It’s official: Masks are now a mandate in Malibu
Michele Willer-Allred, Staff Reporter9:10 am PST November 6, 2020
The Malibu City Council on Thursday gave final approval to a pandemic mask ordinance that would ticket a person $50 each time they don’t wear a face covering in public unless they immediately comply with the ordinance.
The council voted 4-1, with Rick Mullen dissenting, to approve the second reading of the ordinance, which also bans certain face coverings that are primarily open at the chin. The ordinance will continue as long as the local public health emergency is declared by the county and state.
People don’t have to mask up in their vehicle or residential zone if they are at least 6 feet away from someone not part of their household.
The ordinance also requires use of a face covering over both the nose and mouth, and contains exceptions for those under 2 or with certain medical issues, the need to communicate with persons who are hearing impaired, and participation in water-based activities.
Face shields without a mask underneath, open-chin triangle bandanas, masks with exhaust valves or vents, and masks with any openings are not allowed.
People at restaurants or other establishments that offer food and beverages are required to wear a face covering unless they are eating or drinking.
During the meeting held via Zoom, Malibu resident Hamish Patterson criticized the council, saying it should have urged community members to boost their immunity during the past eight months.
“Having this face mask ordinance isn’t going to do anything. In fact, I argue that it’s going to put people’s lives in danger because they’re falsely going to think they’re safe and protecting other people, when that will not do anything. It’s questionable at best what these face masks will do,” Patterson said.
Patterson added that while testing is going up, COVID-19 positivity rates and deaths are going down.
“We have a federal government right now that can’t even count basic ballots, so we’re going to trust these people with our health care?” he questioned.
Mayor Mikke Pierson said he knows the issue is controversial and understood that it’s not perfect, but said “wearing a mask gives you a better chance of not catching the virus. There’s a lot of science that shows that.”
“Maybe it’s not the science you agree with and I get that,” Pierson continued. “To me, if I can wear a seatbelt or wear a mask and help a chance of saving a life, it’s worth it to me.”
Council member Jefferson Wagner, who works in the entertainment industry, said there is extensive testing and mask wearing on the sets he works on, and he believes they work.
“(Masks) may not be perfect, but it’s the best thing we can do to show our confidence in the health care system and support it at this very small level,” Wagner said.
Mullen said he appreciated Patterson’s “candor and ardent support of common sense.”
Mullen said that while he supports wearing a mask, an ordinance in the city requiring it to be worn is “overkill” because people are already complying with rules and regulations from the county and state.
Mullen added that there are so many holes in the information provided on COVID-19 and many people are frustrated with it.
“I personally think because it’s not as severe as it was touted to be at the beginning, I think it’s a bad move for us in this town, who love these visitors, to have people going out on the beach, I guess, possibly, and handing out tickets for no masks,” said Mullen.