We asked Facebook: On Monday, the EPG considered researching “alternatives to criminal penalties, good faith efforts that can be made by business operators to comply with the order (last week’s face mask ordinance) and ideas for shifting some of the responsibility for following the mandate to patrons.” What would you like for the EPG to do with the face mask ordinance?
“My biggest wish for the mask mandate in Hillsborough County is for businesses and people to read the ACTUAL MANDATE and not just listen to the cliff notes version. It specifically states that wearing a mask is not mandatory if you are maintaining 6ft social distancing. Give people the whole story and not just what you want them to believe.” — Jennifer Barringer
“Well… the EPG is overstepping their bounds by creating and attempting to enforce a mask mandate. So I guess I would like to see them disbanded completely and for it to be left up to the individual businesses, the city, the county and the state to make these decisions. That being said, masks are only helpful if you are in a situation with poor ventilation where you can’t distance yourself properly from others. So maybe only require it in those settings.” — Caitlyn Sharits
“During a public health crisis, it is the EPG’s duty and responsibility to represent the people of Hillsborough County. Having said that, science driven data has proven that masks worn by all is known to reduce (not eliminate) the risk of community spread, especially when worn indoors, where there is recirculated air. It is the responsibility of the owners to do their due diligence and post signage at their establishment to make the public aware of the policy. It is the individuals due diligence to follow the establishments rules. It is EVERYONE’S responsibility to have compassion for their fellow business owners, employees, patrons, friends and family. And having compassion means stepping outside of yourself to help others, whether that means opening a door, helping someone across the street, or wearing a masks for a couple of moments while shopping. This virus will not go away until EVERYONE starts helping one another.” — Erin Parke Watson
“People that want to wear them will wear them, those that don’t will not. Hillsborough County is already being sued over this. Leave people alone and let them decide what is best for themselves.” — Bret Walley
“Shift responsibility to the patrons. It’s absolutely ridiculous to put it on a business owner. Would they prefer the business owner tackle non mask wearers to the ground when they enter? Fining the business owner is just a sure way to make the county some money. Putting the responsibility on the patrons is a sure way to make sure patrons wear a mask. I think these business owners have been beat up enough during this pandemic.” — Briel Maddalena
“Toss it. Penalties will not hold up in court.” — Lauren Ferguson Bridges
“We hit 150,000 infected and 3,500 dead in Florida today. Hillsborough is hot on the numbers. Part of the problem is that law enforcement is not interested in handling any part of the mask ordinance. With the current atmosphere, I cannot say as I blame them. Having said that, if we don’t do something, we are in worse trouble than before. It is no different than NO Smoking or No shirt, no shoes, no service. Businesses have not had a problem with that. Not sure I get the difference. I can assure you I am not going in a business that is not complying. That simple for me-I can find one that is.” — Jane W. Poppell
“You can not force people to wear masks. That simple. It’s wrong for numerous reasons. If people want to wear them, wear them, but you can not force or legislate someone into wearing one. If anti-vax people are protected to run around un vaccinated then those who choose not to wear a mask should also be protected. If people start getting fined or jailed for not wearing a mask I hope they sue, and I hope they win!” — Brittney Kovacs
“Come up with a tiered system for penalties. First offense, second offense, and so on (for both businesses and patrons). If a patron becomes belligerent about being asked to wear a face mask (or takes criminal action such as spitting in someone else’s face), then the business has a right to ban that person from the premises (and should be reported for belligerent behavior just like any other day). We simply cannot continue to operate freely without taking common sense measures to protect each other. Or we can close again (which we all know is devastating). There should be penalties for both businesses and patrons for refusing to comply. If there are one or two people walking around without a mask, even when the business has signs up notifying customers to wear a mask, and they have at least asked the patron to put on their mask, then they are operating in good faith. If the customer refuses, the penalty should now fall on the customer. It’s a two-way street – both businesses and patrons bear the societal responsibility of wearing/enforcing masks. Business does not want that burden? Then they have no right making money off of the community they refuse to protect (or at least not contribute further to the problem). Honestly we can look at mask-wearing the same as smoking. You cannot light up in a store anymore. The business has a right to kick you out for doing so (sure, you have a right to smoke, just not indoors because then you are harming others and infringing on their right to not be harmed by you). The business does not get penalized for the patron’s decision to break the rules (in this case, law). The patron is responsible for it and should be penalized as such. If, however, the business is not putting in a good faith effort of putting up signs and asking patrons to comply (and thereby turning a blind eye that ultimately puts their workers at health risk, in addition to other patrons), then they should absolutely be penalized just like any other health code violation (with a tiered system: first offense, stern warning on record, second offense: fine, third offense: higher fine, fourth offense: mandatory shutdown until rules can be followed).” — Ashley Geer Hedrick