Mayor Steve Geller

Broward County Commissioner, District 5

115 S Andrews Avenue, Room 413 • Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 • 954-357-7005

March 12, 2021

The Honorable Ron DeSantis

Governor, State of Florida
The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Via Email: Ron.Desantis@eog.myflorida.com

Re: Executive Order 21-65; Clemency Order Regarding Remission of Fines

Dear Governor DeSantis:

I am writing to ask you to reconsider the portion of Section 2 of your Executive Order 21-65,
which remits fines related to enforcement actions as to businesses. I am extremely concerned
that this Order will severely impact our ability to enforce compliance of our County’s COVID19
Emergency Order as to businesses, such as requiring patrons to wear masks and social distance.
I find it particularly unfortunate that this is being done while we are in the middle of Spring
Break, with College Students here from throughout the Country.

At our County Commission meeting last Tuesday, I announced that at the next Broward County
Commission meeting on April 6, I would bring recommendations to the County to reopen
Broward, and gradually eliminate our Emergency Orders based on objective metrics, such as the
percent vaccinated in Broward, the COVID-19 positivity percentage in Broward, etc. I agree
with you that we can’t keep these orders in place indefinitely. However, based upon our current
positivity numbers and rates of vaccinations, I just believe that your Order is 6-8 weeks too early.
We’ve come this far, it would be a tragedy for Broward residents to be hospitalized or die
because we lift or can’t enforce our restrictions a little prematurely.

You have stated that the fines on businesses are out of control. We’re not interested in collecting
money; we want to protect our people. As I have said many times since the Pandemic began,
Broward County does not want to close businesses, but must have a way of enforcing our
Emergency Orders. Before we fine businesses, we issue one or more warnings. If the businesses
ignore the warnings, we need to issue fines that are large enough that they’re not seen merely as
a cost of doing business.

Broward County Board of County Commissioners

Mark D. Bogen • Beam Furr • Steve Geller • Dale V.C. Holness • Lamar P. Fisher • Nan H. Rich • Tim Ryan • Barbara Sharief • Michael Udine
Broward.org
You have often mentioned your opposition to Statewide mask mandates because Florida has
different areas with different needs. What works in Brevard County may not work in Broward
County. What works in Marianna may not work in Miami. I ask that you consider amending
your order, and give at least the Tri-County area the ability to enforce our Orders and protect our
residents and workers. Early into the pandemic, you issued orders recognizing the different
circumstances faced by our three counties. Please do so again here.

Thank you for your consideration of my request and I look forward to working with you in
furthering our shared interest in protecting the residents of Broward County.

Sincerely,

/s/ Steve Geller

Steve Geller
Broward County Mayor