MILWAUKEE — Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic released her proposed MKE Cares ordinance which would require a mask mandate across the city of Milwaukee.
The ordinance proposes issuing a mandate that would require masks to be worn when anyone is indoors in a public place and outdoors if there are several people in a given space.
The ordinance blends policies instituted in other cities battling COVID-19, such as New York, Los Angeles and Phoenix. It's expected to be introduced at Tuesday's Common Council meeting.
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The proposed ordinance would require all businesses to enforce the mask requirement or risk being shut down by the health department. If a business received a patron who refused to wear a mask, the ordinance says the health department could give a warning and citation to the individual, rather than the business. Violations of the ordinance could result in a fine ranging from $50 to $500.
The ordinance also allows for exceptions to the mask rule, including:
- Persons under the age of 2 are not required to wear masks
- Those who can't wear a mask due to a medical condition
- Those with upper-respiratory chronic conditions
- Medical treatment appointments
"I want to thank each and every citizen who has taken the time to make their voice heard in the interest of making our community a safer, healthier place. The time to act is now, we cannot stand by while new cases soar, school reopening discussions are taking place, and people continue to die," said Ald. Dimitrijevic. "We won’t look back and regret this science-supported action to protect our loved ones, but we will regret it if we do not act. MKE Cares is built on compliance. We want you to do your part to help keep everyone safe. In my view, this is an important moment for the city government to do what is needed to protect the health and safety of our citizens, essential workers, and the entire community. I look forward to the robust discussion that will take place around this ordinance in the coming days."
The Common Council meets at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.