not before several of the group members made their points, mask-less, in three-minute increments, after what had turned into a ringless “circus,” in Snyder’s own description. (See Snyder’s full statement at the foot of the article.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to call for a 15-minute adjournment, at which time we’ll reconvene,” Sullivan said, as members of the group refused to mask up or leave the room despite Sheriff Rick Staly’s entreaties.
At one point an agitated Commissioner Joe Mullins attempted to speak “as a citizen,” but since he was sitting as a commissioner, Sullivan did not recognize him. Mullins threatened to leave the meeting. Sullivan told him he was just adding to the confusion.
“I can do one other item that between forcing people out and forcing you to go to jail,” Sullivan said. “We’ll just clear the entire room and we’ll have the meeting with commissioners and witnesses only.”
Members of the group yelled out, claiming Sullivan was forgetting the Constitution, that this was the United States and they had rights, though they would have been barred entry had they attempted to go in any trial or appellate courtroom in the state without a mask on. As they persisted, Sullivan recessed the meeting. “We’re adjourned, and at this point I want the room cleared,” he said. It took a while for the group to walk outside the room but it finally did, standing in the hallway by the door, where they were still violating the county-building rule on mask-wearing.
Thirty minutes later Sullivan reconvened the meeting. There’d been a compromise. “What I’m going to do at this point,” Sullivan said after the Pledge and a moment of silence, “is, with the consent of the other commissioners, we’re going to ask the group that’s here concerning masks to come forward, got three minutes of time each to explain why you’re here. At which point, when you’re done with what you want to say, I’m going to ask you to leave.”
Mark Phillips, a Flagler County resident, was first to speak. “Since the beginning of covid the situation has been grossly mishandled, in my opinion,” Phillips said. “Beaches were closed against the directives of the state Health Department. Parks were closed against the directives of the state Health Department. And businesses were shut down, which is a violation of our constitution. Right there is enough on its face to call for all elected officials that went along with these unlawful measures to be voted out. When citizens of Flagler questioned their elected representatives, they were told, we are following the recommendations of our health officials. So we have elected officials letting non-elected appointees make policy–illegal policy at that.”
Almost every sentence in Phillips’s statement so far was false. Parks and beaches were not closed against state health department directives. The state, following Ron DeSantis’s approach, did not order beach and park closures, but left it up to local communities to decide for themselves whether to close either. “I think it’s important to allow that if the local communities want to do it, to be able to do it,” DeSantis said at a press conference in mid-March, two weeks before he issued a statewide stay-at-home order. Flagler Beach and the county briefly closed beaches at the end of March and part of April. That lasted barely three weeks. They’ve been open since, including over the July 4 weekend, despite what by then had been an ongoing surge of covid cases statewide and in Flagler that overwhelmed April’s figures.
In April, DeSantis’s stay-home order included directives to close bars, gyms and movie theaters, and to limit restaurants to take-out service. The local health department and local elected officials had nothing to do with those business shut-downs, nor did local “unelected” officials recommend them, though local officials such as Mullins repeatedly and irresponsibly shifted the blame onto local officials, rousing militants to oppose the order. There was nothing “unconstitutional” or illegal about the order: state and federal law recognize the authority of elected officials at all levels to declare states of emergency in well-defined circumstances, whether in cases of natural or man-made disasters, or in cases of public health emergencies. While governments “unbounded authority in the exercise of its police powers in an emergency,” a federal judge ruled in a June 3 order on Alachua County’s mask mandate, courts, including the judge in the Alachua case and the U.S. Supreme Court on two occasions–in May and in July–rejected challenges to such state-imposed restrictions.
Phillips also misunderstands how government at every level works. Elected officials in almost every instance, whether they are voting on a zoning change, a tax increase or decrease, an environmental-protection ordinance or a lease agreement, either follow or reject the recommendations of their administration. That’s what their administration is for: to analyze issues and find the best way to follow local policy. Overwhelmingly, elected officials follow their staff’s recommendations, even when making policy: maverick initiatives aside, most policies are based on staff analyses and, just as routinely, on administrators’ and managers’ recommendations. Local cities and the county commission in the covid emergency have deferred to emergency management chiefs and other experts in the field, including the local health department, though the health department is not a branch of local government: it’s part of the state executive branch, ultimately under the control of Gov. DeSantis.
In Flagler, and the health department aside, the director with the most sway and say on local emergencies is Jonathan Lord, the emergency management chief, whose guidance and reputation through hurricane emergencies and the covid emergencies have won near-universal praise from every local government and public safety agency. The commission has occasionally diverged from his recommendations–Sullivan aside, the county commission has been least enthusiastic about imposing a mask mandate, and in fact refused to do so–but only when political motives have scrambled Lord’s more scientifically sound signals.
