Not even two weeks into classes and the city of Tuscaloosa is taking precautions once again, this time in the form of a two-week bar shutdown from Mayor Walt Maddox.
The decision was announced on Monday and will go into effect at 5 p.m. CST, and continue until Sept. 8. Maddox also added during his press conference that he would be putting in a request to the Alabama Beverage Control Board to also attempt to suspend walk-up alcohol sales and only allow seated customers to order drinks.
Any failure to comply with the new orders from the city will result in a fine up to $500 and/or up-to 180 days in municipal jail according to the executive order posted earlier today.
These restrictions were put into place following conversations between UA officials who had been investigating contact tracing within the student body and found multiple hot spots around the city where infection was deemed too high.
Although the data has not been released, Maddox believes that the numbers are enough to take these measures.
“The truth is, fall in Tuscaloosa is in serious jeopardy,” said Maddox. “As mayor, my first responsibility is to protect the health, safety and welfare of this community and of every person that is living here, studying here or working here.”
The financial impact of the order will be significant even after the many discussions between Maddox and the local establishments regarding the impact of a potential shutdown. But Maddox has assured the businesses that the city will help aid during these challenging times. He has already put in a request for $400,000 in small business grants to fill the needs.
But he also stated that if a move like this is not made now, what may lie in the future could be an even worse economic and hospitalization situation.
“The ever-increasing number cases of coronavirus on campus will create two major disruptions for the city of Tuscaloosa if left unabated,” said Maddox. “The first is to our healthcare system. From the start, the city has taken decisive action to protect DCH. This has been our North star. The second disruption has been to our economy. UA has a $2 billion economic impact on our metro and thousands of our citizens depend on the jobs that UA provides. I know this is not easy. I know the coronavirus has taken so much but we must finish the job.”
Also in attendance was University of Alabama President Stuart Bell stood with Maddox and shared that the two did not know if this order will be effective, but it is being made with the hope that it can help UA’s students continue to have in-person classes.
“What we are focusing on, these steps, these protocols, those are critical in order for us to continue that goal (of keeping campus open),” said Bell. “We know that early intervention has the best chance at changing the trajectory of where we are going. The early reading on that trajectory is not one we like. What we are trying to do is to change that with these changes of protocols.
“I am very proud of our students. Our students are being extremely compliant. Our challenge is not the students. Our challenge is the virus. There is a difference, folks. What we have to identify is where does the virus thrive, where does the virus spread.”
Both Bell and Maddox both said they believe that this order is not trying to alter or change any student behavior or to punish the bar owners, but is a move to solely prevent certain hotspots from spreading infection.
“I don’t think the bar owners did anything wrong,” said Maddox. They were playing by the rules. The issue you have is that is where young people gather. We know through the contact tracing, that is one of the hot zones we have to address.”
Alabama Student Government Association President Demarcus Joiner attended the conference as well and shared his hopes that students understand the reasoning for the order.
“I think it’s going to hit them hard but hopefully students understand that this about more than them,” said Joiner. “This is for the community to make sure the community is safe. I also hope students will use this opportunity to focus on academics over these first two weeks of class. And once these restrictions are lessened, maybe they’ll have an opportunity to be more social.”
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber only content!*
Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
