Florida government Ron DeSantis (R) had a hand in setting up a COVID vaccination site exclusive to two of the richest zip codes in Manatee County, according to the Bradenton Herald.
Why it matters: The county has spent weeks trying to convince its 180,000 residents aged 65 and over who have applied to the state’s Vaccine Standby Pool that the selection process is arbitrary.
- Lakewood Ranch is predominantly white and heavily Republican – and developed by Rex Jensen, an associate of the DeSantis campaign, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- The median income in the two zip codes is more than double the county’s total median income. Both zip codes have not seen as many COVID cases as other parts of the province.
What happened: The district commissioners were shocked that their colleague, Vanessa Baugh, had worked with the governor’s office and Jensen to set up the site.
- “I fought hard to show people that the lottery is equal and that we cannot jeopardize the system,” said Commissioner Reggie Bellamy.
- “There is no reason Governor DeSantis should ration vaccines based on political influence,” added Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “This is disturbing and possibly illegal.”
The other side: In response to cronyism allegations, DeSantis threatened to send future pop-up vaccination sites elsewhere.
- “If Manatee County doesn’t like us doing this, then it’s okay to put this in counties that want it,” he said.
To make things worse: Late Wednesday, the Herald also reported that Baugh had compiled a VIP list of Lakewood Ranch residents she wanted vaccinated, including Jensen, Jensen’s father, and herself.
This story first appeared in the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter and faster about the most consistent news unfolding in their own backyard.