Phillips went on to speak of the effects of the covid crisis and shut-downs on businesses. He claimed that overdoses are up 54 percent over last year, and that there had been an increase in alcohol and domestic abuse, while local officials are focused on “mask mandates and pushing false health information to the public.” Phillips did not cite sources for his statements, which are false or grossly overstated. While 2020 data is incomplete, indications are that overdoses are up, but a preliminary analysis issued by the White House puts that figure nationwide at 11.4 percent. There was a 54 percent increase in overdoses, but that was in 2019, before the pandemic, and it was in South Dakota only. In Flagler County, the sheriff last month reported that there’d been a 2 percent increase in domestic abuse cases when compared to the previous year.
Phillips then went on to decry mask mandates and “skewed” facts. “What we do know though is masks don’t work,” he said categorically–a categorically false statement, as innumerable studies have been indicating for months. (See factual information here, here, here, here and here.) Phillips then claimed the mask “insanity” is the result of a nation sickened “from socialism, communism and Marxism raising its ugly face, and I’ll be damned if it’s coming here to Flagler County.”
At one point, citing a recent non-peer-reviewed study, he said: “Are you ready for this? You have one in 19 million chance of dying from covid,” a flatly inaccurate statement that can be checked against today’s figures: as of today, with 190,000 people in the United States dead from Covid, an American this year had a 1 in 1,842 chance of dying from the disease–but far higher odds for those 65 and older.
“Facts do still matter,” Phillips then said, calling for the resignation of Bickel and Snyder for “recklessly spreading false information.”
Those who followed him were in much the same vein, some of them claiming that they were “fighting to get our children into schools”–also a falsehood: Flagler County schools opened on Aug. 24, giving parents three options, one of them in-person instruction at school campuses–or claiming that local governments were responsible for business and outdoors restrictions.
In fact, Bickel since spring has been arguing that the choice between health and the economy is a false one. He has argued that shutdowns were made necessary in spring only as a last resort to curb runaway infections, and has since argued that shutdowns can and must be prevented–but only through simple measures by individuals (mask-wearing, hand-washing, social distancing) and ample funding for public health to manage contact tracing and contain any outbreak.
Darlene Maria Darcy claimed residents were told, referring to the pandemic and shutdowns, that “this would be two weeks to one month,” though seven months later the masks, the temperature checks and other restrictions continue. Darcy was right about her first claim: the original shutdown was intended to prevent hospitals from being overrun. She was inaccurate about her second claim: President Trump’s fanciful claim that covid would simply “disappear” aside, no medical or public health official said that the virus would be conquered absent a vaccine–a search that continues, and that may bear fruit by later this year or early next year.
So went the comments before the commission, which Sullivan limited to five as they showed little variation from brews of misinformation, social media memes and alternative facts.
The speakers done, and Snyder done later in the meeting, each commissioner in turn took a moment to commend Snyder, including Mullins. “If me wearing a mask will save someone else, then I don’t have a selfish bone in my body,” he said, “then that’s what we have to do as a community.”
“I fully support you and Dr. Bickel,” Commissioner Donald O’Brien said, making his support explicit, as others did, in a sharp rebuff to the two men’s critics. “It’s a sad day when we have to politicize the department of health, and I’m embarrassed about that. But I can tell you, this commissioner is behind what you’re doing.” Commissioners Greg Hansen, Charlie Ericksen and Sullivan did likewise.
The commission then turned to its own Lord, the emergency management chief, for an update.
Flagler Health Department Administrator Bob Snyder’s Statement to the Flagler County Commission This Morning:
The Department of Health in Flagler County is comprised of 56 dedicated staff, not including the additional 27 to assist with the COVID 19 response, who quietly do their daily jobs providing 35 different public health services to our community. They perform above and beyond especially when disasters strike like hurricanes when we operate the SpNs and turn the Rymfire Gym into a medical unit for the most vulnerable in the County and now, taking on lead roles in response to COVID 19 and working real hard to reduce the transmission of the virus. We have partnered alongside other first responders……Emergency Management, EMS and Fire Rescue, hospital and long term care staff, all health care workers, essential service workers, government leaders—County and City, the business community, school district and the media through Flagler Broadcasting, the Palm Coast Observer, News Journal and Flagler Live to communicate public health measures and the many indicators that we track.
From the beginning of this public health crisis, we placed a priority on the availability of community testing, case investigation, contact tracing, rapid testing, working with our media partners to inform and educate and assess all 72 congregate care facilities on infection control best practices and management of COVID patients. Dr. Bickel has especially espoused the connection between mitigating the virus as the key strategy for reopening the economy and business, so that future lockdowns can be avoided …. In this county, we must be doing something right based on the sobering statistic that I am about to share. A National Geographic article from a week ago, that tracks positive cases and deaths by each County and State in the nation, showed that on a per capita basis, as measured by cases per 10,000 people, Flagler County has the lowest case rate in the State at 125.1 per 10,000 people and the 3rd lowest death rate per 100,000 people at 15. A remarkable outcome such as this does not occur by accident. Absolutely Not! It takes our entire community of 113,000 to make this happen. Just about everyone has played a role in this response. This good outcome takes all of us to achieve including every resident who complies with common sense, simple, inexpensive acts like mask wearing, social distancing, avoiding large crowds, businesses and restaurants who ended up supporting mask wearing campaigns like the County’s Pledge to Prevent and the resolutions passed by our 3 major Cities. Oh, and maybe just a little bit of luck!
