* “This relationship is the most important partnership of the 21st century. How Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi characterized the relationship between India and the U.S.
* “It’s our wits versus their genes.”–The late Joshua Lederberg, geneticist and Nobel Prize laureate, in referencing the struggle against new diseases.
* “Falling markets appear to worry the administration more than the prospect of, you know, people dying.”–Paul Krugman, New York Times.
* “Congress should seriously consider making the Justice Department into an independent agency. … In a free society, dedicated to the rule of law, does it really make sense to say that the attorney general of the United States serves at the president’s whim?”–Harvard law Professor Cass R. Sunstein, the author of “How Change Happens.”
* “Investors, who worried when Trump began to rise in politics, soon realized that he had their backs. He was just a corporate vessel pretending to be a populist; the stock market was his sugar high.”–Maureen Dowd, New York Times.
* “My responsibility is to make sure that those we elected last time return to Congress, keep the majority and add to our numbers.”–House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
* “I am sorry it took us 50 years to do this.”–University of Mississippi Provost Noel Wilkin, in apologizing to African Americans who were arrested in 1970 for protesting racial inequality.
* “Disney Parks have an unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all our guests.”–Walt Disney Co. statement, in response to lawsuits in Florida and California challenging how Disney allows disabled people to access theme park attractions.
* “That the Sunshine State is not the world leader in solar is a travesty and illustrates the lack of vision and leadership we’ve had in Florida over the last two decades. … Addressing climate change and the threat that it poses to our state isn’t just a political issue, it’s a moral imperative.”–Sean Shaw, founder of People over Profits and recent Democratic nominee for Florida attorney general.
* “One million more Floridians wanted to pass Amendment 4 than wanted Ron DeSantis in our governor’s mansion. Yet he is desperate to subvert their will and silence not only their voices, but the voices of people Floridians resoundingly said deserved one. It begs the question: What is he afraid they’ll say?”–David Ballard, communications manager for Poverty to Prosperity at the Center for American Progress.
* “I think we just continue to information gather as much as possible, so that we are as prepared as possible.”–Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission on preparations for next month’s Wrestlemania in the context of the coronavirus outbreak.
* “We all know how to handle the flu and colds, and I’m told coronavirus is no different. Wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer, avoid people who are sick, and if you are, stay home.”–Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Les Miller.
* “For All, From All.”–What St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman’s affordable housing plan is called. It calls for up to $60 million in city funds to be spent over 10 years for the “construction and preservation of 2,400 affordable multi-family units.”
* “In order for (Juul) to keep their business going, they’ve got to have a market for it. And that market, unfortunately, has been our students.”–Pinellas School Board member Rene Flowers. Pinellas County is looking to become the fourth school district in Florida to join a federal class action lawsuit against Juul Labs Inc., which manufactures vaping devices.
* “This step is regrettable but necessary because revenues are falling short, a little in circulation and more seriously in advertising.”–From a Tampa Bay Times note informing all full-time staffers of a temporary (three-month) 10 percent pay cut. Key executives, including chairman and CEO Paul Tash, will take a 15 percent pay cut in that time period.