Join The Texas Tribune at 8 a.m. April 14 for an interview with Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, conducted by Tribune political reporter Patrick Svitek.
Jenkins will be answering questions about how Dallas County, the nation's eighth most populous county, has responded to the novel coronavirus pandemic. We’ll be discussing the effect Dallas County’s early and aggressive stay-at-home policies have had on public health and the local economy, and how county residents are adapting to these new challenges.
This conversation will be livestreamed starting at 8 a.m. April 14 here and on our social media channels. What do you want us to ask Jenkins? Submit your questions above or tweet us using the hashtag #AskTrib.
As the threat of the COVID-19 outbreak descended on Texas, Jenkins acted swiftly to restrict movement and close all nonessential businesses in Dallas County, home to 2.6 million people in more than two dozen cities, including Dallas.
On March 12, shortly after county health officials found evidence of community spread of the virus, Jenkins declared a local disaster and restricted large gatherings. The aggressive move was controversial and put Jenkins out ahead of other large counties and the state.
“I understand how devastating this is on people’s paychecks, on their families, on their small businesses,” Jenkins said. “But we have to put our lives over our livelihoods.”
Jenkins issued a countywide shelter-in-place order March 22, making him the first Texas official to do so. Jenkins’ rapid response to combat the outbreak in his community has regularly put him at odds with local business owners, leaders of neighboring counties and even Gov. Greg Abbott. He also recently halted evictionsof those unable to pay their rent due to the massive loss of jobs as the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down businesses across the state.
Jenkins has served as Dallas County judge since 2011. He is also a lawyer and small-business owner.
More on Dallas County:
- Dallas County leaders ask for more hospital data before approving overflow treatment facility at convention center
- Here's where researchers predict the highest levels of care will be needed for COVID-19 in Dallas
- Dallas County has most jail inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Texas
- MAP: These are the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
- Here are the confirmed cases of coronavirus in Dallas County