We have recently experienced good news about decrease in cases, less hospitalizations and emergency room visits related to COVID 19. This is hopeful and we have been trending in the right direction. But, we are not out of the woods yet until a safe and effective vaccine is broadly distributed. We still anticipate occasional spikes in activity, like the one the last 5 days. This was expected with the return of traditional classes in our schools and sure enough during the last 2 weeks 20+ students and school district staff have been isolated as positive cases and numerous individuals have been identified as close contacts and now in quarantine. Also, we have seen a spike in cases at 3 long term care facilities, which is uncharacteristic for Flagler County. Comparatively speaking, we have been spared the suffering and high death counts in congregate care facilities in other Florida counties.
In addition to occasional upticks, we have flu season right around the corner and Hurricane season reaching its peak, so now is not the time to be complacent but still a time of hope and comfort knowing that together we obviously know what to do and deep down as community, we have taken this pandemic very seriously. So, we just have to hang in there a few more months. We are now planning for the vaccine administration phase and meet with our partner Jonathan Lord and his team on Friday to share best practices for deployment of the lifesaving vaccine.
Trump2020 says
American Citizens not militants
1st amendment
Steve says
Didnt know that one could OverDose on Kool Aid. Just so many issues for you Fans. How do you all keep up on a daily basis and stay abreast of the continual Soap Opera that is your infallible Reality show star. What a life lnao Lets face it you’ve got way too much time on your hands. LOL
Billy C says
Contrarians with corner store medical degrees don’t get to determine that mask wearing doesn’t work. Mask up. You keep crying that this is the United States, well stand united for once.
steve says
This no where near how low some people can go. I mean if it were not for the seriousness of the situation it would be laughable comic entertaining. Instead its a tragedy that grown alleged Adults do not realize you beat the virus’ spread we all get our lives back. The fact they continue with the orange mans and his enablers gobbily goop about what they no nothing of is fantastic and disturbing all at once. Dont let the facts get in the way of a good conspiracy and to some folk a little knowledge is dangerous. May you all work thru it in an orderly fashion. SMH LOL
MRC says
Another bunch of extremist conspiracy theory nut cases trying to get their “cause” some press. Why waste a sacred breath on those fools?!! They should have been escorted right out to the Green Roof Inn for a little R and R time and ticketed for disturbing the peace. The whole situation could have been avoided by simply having security at the door, doing temperature checks and requiring face masks before they could ever even stick their foot an inch inside the door. These slugs are just trying to get themselves on u-tube or to post on their conspiracy theory websites. Crawl back under your rock slugs!
C'mon man says
They all had their temps taken and all had masks. They just refused to wear them and took them off when they came into the meeting.
Kamamani says
So refusing to wear a mask, in an otherwise peaceful display if their first amendment rights, warrant them a night in the green rood inn? Maybe their ideas of socialism and marxism aren’t too far fetched afterall.
Duncan says
I never realized how many ignorant people we have in the this county and county until Covid came to the USA. I have to wonder how these folks get through everyday life.
Rick G says
I find it interesting that none of the anti maskers who cite socialism, Communism and Marxism (notwithstanding the last two are redundant) as a pox (pun intended) upon our country did not decry the $1200 stimulus and the extra $600 in unemployment benefits.
Glenn Sims says
Actually, I did. Although I wasn’t at the meeting I am totally against masks and I did not support the $1200 or $600 unemployment. Fortunately, I have not stopped working during this time but honestly I would have made more money had I been laid off. So no, this anti-masker did not and does not support any further stimulus. Matter of fact, I have pledged that as much as possible with the exception of the President, I will not vote for any incumbent in ANY position. Whether it’s local, state of federal. These politicians have invoked unconstitutional measures for a virus that has a 99.7% survival rate. Last week UCLA and Stanford came out with a study that says you have a 1 in 19.1 million chance of dying from Covid! Let me repeat that, a 1 in 19.1 MILLION chance! Additionally they reported a nearly 1 in 4000 chance of even getting the virus at all. Our public servants (if you can even call them that as they only seem to serve themselves) have broken our trust and have tried to “protect” us from a virus when their job is to uphold our State & Federal Constitution. That’s there job! To protect us from foreign and even domestic attack/invaders. Instead they let rioters and looters (domestic terrorists) destroy historical landmarks and countless personal property with little to no consequence. One of my favorite quotes is by Benjamin Franklin. He says, “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
Realist says
I am sure your comments are a great comfort to these Americans:
United States
Coronavirus Cases:
6,549,475
Deaths:
195,239
Considering your views I would think you would be willing to forgo medical treatment if you or any member of your family get sick, after all with a 99.7% survival rate you cn’t be worried about getting sick.
Trailer Bob says
That comes to a .03% chance of dying from the virus. Just saying…it is a pretty small chance considering most of those who die are elderly or have other related health condition. Not far from a hundredth of a 1 percent. Again just saying.
