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Reopen Pensacola: 'We Want to Work with Everyone'

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Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson says complying with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reopen order is going to take some work and cooperation from city government, local merchants, and residents to keep all safe against COVID-19.

In perhaps the shortest-ever “Morning with the Mayor” — 19 minutes — Robinson spoke about closing Palafox Street to vehicular traffic on Mother’s Day. He and the First Lady visited the area, and had dinner there.

“We walked the street and had a chance to see it; saw some people out there,” said the mayor. “Those of you who attended, it’s not a Gallery Night — that’s not at all what we’re trying to do. What we’re trying to do is to find ways to allow people to open their businesses [and] conduct their businesses outdoors.”

Closing that stretch of Palafox, the mayor emphasizes, is not going to lead to expansion of the monthly Gallery Nights.

“We’re talking about regular operating, but doing it outside rather than inside,” Robinson said. “We’re very concerned and we understand that some people use Palafox as the road for people to go there, and some people use it for walking. We want to be sure we’re very ‘multi-modal’ on Palafox; that’s what we’re trying to do as we look for new solutions.”

There are no plans at this time for future closures of Palafox. Sunday, said the mayor, was an example of what things could look like.

“We want to work with everyone; we want to work with retailers, [and] we want to find other ways,” the mayor said. “But I do think one of the things that is happening is we look to engage, is that restaurants will have to do everything outdoors in a lot of ways, just because of the way it is with the virus. So we’re trying to be as sympathetic and empathetic as we can be in trying to find solutions.”

A meeting is scheduled for this week between city officials and merchants along Palafox, to discuss a number of possibilities, including a permanent switch to pedestrian traffic. They’ll be looking for solutions, including how to handle parking.

“In downtown we happen to have no parking lots usually for the businesses; so they can’t expand from the sidewalk,” said Robinson. “We’re totally allowing — if your business is out in other areas of the city — I don’t care if you’re in Brownsville or you’re in the Cordova [Mall] area, we’re encouraging you if you’re a restaurant to find ways to open your doors and your parking lot.”

Parking restrictions citywide will be relaxed for the time being. Attention to social distancing is also ramping up. The Pensacola News Journal reports that not all tables on Palafox Sunday were the requisite six feet apart. Robinson says they’ll continue to try to seek a balance between where to dine and where to walk.

“People want to set up in the street; I don’t think we want people walking where they are,” said Robinson. “Our bigger concern is much more the congregating that can happen on these occasions. We’d love to find a way to prevent that from happening. That’s more of a challenge that we run into.”

Elsewhere, Mayor Robinson has extended the ban on all city-permitted events with 50 or more people to Monday, June 1.

“The city will work with event organizers to reschedule events as needed; we will reassess the situation probably the week before June 1,” said the mayor.

And changing the subject, the mayor praised the fire crews from around the region, who battled the Five Mile Swamp wildfire near Milton last week.

“The city of Pensacola went and tried to assist Santa Rosa County; and what we would say at this particular time is: please be vigilant and very careful,” said Robinson. “Do not burn anything as this particular time because we are very susceptible. I know usually we have a lot of rainfall, and this is not the case.”

A damage assessment team has determined 14 residential structures were destroyed and seven damaged, with a total of 36 structures razed. Estimate cost is just over $1.9 million.