Arizona mayors slam Ducey edict keeping golf courses open
Jonathan J. Cooper | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 7 months AGO
FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2020 file photo, Xinjun Zhang, of China, putts on the second green during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open PGA Tour golf event in Scottsdale, Ariz. Municipal leaders criticized Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Tuesday, March 24, 2020 over his decision to classify some businesses like golf courses as "essential" during the coronavirus pandemic. Mayors of five different cities, including Tucson and Flagstaff, sent the Republican governor a letter Tuesday saying his executive order should not have included golf courses and payday lenders in the definit…
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2014 file photo, Victor Dubuisson, of France, hits out of the desert on the 20th hole in his championship match against Jason Day, of Australia, during the Match Play Championship golf tournament in Marana, Ariz. Municipal leaders criticized Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Tuesday, March 24, 2020 over his decision to classify some businesses like golf courses as "essential" during the coronavirus pandemic. Mayors of five different cities, including Tucson and Flagstaff, sent the Republican governor a letter Tuesday saying his executive order should not have included …
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2014 file photo, Jason Day watches his tee shot on the second hole in his match against Rickie Fowler during the fifth round of the Match Play Championship golf tournament in Marana, Ariz. Municipal leaders criticized Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Tuesday, March 24, 2020 over his decision to classify some businesses like golf courses as "essential" during the coronavirus pandemic. Mayors of five different cities, including Tucson and Flagstaff, sent the Republican governor a letter Tuesday saying his executive order should not have included golf courses and payday …
FILE - This March 21, 2020 file photo shows the Maricopa County 4th Avenue Jail in downtown Phoenix. In an effort to guard against the risks of COVID-19, Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone has raised the possibility of getting courts to temporarily suspend the sentences of nonviolent misdemeanor inmates who are allowed to leave jail to go to work. Last week, Penzone said he wouldn't prematurely release inmates without court orders. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
A mail worker in Phoenix wears a mask and gloves as she delivers mail on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Schools have been closed and many businesses shuttered around the state amid the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Peter Prengaman)
Jeff Maxwell prepares to donate blood at a temporary blood bank set up in a church's fellowship hall Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. Schools and businesses that typically host blood drives are temporarily closed due to precautionary measures in place to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus leading to extremely low levels of blood availability throughout the state. (AP Photo/Matt York)
People donate blood at a temporary blood bank set up in a church's fellowship hall Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. Schools and businesses that typically host blood drives are temporarily closed due to precautionary measures in place to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus leading to extremely low levels of blood availability throughout the state. (AP Photo/Matt York)
James Kershaw donates blood at a temporary blood bank set up in a church's fellowship hall Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. Schools and businesses that typically host blood drives are temporarily closed due to precautionary measures in place to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus leading to extremely low levels of blood availability throughout the state. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Emily Shippee has her temperature taken before being allowed to donate blood at a temporary blood bank set up in a church's fellowship hall Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. Schools and businesses that typically host blood drives are temporarily closed due to precautionary measures in place to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus leading to extremely low levels of blood availability throughout the state. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Jeff Maxwell has his temperature taken before being allowed to donate blood at a temporary blood bank set up in a church's fellowship hall Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. Schools and businesses that typically host blood drives are temporarily closed due to precautionary measures in place to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus leading to extremely low levels of blood availability throughout the state. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Mandy Kershaw looks towards her son as they donate blood at a temporary blood bank set up in a church's fellowship hall Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. Schools and businesses that typically host blood drives are temporarily closed due to precautionary measures in place to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus leading to extremely low levels of blood availability throughout the state. (AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX (AP) — Municipal leaders criticized Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Tuesday over his decision to classify some businesses like golf courses as “essential" during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayors of five different cities, including Tucson and Flagstaff, sent Republican Gov. Doug Ducey a letter saying his executive order should not have included golf courses and payday lenders in the definition of “essential services” that cannot be shut down in response to the outbreak. They also requested a statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures.
Ducey agreed to pause evictions for 120 days for renters who are quarantining or struggling from the economic fallout. To qualify, renters must provide documentation that they’ve been ordered to quarantine, have a health condition that leaves them vulnerable or suffered a substantial income loss. They'll also have to acknowledge in writing that their lease terms haven’t changed.
On Monday, Ducey outlined an expansive list of essential services that cities and counties are prohibited from shuttering. His action came after mayors took the lead in closing bars and gyms and prohibiting dine-in service at restaurants.
Patrick Ptak, a spokesman for Ducey, sidestepped questions about why the list includes the state's estimated 300 golf courses. “This order is about protecting public health and preserving critical financial lifelines for many communities across our state,” he said in an email.
Ducey was initially criticized by Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, for only ordering the closures of schools but seeming to drag his feet on businesses. The governor later adopted his own restrictions on businesses in all counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The mayors of Tucson, Flagstaff, Tolleson, Somerton and Winslow asked for “clear and direct guidance” on the closure of nonessential services and asked for “assurance that no Arizonan loses their home due to the economic hardship imposed by COVID-19.”
“We acknowledge that these are painful decisions with severe economic repercussions, but immediate action will save lives,” the mayors wrote.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said Ducey’s order gives the governor sole authority over closures and blocks cities from putting limits on crowded parks, golf courses and beauty salons.
While golf courses are open, some national parks are closed, and some facilities at others have been shut. National forests in northern and eastern Arizona, and outside the Phoenix metro area announced this week the closure of picnic sites, day-use areas and developed campgrounds. Some already had suspended the rental of cabins. Grand Canyon National Park suspended private, commercial and research trips on the Colorado River, starting Tuesday until late May.
Arizona had at least 326 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, according to the state Department of Health Services. That is a jump of nearly 100 from a day earlier.
There also was a sixth death reported — a Coconino County man in his 50s with an underlying health condition.
Of the previous five deaths, no details were given by health officials about the last three. The other two were already reported to both be men above age 50 with underlying health conditions.
Navajo Nation officials announced the discovery of 10 more cases, bringing the total to 49 with most in Arizona and a few in New Mexico. The tribe has instituted a “stay-at-home” order as well and told nonessential businesses to temporarily close.
Northern Arizona University announced Tuesday that it was canceling its spring commencement ceremonies. School officials are inviting all May graduates — nearly 6,000 of them — to walk in a special Dec. 12 ceremony.
As worry about resources for a growing patient toll grows, Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone on Tuesday suggested retrofitting a new Phoenix jail as a temporary medical clinic for the community if hospital bed space becomes scarce. The 1,500-bed jail hasn’t yet opened.
For most people, COVID-19 causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, older adults and people with health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
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Associated Press writers Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix and Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona, contributed to this report.
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This story has been corrected to say that while golf courses are open, some national parks are closed, and some facilities at others have been shut.