Denali says
Did you miss mathematics day in school? For simplicity I will round the numbers but stay within statistical relevance. If we have 400,000,000 people in the country and 200,000 people have died from COVID, that results in a 1 in 2,000 chance of dying from the disease. As for being sickened by the disease odds are about 1 in 64 again rounding to 400,000,000 people and 6,250,000 cases reported.
As for the rest of your statements, they follow the he same lack of knowledge and education. Please get your facts straight before broadcasting your ignorance on the world.
CB from PC says
Amen. Good thing most of these people never had to “make change” from the old cash register days. Pure products of the continual dumbing down of our education system. Makes them easier to control and indoctrinate.
Roy Longo says
Today’s meeting was a travesty of justice. Fire Chief Don Petito was being recognized for his years of service and these clowns turned it into a circus, along with the leader of the clowns, Joe Mullins. It was nothing but a set up from the beginning and after clearing the chambers, Mullins was updating his group the entire time. Back in forth from the chamber to his group. He nothing but a cancer.
Double whopper says
CLOWNS CLOWNS CLOWNS EVERYWHERE: Airport circus, FCBOCC circus, maybe they should turn the airport into one giant circus tent with no animals of course wouldn’t want the poor animals to suffer with these idiots and they can all fly with the flight school planes like a bunch of flyin butts!
Bozo The Clown says
Anyone see Mullins verbally attack Hansen and call him a fat SOB? LOL, what a joke this commission is.
MULLINS WORLD says
Bozo The Clown: oh yes we all sure did see Mullins pull his tamper tantrum, we even had our popcorn and orange soda at hand as we all laughed hysterically and this was only the beginning of the L O N G E S T BOCC meeting on earth and why isn’t anyone but you calling out Mullins foul mouth and disgusting behavior AND the encore was PRICELESS , by this time we were up to our M&M’s and candy apples, as he publicly aired his dirty laundry, attempted to shut down a persons freedom of speech, and spoke about his politics.
Charlie F Ericksen says
He continued the tirade by insulting another Commissioner
Concerned Citizen says
I guess it hurts to get called out?
You all have been insulting us for years. The outright shady dealings in real estate. And other shenanniganslike hiring a “temporary” wink wink nudge nudge barely qualified out of county Adminstrator. With a shady background. Name calling would be the last of my worries. One day the public will tire of it. And demand legal action
Sick of Drama Llama Mullins says
Are taking a stand and publicly decrying his behavior? Are you finally going to go on record that he is an embarassment to the FCBOCC? Please do so. It is the ONLY way you have a prayer of ever getting another vote from me.
FlaglerLive says
Commissioner Ericksen went on record today. He is not seeking anymore votes as he is not running for re-election this November.
James says
The vaccine will not be ready by the end of this year and will be many months after that before it is available to the general public.
People need to hunker down, mask up, and save your money because a larger scale shutdown than the last is looming for the fall and winter months.
It is a little sad to see the looney under educated side of Flagler County being weaponized by the fake media outlets they have turned to ,to kistify their wacky thoughts.
James M. Mejuto says
Your news article regarding the anti-maskers’ ignorance and disregard for facts is welcome news. It’s obvious anyone who argues
false opinions does no one any good, especially when sane and responsible people work to assess a situation and come
together to work-out good solutions. Those anti-maskers obviously don’t read a newspaper but probably listen to Fox News. I
was surprised to read Mullins agreed about wearing face protection. Maybe, he should have had the opportunity to speak to
ignorance.
Those who read newspapers and are aware of the facts of life know Flagler County has the lowest number of COVID-19 cases and
deaths, which is not by accident. Our citizens work hard trying to protect everyone.
Eva Mowry says
Sad and sickening example of what these extremists are doing to disrupt our country and threaten our very democracy. Their ignorant rants about marxism and socialism continue while this President encourages their ignorance and bad behavior. And today we now hear from Bob Woodward’s published interviews with this President in his own words, that he knew how deadly and AIRBORNE this virus was as far back in February. Wow, my neighbors who died might still be here if we were told the truth. These citizen juveniles should be banned from in person attendance without a mask, and taken to jail if they disobey!! What in the world are they teaching their children about community support and responsibility? Shameful!
Edith Campins says
Kudos to Commisioner Sullivan for standing up for science and sanity.
E Pluribus says
Its a shame at 11:00 minutes into the video https://youtu.be/W-qDZWqSUhU when Joe Mullins stormed out of the meeting, that he came back. I hoped he was leaving the state for good.
Looks to me like joe’s cheering squad hoped to make some sort of point in support of Trump and his denial that there even is a virus.
Why didn’t the Sheriff defend law and order and declare a riot and have the room tear gased? Maybe he needs more deputies to do that? Oh well, I guess this is just a preview of Biden’s lawless America where ignoramuses cause chaos.
