Manhattan City Commissioners discuss a proposed ordinance requiring face masks in public via Zoom Tuesday, May 5, 2020.
As businesses locally begin down the road to normalcy as laid out by local and state plans, Manhattan’s mayor Tuesday raised the idea of requiring masks in public in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19 during the process.
Though multiple commissioners expressed misgivings about how enforceable the law would be.
Mayor Usha Reddi proposed the ordinance in anticipation of greater numbers of people attending gatherings and patronizing businesses and restaurants as they re-open to the public. Specifics on exactly where masks would be required and for whom and where exceptions would be granted were not discussed.
Reddi attributes the relatively low numbers of positive novel coronavirus tests in the Manhattan area to successful mitigation efforts and wants to keep that trend going through mandatory mask requirements. Reddi says a “great majority” of people have not been wearing face coverings in public and leaving the decision solely to personal choice would be irresponsible.
“The individual that is choosing not to wear the mask is doing a lot more damage to the other people they come in contact with,” says Reddi. “I’m not saying we’re going to have 100 percent compliance, but I do think there is room for discussion in our community with stakeholders at the table like we did vaping, like we did the no-smoking ordinance, like we did texting [and driving].”
Reddi says the country is going through a cultural shift in regards to masks, alluding that they could become as accepted as taking off one’s shoes while going through airport security in post-9/11 America.
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Kansas Department of Health and Environment advise wearing well-fitting cloth face masks when in areas that have confirmed community spread and when in areas where physical distancing is not possible.
Mayor Pro Tempore Wynn Butler says he wears a mask in public to alleviate others’ concerns and to avoid a shave, but says an ordinance requiring it would be an “absolute nightmare.” He proposed putting out recommendations for best practices among the public and letting businesses put their own mask requirements in place rather than the city forcing the situation.
“You have businesses, I think Menard’s said if you’re going to come in here you’re going to wear one — that’s fine,” says Butler. “If you don’t have one, they’ll sell you one for a dollar otherwise you don’t come in. That’s their choice and I’m 100 percent behind that — you don’t have to shop if you don’t like it.”
Reddi acknowledged that there may be some resistance to the idea, but asserted it’s important to have a full discussion. Commissioner Linda Morse agreed with having further conversations, but says it would be difficult to see a change occurring with the number of people who already forgo wearing masks.
“There’s a rebelliousness taking place, rugged individualism or whatever you might want to call it,” Morse says. “But certainly it’s worthy of discussion.”
Commissioner Mark Hatesohl agreed with Butler, voicing opposition to discussing an ordinance further. Similar to Morse, he had difficulty seeing increased mask use in the community without a punishment like fines or arrest.
“I’d like to sure think that this thing is on its way out the door with the hot weather coming here,” says Hatesohl. “If we see any kind of an uptick over the next couple weeks, then we can sure have the discussion maybe.”
“But I wouldn’t vote for it simply because at some point people are going to rebel against rules they don’t think are necessary and make enough sense to them.”
Commissioner Aaron Estabrook rounded out the majority for supporting further discussion, saying he didn’t want to be the one to stop the conversation. He, like multiple of his colleagues, had concerns around enforcing the proposed ordinance.
“If it’s a resolution saying we want people to do this, that’s one thing,” Estabrook says. “If it has any kind of consequences to it and the enforcement component is really not feasible, I don’t see that even being something we should do.”
Reddi says she would speak with Riley County police officials for their input and guidance going forward, but says she doesn’t envision harsh enforcement. She preferred the more light-handed approach RCPD has taken surrounding pandemic restrictions, working to educate the public and encourage voluntary compliance rather than the possible fines and charges.
Estabrook, though, still questioned whether the ordinance was their place or something that should be left to Health Officer Julie Gibbs — further advocating for health department and recovery task force input on the ordinance going forward.
Reddi responded that Manhattan has home rule authority to implement its own ordinances to safeguard public health, reiterating that the topic at least warrants further conversation.
“There are other communities that are looking into it, we can modify it to what fits our community,” says Reddi.
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