Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21) and Democratic members of the Florida Congressional delegation sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis urging him to extend the November 1 expiration for Executive Order 20-69, which allows local government boards to meet virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would provide Floridians with an avenue for civic engagement while protecting the health and safety of the public and elected officials.

“With COVID-19 surging in Florida and throughout the country, the Governor must give local boards and governments the ability to conduct their meetings safely,” said Rep. Frankel. “Pretending the pandemic is over jeopardizes lives and livelihoods.”

The letter states in part, “We have heard from constituents and officials across the state who are worried about the risk to their own health, as well as the risk to their communities, by requiring in-person meetings while the state is experiencing an increase in positive COVID-19 cases..”

The letter continues, “We therefore respectfully urge you to extend your executive order to allow the option of virtual meetings until it is clear that requiring in-person meetings would not pose a risk to the health of our public officials or their constituencies.”

Full text of the letter is available here.

###