MKE Cares masking ordinance to be discussed by Milwaukee Public Safety and Health Committee Thursday

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A special Public Safety and Health Committee meeting will be held Thursday, July 9 at 2:30 p.m. to discuss the MKE Cares masking ordinance.

According to a news release, after extensive input was received from members of the community the ordinance will be before the committee for discussion.

Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic introduced the ordinance and will chair with the special meeting. 

“It’s great to have had a community discussion over the past few days about mask use to protect our neighbors," Dimitrijevic. "We’ve taken your feedback and combined it with science and best practices to develop a MKE Cares plan that will keep us all safe. We won’t regret requiring people to cover their faces in this pandemic, but will regret it if we don’t.”

According to the news release, since being introduced MKE Cares has received diverse support from local small businesses, thousands of residents via a change.org petition, local healthcare providers, VISIT Milwaukee, The Milwaukee Area Labor Council, and United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, among others.

The MKE Cares ordinance can be viewed here and includes the following enhancements:

  • Citizens will be required to wear a mask outdoors when they are within 6 feet of someone who is not a family member or member of their household.
  • The age of persons required to wear a mask is increased from 2 years old to 3 years old.

Public input on the MKE Cares ordinance is encouraged in advance of tomorrows special Public Safety and Health Committee meeting. Those who want to provide comments can follow these steps: 

1. Visit milwaukee.legistar.com/Calendar.

2. Select the “e-comment” button across from the meeting during which the file will be heard. Meeting info is listed above.

3. Scroll down to the item number that corresponds to the desired file and click the “comment” button.

4. Fill in the necessary information, select a position and type a comment in the comment box. Note that comments are limited to 600 characters.

5. Hit submit.

The Public Safety and Health Committee will also discuss file #200409 (also known as masks for all) – a resolution directing the Commissioner of the Milwaukee Health Department to establish a program under which all city residents may receive a face mask without charge upon request, according to the news release. The goal of this file is to create an equitable means for hundreds of thousands of residents across the entire city to receive masks free of charge.

The special Public Safety and Health Committee meeting will be televised live on the City Channel (channel 25 on Spectrum Cable and channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse in the City of Milwaukee) and via streaming video on the city website at city.milwaukee.gov/Channel25.

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