Cranley: City Council to consider ordinance requiring masks in public

Mayor John Cranley and Health Commissioner Melba Moore will provide an update on COVID-19 in the city.

REPORTER MARIEL CARBONE SPOKEWITH THE MAYOR TODAY.

ANDMARIEL, THIS WOULD FOLLOW SUITWITH WHAT OTHER CITIES AREDOING ACROSS THE STATE ANDCOUNTRY.IT WOULD.

DAYTON AND COLUMBUSBOTH PASSED ORDINANCES THISWEEK REQUIRING PEOPLE TO WEARA MASK, LIKE THIS ONE.

ANDWHILE OHIO GOVERNOR MIKEDEWINE DID MAKE A STATEREQUIREMENT IN MAY-- AND THENTOOK IT BACK 24 HOURS LATER---HE'S SHOWN SUPPORT FOR CITIESDOING IT.

HERE IN CINCINNATI,CITY COUNCIL WILL DEBATE THEISSUE FRIDAY AND DECIDE 'IF'AND 'HOW' IT'LL MAKE IT AMANDATE.áAMBIENT NATSá THERE'S A PUSHTO "MASK UP."JHIYONNARISPER/CINCINNATI "Yeah, anystore, at work."CHARLIEANDRUSS/CINCINNATI "I've neversuspected myself of having anysymptoms, but that doesn'tmean that I don't have any.

"MANY ARE ALREADY DOING IT.

ANDSOME STORES IN CINCINNATI,LIKE KROGER, ARE MAKING MASKSFREE TCUSTOMERS.

áNATSá BUTSHOULD THE GOVERNMENT BE ABLETO FORCE PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS?SOME SAY, YES.

CHARLIEANDRUSS/CINCINNATI "I think itkind of takes the entirecommunity to kind of cometogether and take theresponsibility to keep thepeople around them safe."JHIYONNA RISPER/CINCINNATI "Ithink it's a great idea.Especially with what's goingon in 2020 right now."CINCINNATI COULD BE THE NEXTMAJOR OHIO CITY TO PASS ANORDINANCE MANDATING PEOPLEWEAR MASKS.

JOHN CRANLEY/MAYOR"We have to live with thisvirus.

Clearly, it's not goingaway."MAYOR JOHN CRANLEY SAYSHE SUPPORTS A MANDATE, IFCONSTRUCTED PROPERLYTHE CITYCOUNCIL WILL GATHER FRIDAY FORA SPECIAL MEETING TO DISCUSSSEVERAL OPTIONS, LIKELYFOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OFDAYTON, OHIO, WHICH PASSEDTHIS ORDINANCE WEDNESDAY.DAYTON'S ORDINANCE REQUIRESMASKS IN ENCLOSED SPACES LIKEA BUSINESS OR PUBLICTRANSPORTATION, AND OUTDOORS"IF" IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TOSOCIALLY DISTANCE.

FINES ARE ACIVIL PENALTY OF 85 DOLLARS.AND THERE ARE NUMEROUSEXEMPTIONS, LIKE THOSE WITHMEDICAL CONDITIONS.

JOHNCRANLEY/MAYOR "I believe maskwearing is the common senseway forward.

In order topreserve people's health andkeep the economy open and tokeep schools open."BUT THEREARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO HASHOUT LIKE: ENFORCEMENT, ACCESSTO MASKS, POSSIBLE PENALTIESAND ENSURING THIS DOESN'TTARGET MINORITIES AND THOSE INPOVERTY.

THAT'S WHY A MANDATEIS A "NO," FOR COUNCIL MEMBERSBETSY SUNDERMANN AND JEFFPASTOR, WHO SAY IT'S A STE"TOO FAR" FOR GOVERNMENT.áAMBIENT NATSá CHARLIEANDRUSS/CINCINNATI "Somethingas small as wearing a mask,personally I don't think itshould be such a debatedissue."AND THE MAYOR SAYS IF THISMANDATE IS MADE, IT'LL BE LESSEFFECTIVE IF OTHER SURROUNDINGCITIES DON'T FOLLOW SUIT.THEHAMILTON COUNTY HEALTHCOMMISSIONER SAID WEDNESDAYTHE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE THEAUTHORITY TO MANDATE THIS.

ANDTHAT IT WOULD HAVE TO COMEFROM INDIVIDUALMUNICIPALITIES.

FRIDAY'SEMERGENCY MEETINGS ARESCHEDULED FOR 10:30 AND 11:30AM.

LIVE FROM óóó MARIELCARBONE, WCPO NINE N