Charlie F Ericksen says
Sheriff Staley called almost immediately for backup, and within minutes, there were 10 additional badges on site ..The meeting continued as there was common sense in many of those present.. Commissioners were taunted , by front row, jerks One asking for help with his mask dangling from one of his ears Too bad the media did not document the crowd with pictures.. It was scary at times …and YES, JM had his rooters in the crowd..
Ld says
So antimaskers were allowed to publicly disobey a public health mandate and disobey law enforcement and potentially expose attendees to the COVID 19 which has claimed so many lives. If attendees get sick can antimaskers be prosecuted since they knowingly put others at risk? Probably not because an exception was made which then gives anyone else wishing to disobey the mask rule to claim a precedent was set of non enforcement. Our law enforcement officers in this country have contracted and been sickened by exposure the the virus from people who don’t know if they have virus and are contagious and don’t care. BTW Mullins in this picture does not have anything covering his nose and mouth.
Concerned Citizen says
A bit extreme calling them militants.
I think people are getting tired of the oppresive guidelines. I know I am. We have been dealing with this for months now. And mask wearing enforcement is very selective.
I stopped at CVS the other day to get a few things and use the ATM inside. I’m fully aware that a mask mandate is in place and enforced. I had barely gotten out of the car (I refuse to drive with it on) when the cashier standing outside smoking yelled and said you need a mask before you come in here. At which point I held it up and showed I was putting it on to comply. Another incident involved getting out of the car at Lowes. Yet again another citizen took it on themselves to try and enforce authority they didn’t have . For goodness sakes give people time to put it on. Better yet mind your own busniess and let the busniess handle it. Or better yet call Law Enforcement and let them approach the individual. Because one day I will forget to be polite.
If you expect me to have it on in a stifling hot wide open parking lot then I expect you to wear it at the beach. All weekend long I saw no mask wearing and minimal social distancing. Covid is not environment specific. Therefore if I’m a threat to you in a wide open parking lot your a threat to me at the beach or pool. And stop violating people’s social distancing space to confront about a mask!!
There needs to be better guidelines or something more enforceable. But your average citizen needs to stop acting like they have a badge. Because it’s stressful enough as it is out there.
jim dana says
Please vote and vote early – we need sane people in office.
This was a very scary article to read.
E, ROBOT says
Yes, but not for the reason you think.
RC says
The most common sense statement of all these comments. Kudos!!
GAIL BERNACCHI says
I was there and watched this unfold. This group were very disrespectful to the councilmen who politely asked them to put on a mask or leave. No one likes wearing a mask! They even called many people there Communist, if they disagreed with them. Shameful
Concerned Citizen says
@ Gail
While I disagree with their approach I’m glad someone finally has started acting out against our corrupt and inept BOCC. We should do it again and again. But with mask on so we are somewhat legitimate.
This corrupt and inept BOCC and Administration needs more calling out. We need to start holding them accountable. Let them know we are watching.
Time for changes in this county for sure. I’m tired of all the corruptness and dishonesty.
LetThemEatCake says
“And businesses were shut down, which is a violation of our constitution.“ False. False. False. There is not a single amendment or article that says it is your right to own and operate a business. More fake news started by the right. I have lost ALL respect for his supporters after they continue to blindly support a man that disrespects our troops and generals and LIED about the severity of covid. He knew it was airborne. He knew is was 5x deadlier than the worst flu. He knew and he downplayed it and laughed off masks because HIS supporters made it political. He lied, again. That lie led us to this moment. Had he acted like a true leader and implemented a mask mandate we would’ve have people losing their homes or jobs. Look at other countries. Sure cases are going up but they are stamping down those spikes AND their economies didn’t tank.
Instead of pointing fingers at scientists, point them at Trump. His inaction (and don’t say he banned China flights as dozens came in daily after this so-called ban), led to the deaths of almost 190,000 people since March. FFS he is evil and a monster that only cares about his bottom line. Every word out of his mouth is about him and his re-election and his money and his well-being. Not once did he ever care about the American public. Everything he says will happen has happened or is happening under his presidency. He can’t make America great again. He can’t even make it palatable. He’s an abject failure. IDGAF about the stock market. Since when is Wall Street, Main Street? It’s not. That success doesn’t trickle down. If it did, we’d all be rich. He doesn’t deserve a do over. There’s only one place he and his family belong—in jail. Good luck finding them though. They’ll run to Russia so Putin can protect them. Blasphemous, un-patriotic, lying, cheating, fear-mongering, racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, pathetic excuse for a POTUS. All those that support him are just an extension of him. Shameful.
Pogo says
@mullins’ and trump’s nuremberg rally/amerikkkan dumpster fire is everywhere
The hatest (sic) degeneration goose steps and staggers at the same time, while whining like babies too.
This is what real courage and dignity look like:
Despite the risk, VA nurse answers the call
“This is my passion and my purpose”
“Nurse Brandi McAtee works at a VA hospital, taking care of the men and women who have served our nation. Like the Veterans she cares for, McAtee, too, has experience serving others selflessly.
