Bradenton’s mask ordinance is ‘toothless’ and ‘spineless’ | Letter to the editor

This past week, the Bradenton City council enacted an ordinance dealing with the coronavirus. Let me share most of it with your readers:

“Each business establishment shall post a sign visible at each public point of entry, which sign shall either advise persons entering that face coverings are required or requested to be worn within the business establishment; or notify persons entering that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the wearing of face coverings in public. … The Legislative intent of this Ordinance is to educate and encourage members of the public to wear face coverings within enclosed business establishments. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to mandate the wearing of face coverings nor require the owner or operator of any business establishment to mandate or otherwise enforce the wearing of face coverings.”

In other words, this ordinance does absolutely nothing. There is even an explicit denial of any attempt to require or enforce. The only attempt to enforce is a pathetic clause that allows the city to impose a $50 fine. There is little awareness of just how dire the situation is with hospital ICU’s overwhelmed, and the number of cases reported now exceeding 6,000 in Manatee County.

I was looking for the most accurate depiction of a city council that would pass such a toothless, spineless ordinance. The most fitting metaphor is the common garden slug: no teeth, no spine and moving at even less than a snail’s pace.

Michael P. Sternfield

Bradenton