Progress on a Milwaukee mask ordinance!
Several major developments to report to you on our goal of a City of Milwaukee requirement to wear masks in public places:
1. More than 100 businesses that you know and love have joined together in a letter to Mayor Tom Barrett and Common Council President Cavalier Johnson urging city mask requirements in public places. You can see the letter and signers via the link at the bottom of this update. Here's one of the stories on the letter: https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/dining/carol-deptolla/2020/06/30/milwaukee-bars-businesses-ask-city-leaders-make-masks-mandatory/3278350001/
2. Milwaukee Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic announced that she plans to introduce an ordinance next week requiring face coverings in public spaces. Barrett says his office is working with her and that "he was optimistic the Common Council and his office could come to an agreement on a mask policy." Details of the ordinance haven't been made public. It is expected to be voted on by the Common Council on July 7. Read more at: https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/dining/carol-deptolla/2020/06/30/milwaukee-ordinance-would-require-masks-public-spaces/5351043002/
3. Dimitrijevic is holding a virtual public hearing on the issue at 9 A.M. THIS THURSDAY July 2 at the Public Safety and Health Committee AND YOU CAN AND SHOULD MAKE YOUR POSITION KNOWN ASAP TO THIS COMMITTEE!
You can tell the City of Milwaukee elected officials you support a mask requirement by CLICKING HERE, checking the "Support" button and leaving a comment.
If this doesn't work, or if you just prefer using email, send one to jpolan@milwaukee.gov and write "Mask Mandate File" in the subject line.
Any comments are due by 8 a.m. this Thursday July 2.
To watch the meeting, go to the City Channel (Channel 25 on Spectrum Cable or Channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse in the City of Milwaukee) or the stream at http://city.milwaukee.gov/citychannel. Again, it's 9 a.m. this Thursday.
Our last bit of big news: In 24 hours, the number of petition signers here has skyrocketed from around 650 signers to more than 7,000 on Tuesday night! Way to go!
Please keep sharing the petition! And speak up on this issue to friends, on social media and to your elected Milwaukee representatives!
Stay safe, and thanks for your involvement, everyone!