Raised in a small town of less than 500, McAtee hadn’t traveled a great deal in her life. She’d focused on her family and community and enjoyed her career as a nurse, working not far from her hometown. “I’m not much for adventuring. I’m not that brave,” she says with a laugh.
About five years ago, McAtee put her fears aside and stepped out of her comfort zone to go to Haiti as part of a mission trip. Staying in something akin to a military bunker, she spent her days working with a traveling clinic, providing health care services as part of a team. ***>>>“People would walk for miles and wait for hours — without complaining or arguing with each other — <<<*** just to be seen by a health care professional,” McAtee marvels. “We don’t realize how good we have it here.”
It had been her first experience on an airplane. In early June 2020, she was about to have her second, but the plane ride was not the most courageous part of her trip.
McAtee embarked on a volunteer assignment working at a Maryland state Veterans’ home where 31 of her 33 patients were positive for COVID-19…"
https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/78626/despite-risk-va-nurse-answers-call/
Bill C says
Until this Commission meeting I had no idea that high schools were granting degrees in Law and Medicine.
Born and Rasied Here says
I don’t think anyone should make a statement without having the factual data and prove to show it. I would think that if you make a false claim. and it’s in a government meeting, you should be charged with perjury.
Marty says
So they have no issues wearing tin foil hats, but refuse to wear masks? Simpletons. What a remarkably intellectually dull demographic they represent
Tired of the whining says
@Marty says, you are absolutely correct, they are a bunch of “simpletons” that “represent a remarkably intellectually dull demographic.” What are these free thinkers doing, why would anyone think that standing up for what they believe, or having an opinion that differs from people that don’t have enough common sense to put 2 and 2 together, to have any logical thoughts of there own, is ok. Maybe they should trade in those tin foil hats for a vagina hat they can wear instead. I’m sure they would appear much less intellectually dull that way. Hell, maybe they won’t even be seen as deplorable anymore, maybe they will even be taken seriously that way…smh lmfao. People are too much anymore. Everyone seems to think we should all keep our mouths shut and have the same belief’s and opinions as the next guy. It’s a free country we are all entitled to our opinions and we all have the right to voice it. Funny, I never hear any of you having anything to say about the rioting going on and how those people aren’t wearing masks. Instead I hear about how BLM and it’s there right to protest. I even hear excuses for protests that turn into riots. If you want to protect yourself from this pandemic as they call it then depend on yourself to do it. Stop depending on other people and stop making it there responsibility. You have options to protect yourself regardless of what anyone else is or isn’t doing. Don’t take my word for it, the CDC says so; so it must be true…
Billy C says
Tired of whining? Well, you should be. When you conflate BLM with riots, when you confuse my expecting you to wear a mask as me “depending” on you, when you interpret the simple line “it’s a free country…” to mean that you don’t have to participate in the good and welfare of the entire community then maybe you should get your deplorables sweatshirt, your tin-foil hat and your remarkably challenged intellect and move into a commune. The rest of us will try to live in a community that protects one another not only from the spread of a deadly virus but also from the spread of antithetical whiners like you.
Sherry says
If only we had a federal. . . and, therefore a state. . . government that sets clear, detailed, consistent and concise health safety regulations based on the best advice of the medical experts. In this complete vacuum of any kind of leadership, or acceptance of governmental responsibility, we are left with confusion and something akin to anarchy.
While I appreciate the Flagler Beach commissioners supporting science and facts, those not wearing a mask should have been stopped at the door and not allowed entry into the meeting room “period”. Problem Avoided! I have not felt comfortable and safe enough to attend meetings because I do not trust our commissioners to enforce their own rules.
The (Republican BTW ) sheriff has only exacerbated the mask situation by “refusing” to enforce public safety regulations passed by our local government. How is it that he is allowed to decide which regulations he chooses to enforce? Why is this OK with our country commissioners and the governor? Laws and regulations that are not enforced are meaningless.
These are all examples of a lack of strong government leadership, starting with the trump administration, down to state government run by trump’s puppet, and local government . . . . all run by Republicans in the majority! So when anyone says this weakness and confusion has anything at all to do with Biden or the Democrats, they are absolutely in gross error. . . possibly mindlessly using a FOX talking point!
Yellowstone says
What this mask says to others is, “I have (or, I have yet to know) got a deadly virus that can harm you.”
We wear it to protect those we are near – not ourselves. Comprende?
What in the World is wrong with you guys? R-E-S-P-E-C-T your Palm Coast neighbors – Wear the mask!
Cathy says
So tired of these half-wits. We need to take our country back.
jane Gentile-Youd says
Why does the Sheriff need a new $11 million dollar 50,000 square foot building with over 172 parking spaces if he can’t even arrest people putting the citizens at risk for a deadly virus? Says he has no money to give his deputies masks for citizens and asks me to pay , charges inmates $2 a meal ( many not convicted) but hires fancy pancy engineers and architects to design his palace for $996,000 plus aother $209,000 for ‘lamdscaping’ but no money for masks or beds on the second floor to assure social distancing of those poor women – many there on stupid drug charges – not real felonies. After all his slogan is ” an honor to serve, a duty to protect”.
