Collier County commissioners vote to put an anti-vaxx ordinance on the county’s agenda for full debate. (Image: CCBC)
March 29, 2023 by David Silverberg
The Board of Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, voted unanimously yesterday, March 28, to advance an ordinance prohibiting mandated COVID-19 vaccines, masking and documentation and put it on the county agenda for full debate and a vote.
While the date was not yet officially announced, the next meeting of the Board is scheduled for April 11.
The ordinance, titled the “Collier County Health Freedom Bill of Rights Ordinance,” will impose unspecified penalties on entities that mandate COVID vaccinations, vaccination documentation, masks, and quarantines or impose other public health restrictions.
The commissioners voted to continue discussion of an accompanying resolution—an expression of official opinion without the force of law—titled the “Collier County Health Freedom Resolution.” It was sent back to its sponsor, Commissioner Chris Hall (R-District 2), for revision and future reconsideration, likely when the ordinance is considered.
“It is not a document that in its totality exudes leadership,” said Board Chair Commissioner Rick LoCastro (R-District 1) of the resolution. He argued that it was angry, accusatory and largely a list of past complaints arising from the experience of the pandemic, with questionable statements of fact. Citing a positive experience of the commissioners at the state capital of Tallahassee, he disagreed with its assertion that “the United States and Florida State Constitution is no longer being upheld” in Collier County.
He also characterized it as “less than professional,” “more personal than it needed to be,” and “not worth the paper it is written on,” during discussion of its adoption. He said he could not believe in it as written and did not want to put his name to it.
Commissioner Bill McDaniel (R-District 5) also expressed concern about some of its establishment clauses, calling them “accusatory,” “conjectural” and violent. Commissioner Dan Kowal (R-District 4) agreed with LoCastro.
The vote on the ordinance and postponement of the resolution followed public comment that saw 30 speakers weigh in on the matter. Most spoke in favor, while those opposed argued that it was inappropriate for Collier County.
(Full disclosure: This author spoke against the legislation as unnecessary given already-enacted state laws prohibiting mandated vaccinations, documentation and quarantines.)
LoCastro characterized the ordinance as “the meat on the bone” of the matter and said “I would rather burn brain cells on that.”
When next considered, commissioners will hear public comment, debate and vote on the ordinance and may consider a revised resolution.
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(For a fuller discussion of the ordinance and resolution as well as their full texts, see Collier County may consider anti-vaxx ordinance and resolution package on Tuesday, putting public health at risk.)
A full video of yesterday’s 3-hour discussion is available on the Collier County Board of Commissioners live TV website beginning at time 1:25 and concluding at 4:06.
During yesterday’s discussion, LoCastro complained that while he received numerous e-mails about the ordinance and resolution, many did not provide full explanations of their positions, contain real names and sometimes consisted of just pasted-in text. He requested that any e-mails on the matter provide the sender’s information and a full explanation of his or her recommendations.
To contact the commissioners:
Chair, District 1: Rick.LoCastro@colliercountyfl.gov — (239) 252-8601
District 2: Chris.Hall@colliercountyfl.gov — (239) 252-8602
District 3: Burt.Saunders@colliercountyfl.gov — (239) 252-8603
District 4: Dan.Kowal@colliercountyfl.gov — (239) 252-8604
District 5: Bill.McDaniel@colliercountyfl.gov — (239) 252-8605
Liberty lives in light
© 2023 by David Silverberg