Voting against the ordinance were Mayor Ryan Stanley and council members Gary Shaw, Phil Stinnett, Doug Lawson and Chuck Copple.
Supporting the measure were Mayor Pro Tem Keenan Cortez, and council members Diane Reid Adams, Anthony Monteleone and Christina Williams.
Council members voting against the ordinance expressed reservations about mandating the people to wear masks with Stanley citing concerns about the burden enforcement would impose on the city's police department.
Stinnett noted polls by Joplin News First and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce in which sizable majorities opposed the proposed ordinance and warned that if the ordinance passed, the council would never be able to get another tax proposal passed.
The meeting began with a majority of the residents who asked to speak criticizing the ordinance for possibly driving away business to area communities, forcing businesses to close, violating constitutional rights and causing people who are physically unable to wear masks to become lawbreakers.
Some claimed this was just a virus, like any other virus, and hardly anybody around here has been dying from it.
Congressional candidate Kevin VanStory, saying he was sure some of the council members were familiar with his radio show, spoke passionately against government interference in people's lives, making sure to mention a couple of times that he is running against Billy Long.
The need to do something was stressed by some, but not all, of the representatives of the medical profession who spoke.
City Manager Nick Williams noted that the ordinance would be a "significant burden for us. Enforcement will be a challenge," but added that if it passed, "we will do it to the best of our ability."
Good news, everyone wins. Those that want to wear a mask can. Those that don’t want to wear one don’t have to. If masks work, those with them are safe!
ReplyDeleteI'm not wearing a mask so I don't get sick. I wear one so you don't. My 4th-grade teacher used to say (in the '70s) that we only have as "much freedom as we have responsibility." She was wrong. "Freedom" now includes a lack of common sense without consequence.
ReplyDeleteThanks for exposing yourselves, leftist block of 4. Soyboys and soygirls, wringing their hands raw. Go write another editorial on "systemic racism" and another on your "feeeeelings", Keenan. Less then a month on the council and you've lost my vote, Ms. Williams. Schmucks.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Councilmembers, no matter how you vote on ANYTHING, I will NEVER vote for another tax! Same to you, R-8.
Basically 9:15 is your standard MAGA trash.
DeleteI will continue to wear a mask to protect myself and others who may be high risk. I will also continue to maintain social distancing. This includes members of my immediate family none of them are allowed to be more than 6 ft near me because they choose not to wear a mask the majority of the time when they are out in public settings such as shopping or group gatherings. I limit the company that comes to my home so I feel like I am doing my part not to spread the virus. Even if you don't feel like you are threatened by the virus you should still be considerate of the health of others. Hopefully this will dissipate in the next few months. And in the future we'll just be getting a vaccine each yearfor it, just like we do the regular flu.
ReplyDeleteFox News.
ReplyDeleteNew research explores how conservative media misinformation may have intensified the severity of the pandemic
The three studies paint a picture of a media ecosystem that entertains conspiracy theories and discourages audiences from taking steps to protect themselves and others
Coronavirus infections have surged in a number of states, setting the United States on a markedly different pandemic trajectory than other wealthy nations.
There are many reasons our response to the pandemic tied to nearly 120,000 U.S. deaths has faltered, experts say, including the lack of a cohesive federal policy, missteps on testing and tracing, and a national culture emphasizing individualism.
In recent weeks, three studies have focused on conservative media’s role in fostering confusion about the seriousness of the coronavirus. Taken together, they paint a picture of a media ecosystem that amplifies misinformation, entertains conspiracy theories and discourages audiences from taking concrete steps to protect themselves and others.
The end result, according to one of the studies, is that infection and mortality rates are higher in places where one pundit who initially downplayed the severity of the pandemic — Fox News’ Sean Hannity — reaches the largest audiences.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/25/fox-news-hannity-coronavirus-misinformation/
The council majority supports the peoples right to infect others and themselves!
ReplyDeleteFreedum!
Yes, Liberty and personal responsibility are definitely trashy concepts. WEAR THE MASK, THOUGHT CRIMINAL!
ReplyDeleteI choose not to wear a mask, that's my right...freedoms should never be dictated by government, to many died in our history to procure and and preserve our freedoms...if you wear a mask and see me your right is to avoid me or stay home such as my right is to avoid you or stay home if I don't feel comfortable around you..... and wearing the same mask all day long and possibly longer without being cleaned and disinfected cannot be helping to protect you or our community... think about it. I applaud the 5 council members that voted against and will definitely remember and vote against the 4 who wanted to go against the majority of the public and force everyone to wear masks and will vote to remove them when they come up for re election....
ReplyDeleteA Parks and Recreation episode brought to life.
ReplyDeleteJoplin never ceases to amaze me when showing just how far humanity can regress.
"To hell with you're right to live, this mask is itchy"
Not that many years ago some of these same people were all wee wee'd up about seatbelts in cars.
ReplyDelete“If I’m in an accident, I don’t want to be trapped in my vehicle during a fire or if it goes into the water.”
5:16 is talking about how "to many died in our history to procure and and preserve our freedoms", but they can't personally bothered to wear a fn mask for 15 minutes at the store. MAGAt hypocrisy on full display.
ReplyDeleteDid the five no votes all ride to the meeting on the short bus?
ReplyDelete