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Agenda Item

2. 200426 An ordinance relating to a requirement for face coverings in public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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    J Carroll over 4 years ago

    Requiring face masks is the bare minimum the city should do. In reality, we should probably go back to phase 2 of reopening AND require the masks. Exemptions should be minimal - ONLY documented legitimate health conditions. There should be NO religious exemptions, as they are likely to be abused.

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    Ruthie Weatherly over 4 years ago

    Fully support

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    Rebecca Bailey over 4 years ago

    So, so needed. Please consider making this county wide if possible. IL (cook county in particular) implemented this successfully and had some of the lowest positive rates of growth out of the entire country. WI is now projected to have the top rate of growth per the COVID tracking project. Let’s do this now so that, come fall when schools start up, things are a little more under control. Masks are only effective when everyone is wearing them!

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    Karen Seeliger over 4 years ago

    Very strongly support. I side with science and the medical establishment.

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    CM Boland over 4 years ago

    Strongly oppose. I do many things to keep myself safe from this virus. Mask wearers take unwarranted comfort in the mask. They put me at risk by crowding my space, playing with their masks, uncovering to talk (masks inhibits communication). So, to protect myself, I try to avoid whenever possible places that require masks.

    Resigned it will pass. Must make outdoor exercise exempt. I can barely breath when wearing one - when exercising or in this heat would be unbearable.

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    Theresa Fandrei over 4 years ago

    1. My daughter has SSADH and is just beginning to make progress formulating sounds through continuous observation of mouth, lip, teeth movements and facial expressions. Requiring my family to cover these when we are not sick so someone else can do as they please feels horribly violating and isolating.
    2. Why is the burden of proof on the public and not the health department to address the ineffective & uncleanliness of mask wearing?
    3. Economic conditions limit access to mandated materials. Whether travel or time to obtain, money for the laundry. The requirement places undue burden on us.

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    Rachel Kenison over 4 years ago

    Science and anecdotal studies from other regions support this.

    We also need to educate the community on proper mask wearing and handling.

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    Lynn Kramer over 4 years ago

    Masks weren’t mandated during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The New England Journal of Medicine and their study on universal masking, clearly came to the conclusion “that wearing a mask outside of a health facility offers, little, if any protection from infection”. Masks can be incredibly triggering for trauma survivors, people who have panic attacks, people with hearing disabilities, people with autism, and people with airway restrictions…. like our son-in-law and 5-year-old granddaughter, who have asthma. Do not assume that each person without a mask isn’t already struggling deeply. .

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    Robin Squier over 4 years ago

    This is a rational response to the scientific evidence. I support the mandate.

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    Josh Davis over 4 years ago

    I often wonder, in a situation like this, how many of the oppose votes actually come from Milwaukee residents. If so, they represent a large lack of understanding. You don't wear a mask to protect yourself, you wear it to protect others. Many people I see in businesses like the grocery store wear no mask, and are not protecting me if they may have the virus. Recent studies show that up to 80% of people that transmit the virus are asymptomatic. If you have not been tested recently, you simply have no way of knowing if you have it or not, if you don't show symptoms. A mandate is necessary.

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    Bill Jones over 4 years ago

    The constitution protects us from our best intentions - Scalia specifically talking about times of uncertainty.

    You have no legal right to mandate that we put anything on or in our bodies period.
    You have no right to TAX us. Forcing us to purchase masks is a tax essentially.
    Even if you do pass it, I will not obey something unconstitutional and when I travel through the city I will blatantly ignore it.

    You have no power here.

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    Mary Scheibel over 4 years ago

    I don't think this is enforceable. Given the political unrest in our city, I don't see how we can ask the police to go into neighborhoods and start giving people tickets and insisting they wear a mask. I believe we should strongly encourage wearing masks and private businesses can mandate them for entry, but we can't pass legislation that is unenforceable. Educate and encourage over require and mandate.

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    Tj Kay over 4 years ago

    I do not support this and will not be wearing a mask. It is not healthy and it is unconstitutional. It should be up to ME whether I feel comfortable or not. If you are worried about getting sick then stay home. This was never an issue before so stop trying to make it one now. I will not be putting a mask on a 3 year old in 90° weather nor will I be making myself wear one. It will die in this weather anyway. Quit lying to the people.

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    Sarah Henery over 4 years ago

    Support but please exempt active outdoor exercise like running or biking. It’s very hard to wear a mask while running in this heat wave.

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    Kristy Gember over 4 years ago

    I 1000% support this mandate. I have seen so many people wearing their masks incorrectly day after day. If this makes it through, and I hope it does, can a mailer or something be sent to residents on how to properly wear a mask? I can’t tell you how many people I have seen wearing one under their chin or nose. I have even seen two people remove their mask to sneeze into the air without covering their mouth which defeats the purpose. I think it’s important to educate people on masks as many still do not understand their purpose or how to appropriately wear them.

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    Colin Daly over 4 years ago

    This is what the CDC says is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you care at all about our citizens, you have to pass this.

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    Katie Key over 4 years ago

    We have the fastest growth rate in the country. There are thousands of citizens staying home, terrified that their next grocery delivery or next doctors appointment could lead to then catching the virus. At the same time, there are people packing into bars and not practicing social distancing even though they've been repeatedly urged to. These people don't care about the weak and vunerable in society, but maybe they'd care about a fine. It's time to pass a mandate requiring masks.

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    Kushal Desai over 4 years ago

    I oppose this as a mandate. It should be up to individual businesses, not the government. Additionally, the mandate does not provide appropriate guidance. There need to be exceptions for outdoor exercise, gyms, apartment buildings, actual guidance on how this will work in restaurants. Other cities have well thought out mandates with specific situations spelled out. If the government is going to overreach, the At minimum, ensure that there are reasonable requirements & exceptions. It’s nearly 100 degrees out, I oppose an outdoor requirement. What if I remove my mask to rehydrate or get air?

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    Melissa Longoria over 4 years ago

    This will not only help protect all citizens it will also help aid businesses that have been struggling with cases or enforcing mask wearing to again keep everyone safe. All people who have been working, ie essential workers, and all people returning to work need to continue to be vigilant. If we want children to return to schools safely, we need to drastically reduce the cases not only in Milwaukee, but the state and the country. This is not a political issue, this is a decency issue. All you have to do to protect others from getting sick is wear a mask.

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    Tracy Kerschke over 4 years ago

    Will not spend a penny in Milwaukee of this passes. My body my choice