These people put everyone else who was participating in our democracy, by their asinine ” constritutional right bullcrap and the sheriff did nothing to ‘protect the rest of us’.
The entire scenario is sickening. Our county attorney does not even tell the sheriff to remove these people and warn them with arrest.
Sickening – the entire Flagler County Commission is a circus in my opinion. Best show in town – free of charge !
Sick and tired of sticking my head into the alligator’s mouths . My opinion: it’s past time to do something to restore democracy and justice to Flagler County
Tired says
Stupid drug charges? Really Jane? Apparently you aren’t aware of what a tremendous issue this is in our country today. Flagler is fighting a strong fight against drug abuse and all of the crimes and hardship that goes along with it, I would think anyone that is involved politically would be aware that the war on/with drugs is anything but stupid. If you can’t get that right, how could anyone even consider listening to your opinion about anything else?
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Drug use does not get cured in a jail cell. sorry I should have not said “stupid”
MIND - BOGGLING says
Jane, they should be spending money on rehab facilities down here, if it is that bad as the sheriff states, it’s a shame that this BOCC has spent wasteful dollars on failed projects, just goes to show we the people where they place their priorities!
Never going to Happen says
Seriously……. Like drug use hasn’t been an issue in America for over 240 years . I will ALWAYS be an issue. They will NEVER stop drug use until they stop the DRUGS from entering out country. That WILL NOT EVER happen because too many politicians and LEO’S and JUDGES get huge “kick backs” from drugs. Yes Sunshine they do…Its a fact !!!!!
John the Baptist says
Sorry, I had to laugh at the whole situation. Our county commission meetings truly are a circus! Sukkivan is the perfect ring master to host this show. The most dispictable individual in the room is the clown Joe Mullins. What a total ass he is! But, he is amusing with the antics he pulls off. I like the uber driver story taking this pathetic man to a dental appointment. That’s probably one of the best stories about Mullins so far this year. He needs to crawl back under that rock in Georgia’s red dirt.
The Doctor says
JOE MULLINS IS A MORON. He is absolutely the WORST thing to EVER happen to Flagler County. Who calls their colleague a Fat son of a bitch?? Classless. I hope the Commissioners sanction and reprimand his poor behavior. He makes Flagler County look like a bunch of fools.
Mike Cocchiola says
Thanks, Commssioner Sullvan. I think you handled this issue well. I fear the right-wing conspiracy theorists (terrorists?) are not through with you or Flagler County.
Unfortunately, the county and probably the state are starting to witness the results of living in “Trump Country”. Ignorance and chaos will rule.
Concerned Citizen says
I for one am greatful for the protest. Just put a mask on next time so you aren’t accused of being a militant or a terrorist.
We have the right to protest and let this corrupt and inept BOCC and Administration know we are tired of the dishonesty. If it means crashing a few BOCC meetings then hey.
This whole BOCC and Administration from Eriksen to Cameron to Hadeed and others are corrupt as the day is long. They continue to do dishonest things. And get away with it. But why you ask? I will tell you.
I’m going to get a lot of backlash from this but here goes.
The fault lies with us the voters. We have one of the greatest privledges in the world and that is to vote. I have spent time in the Middle East and people risk their lives to do it. Here we bitch and whine that we can’t vote by mail. Really people?
This county is one of the most resistant to change counties I have ever seen. I’m an Atlanta native. I’ve been here since o6 and consider it my home. I retired out of Public Safety and am still active as a volunteer in the Emergency Services field. I’ve helped Flagler recover from numerous storms and fires. Yet one of the biggest things that saddens me is the unwillingness to demand change.
We can demand change by going to the polls and voting everyone out. We can initiate a recall on ones that have just recently been elected. We can get on the phone and call the FBI,FDLE and AG. And stir up enough trouble to force an investigation. But again it starts with us.
We just witnessed Eriksen threatned Pierre Tristam openly. Where is the outrage? Why aren’t we doing something? Is that acceptable? Is it acceptable to allow us to support a long term interim temporary “wink wink nudge nudge unqualified administrator? One can do a simple background investigation on Cameron to see he had an “interesting” career in Saint Johns county. Then got pawned off on us not even meeting a lot of the requirements. Yet we let Eriksen and Sullivan talk to us like 3 year olds. Well I’m tired of it.
I intend to do my part by voting every election for no incumbents. And I intend to help initiate a recall on Sullivan for his recent smart ass remarks.
I can’t do it alone though. You all need to ask yourself this. Instead of getting mad at me because I no longer kiss incumbent ass what do I need to do to help my county change? Remember it takes a community. And it starts with each one of us at the polls.
Citizen of Palm Coast and Flagler County says
It was inappropriate for a commissioner to consider speaking as a citizen while sitting at a microphone at a commission meeting. He needs to work with the commission. His outburst was very concerning. I don’t think any of those commissioners wanted to be up there wearing face masks, so having any sort of divide was unhealthy. The commotion got unruly once Commissioner Mullins stormed away, which shows that he is not an articulate leader. He exacerbated a challenging problem.
