MILWAUKEE -- A vote could come Wednesday, July 8, as the Milwaukee Common Council Public Safety and Health Committee again debates a proposed ordinance that would mandate masks in Milwaukee amid COVID-19. Ahead of that meeting, Milwaukee Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, who introduced the proposal, said a Change.org petition to require masks in Milwaukee has garnered more than 12,000 signatures.
A breakdown of the proposed ordinance is below:
1. Indoors: Would require face covering for those 2 and older when inside public places
2. Outdoors: Would mandate in outdoor public space when you see person within 30 feet who is not a member of household/family
Exemptions:
1. Kids under 2
2. Those who fall under CDC guidance not to wear a mask due to medical or mental health condition
3. People with upper-respiratory conditions
4. When not practical, like when receiving dental services
Penalties:
Enforced by health department
1. Warning
2. Fine from $50-500
3. Repeat offenders could be shut down by health department
Dimitrijevic released this statement Monday, July 6:
Related:
In late June, business owners wrote a letter to Mayor Tom Barrett and Common Council President Cavalier Johnson, calling on them to require that masks be worn by patrons and workers in public spaces including stores, theaters, museums, restaurants and bars (while not consuming food or beverages).
The committee had plenty of questions when the proposed ordinance was debated July 2.
Alderman Mark Borkowski
"Maybe it's just going to be a BAND-AID," said Alderman Mark Borkowski. "Maybe it's going to sound good. Maybe it's going to make us all feel better, but let's be honest about it."
Dimitrijevic said the most severe punishments would be for repeat offender businesses. She said the Milwaukee Health Department would enforce it -- not the police.
"I have some trepidation about how we're moving forward, considering that the fine is $500, and you haven't been provided a mask," said Alderman Khalif Rainey.
Milwaukee Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik
"Businesses are licensed in the city, so we have the ability to either continue to support their business, or revoke it if there's a continued non-compliance," said Milwaukee Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett compared a possible mandate to this: "Many businesses have a no shirt, no shoes no service type of mandate to them -- and as we develop something, that's similar to what we're talking here."
In e-comments shared with the committee, 203 said they support a mask mandate, while 145 oppose it.
"When are we going to say to people, 'You know what, okay, you're selfish, but you're also intelligent,'" said Alderman Borkowski. "'This is your choice.'"
"We have to develop a culture where it's seen as a cool thing, or a responsible thing, or a thing you are proud of," said Alderman Scott Spiker.
For now, city and state leaders are promoting mask-wearing -- something the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends when people are in public with people with whom they do not live -- when normal social distancing measures cannot be practiced. A study in Health Affairs found masks mandates cut COVID-19 rates by 2% after three weeks -- stopping an estimated hundreds of thousands of possible infections.