DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The Dallas County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to extend the county’s ‘Safer at Home’ order until May 15, despite protest.
The Commissioners voted 3-2 to extend the order, that was set to expire April 30, by two weeks. Medical experts recommended to Commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting that the order be extended until the end of May.
“We’ve had discussions with the physicians groups and medical groups,” said Dallas County Medical Director Phil Huang. “The recommendation was May 31.”
But the Commissioners opted to be updated in the middle of May before extending the order any further.
“To have that range is going to be critical in order to make an informed decision,” Commissioner J.J. Koch argued. “Rather than saying, nope, just give us a blank check all the way out to May 31 with shelter in place and we’ll just figure it out from there.”
Shortly after the Commissioners voted, Governor Greg Abbott clarified to reporters that state orders outweigh local mandates.
“To the extent that my Executive Order has statewide application, it would overrule any local jurisdiction determination about their executive order,” Governor Abbott said.
The state’s version of a stay at home order currently runs through April 30. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said late Tuesday that the extended order doesn’t conflict with the loosening of restrictions on businesses by the Governor.
Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting didn’t go without protests. Dozens of demonstrators protested the ‘Safer at Home Order’ outside the Commissioners Court meeting in Downtown Dallas.
“I have family that have small businesses and there about to close,” said a concerned North Texas woman. “They did not get the SBA loans and they have kids. It’s breaking my heart.”
The theme of the protest was “protect the vulnerable and trust the healthy.”
“I believe in freedom,” said one protester. “I believe in liberty. This is not freedom or liberty.
Organizers plan another protest Saturday in Frisco.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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