There are multiple county staff members in that room, leaders, directors, managers, and general staffers. The point should have been made that they understood people’s feelings regarding wearing of the masks during the commission, and that they would grant citizens the opportunity to speak without wearing the mask, and that people could leave once their issue had been addressed. For the safety of the public, they had to ensure citizens in the room covered their mouths and noses to prevent the potential spread to staffers and other vulnerable citizens who may have wished to be in attendance.
The county is a bit behind times in offering citizen engagement online or virtually. It would have been helpful to have some way for citizens who did not feel comfortable in a mask or comfortable coming to a social gathering to view the meeting on a screen or via their own devices outside and to enter if they wished to make a public comment.
Virtual commission meetings are possible, but we simply do not have the technology in place to make this work here it seems. Perhaps the new Chief of Staff will have some solutions for public meetings that comply with public participation and Sunshine laws to allow people to participate in their governance without risk.
While we can understand the frustration of sitting in a commission meeting in a mask, the folks who refused to do so did so at the risk of citizen participation of people with compromised immune systems or respiratory issues who are careful but also want to participate.
Me too says
Aren’t they in violation of code and should they be cited ?/
DLH says
August-Tulsa physicians are suing the city because of the mask mandate. https://www.oann.com/tulsa-residents-sue-city-leaders-over-mandatory-mask-mandate/
Fredrick says
Mostly Peaceful Militants??
mark101 says
A good example of stupidity and a “I don’t give a crap about your health Attitude” . These people deserve covid, I know that’s horrid, but they feel they are not going to get it, and its against their rights, well you don’t own the building you walk into, grow up. I can tell you first hand, a close friend in Daytona was a Anti Mask and he got covid and dam neared died. but now he wears his mask . Karma has a way of biting you in the ass sooner or later.
Denali says
Once again life’s events force me to repeat myself;
REAL MEN WEAR MASKS.
ASF says
I wonder how much “liberty” these fools would find in being dead…or passing on the pathogens that will rob THEM of their own friends, neighbors and loved ones. I guess Karma will take care of that question soon enough. But my bet is, they will blame anybody and everybody other than themselves (like the Healthcare system, the schools, local politicians and any other targeted group of their own choosing) for letting them down.
Blerbfivefamily says
This was a short meeting compared to some of the meetings way back in the day when Darby, Kanbar, King, and Abbott were on the board, some meetings lasted well past midnight and had to be continued the next day. And I think one of the reasons they lasted longer was because each item was discussed and either approved or denied and they did not approve the entire consent agenda as one item except the pulled items. At least that is what I remember.
E.Hoffa says
Crazy Swamper claiming they know what is BEST! Think of the STUPID back room deals that have SCREWED Taxpayers! Most of us moved away from CORRUPTION to find we are living in ‘southern old swamp boy corruption’! WHY? Wake Up Before you vote!
wow says
These numbskulls need to just put on a stupid mask and get on with their lives. I went to the library and they have to post A COP at the front to keep the crazies from getting hysterical. This is how we want our tax dollars spent? To keep people who can’t act like adults from having a hissy fit over a health precaution and threatening other citizens? This is really how we want to live? Get over it and wear a mask.
Ron says
Joe Mullins does not represent this county with dignity and he certainly does not represent the President of the United States. When will the remaining county commissioners stand together and sensor Joe Mullins. I did not vote for him the last election and anyone voting for him in the future needs their head exam. Joe do us all a favor and go back to Georgia. This commissioner has many conflicts. One of his biggest is offering an opinion on vacation rentals operating in our residential neighborhoods. Joe owns and operates vacation rentals. This is a conflict and he is using this position on the commission for his own benefit along with his business partners.
It’s pretty obvious after watching the U tube Video that Mullins was part of this absurd assault. If anyone should be charge Joe Mullins should have been taken in for questioning by our weak political Sheriff.
James M. Mejuto says
Of course, the BOCC and the Trump anti-maskers are all Republicans led by Mullins and Danko, the clowns.
I wouldn’t worry about their horrible acts of defiance. We all know they’re going to kill each other off
I guess, Abe Lincoln is turning over in his grave.
James M. Mejuto says
Well, I guess that fiasco at the BOCC meeting falls into the category of Republican strategy. We all know there are no
women represented and the others are pure Republicans led by Mullins and Danko, the clowns.
Of course, the sheriff’s dept. did little to penalize those Republican Trumpers that fateful night.
I hope Abe Lincoln is not turning-over in his grave because of that motley group. He certainly would have left the
Republican Party for greener pastures.
Trump's Sharpie says
Attn Elderly Readers: anti-maskers, COVID-is-a-hoaxers and science deniers keep saying that COVID is not a threat because it only kills a small percentage of people and most of them are elderly.
I hope you remember this when you cast your votes in November and when you spend money in local establishments that don’t care about mask wearing. They don’t care about protecting you, and they don’t care if you die.