VENICE (WSNN) – The Venice City Council votes not to mandate masks on Tuesday.
The motion to create a mask ordinance failed 4 to 3.
But, they made a second motion for a resolution to direct people to wear face masks in public and private spaces. The council unanimously voted ‘yes’ to this.
So, the city will be encouraging people to wear masks, but they won’t be requiring them to since it’s not an ordinance.
There was much debate on enforcement, and how effective it would be to make a mask mandate.
“If we were to have an ordinance here, who would be the entity to enforce it?” city council member, Venice, Helen Moore, said. “Would it be code enforcement? Would it be police? Would it be citizen volunteers?”
“I’m hearing a lot of justification by fear,” city council member, Nick Pachota, said. “Everyone’s afraid, that’s why they’re saying to do it. When I ask for legitimate facts as to why they think it’s important that we do this, cause I do serve at the pleasure of the citizens, I’m not getting a lot of statistical facts, I’m getting a lot more of fear.”
Sarasota County does not have a mask mandate at this time. But, the city of Sarasota does.
