Mayor Kate Gallego defies Gov. Ducey, says Phoenix will keep mask mandate

[DesertRat]

PHOENIX — Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego in a statement on Tuesday said the city’s mask mandate is still in effect despite Gov. Doug Ducey ordering local governments to abandon the requirement.

“I stand with the majority of the Phoenix City Council who agree that the governor’s unilateral decision to order cities to abandon mask requirements is a case of significant government overreach,” Gallego said in a statement. “The governor’s authority is not without limits.”

“The governor’s order has caused tremendous confusion, particularly for local businesses,” Gallego said. “I’ve spoken to many business owners who want to do the right thing but don’t know why they have to do it alone. They’ve been pushed into the position of having to defend their masking policies with no help or backup from local government. That is wrong.”

Gallego said the reasoning for the continuation of the mask mandate in Phoenix is health expert recommendations that masks are the best technique for staying ahead of COVID-19 and the best and fastest way to fully reopen and recover.

https://ktar.com/story/4266748/mayor-gallego-defies-gov-ducey-says-phoenix-will-keep-mask-mandate/

Link to tweet

[MichMan]

1. Does Phoenix enforce criminal penalties if someone is not wearing one?

Does anyone know?

[DesertRat]

2. There's no criminal enforcement of the mask mandate as far as I know

[MichMan]

3. So basically just a suggestion?

[DesertRat]

4. No. It's a mandate

Enforcement is on the businesses first. You won’t be arrested for not wearing a mask. You’ll be arrested for not leaving when they kick you out.

[AZLD4Candidate]

5. Businesses are easily regulated. Make the mandate part of their business license

Circle K told me that they "can't enforce" their mask policy even when it was mandatory. I said you deny service and tell them to leave.

The anti-masker raises a stink, you call the police and charge them with trespassing and, if they are violent, threats and intimidation.

[AZLD4Candidate]

6. Pima County Dept. of Health did this too.

A lot of businesses won't challenge them, especially restaurants.