Milwaukee Common Council unanimously approves mask mandate

MILWAUKEE -- The full Milwaukee Common Council voted 15-0 Monday, July 13 to approve Milwaukee's proposed mask mandate ordinance -- passed by the Milwaukee Common Council's Public Safety and Health Committee Thursday, July 9. It now heads to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's desk for his signature.

After the proposal requiring masks for everyone 3 and older inside public places and outside within 6 feet of non-family/household members is signed by the mayor, it then needs to be published before it would take effect.

"If you stay 6 feet apart, you wash your hands and you put on a face covering, we can turn the numbers around and be the healthiest city, not only in the state, but in the country," said Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, who introduced the MKE Cares proposal.

More than 80 Milwaukee businesses asked for the mandate, like Jewels Caribbean Restaurant and Bar.

"It's a health issue," said Natasha Jules. "It's, behind just business, it's health. If my customers are dying, what's the point, and me personally, I am been really conscious about COVID-19, catching it, because I have friends in New York that caught it."

The mandate will be enforced not by police, but by the health department, with fines of $50 to $500 targeting businesses -- with later chances to lose licenses or be shut down.

"We don't think that businesses are law enforcement, and it could really create some conflicts between their employees and their customers, create potential civil liability for those job creators, and overall, just put an undue burden on the businesses in Milwaukee," said Nick Novak with Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.

In e-comments shared with the Common Council, 864 supported the mandate, and 587 opposed it.

"If you chose to not protect your employees and your visitors, and you're hosting a business during the pandemic, we will come to talk to you," said Alderwoman Dimitrijevic. "We'll talk to you first. The health department will re-educate you."

The MKE Cares ordinance can be viewed here. It includes a number of exemptions, including for those with certain medical and mental health conditions, when talking to someone who is deaf, when not practical of feasible -- like when eating or drinking and for schools with a mitigation plan approved by the health commissioner.

Alderwoman Dimitrijevic issued this statement after the proposal's approval by the council:

Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa issued this statement:

Wisconsin's first countywide mask mandate took effect in Dane County Monday -- requiring masks be worn by everyone ages 5 and up and in every indoor space.

On Friday, July 10, Shorewood became the first local municipality to mandate wearing masks.