By Richard Robb | Arizona Republic
When Gov. Doug Ducey lifted arbitrary and wholly unscientific capacity restrictions on the remaining businesses on which they had been imposed, critics brayed that he was ignoring science and playing politics with the management of COVID-19. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego was as blunt as any: “The governor clearly cares a lot less about the people of Arizona than his political future.”
Now, is Ducey taking political considerations into account in the management of COVID-19? Undoubtedly. That’s what politicians do.
Is he ignoring science and just placating populist elements on the right who think COVID-19 is no big deal and government should do nothing about it, which is the charge Gallego and other carpers on the left are leveling?
Clearly not. Ducey established and maintained restrictions on business operations for over a year. The community risk profile for COVID-19 is dramatically different than it was when the restrictions were imposed.
