Pensacola Council Keeps Mask Mandate In Place, Rejecting Mayor’s Proposal

September 25, 2020

The Pensacola City Council has rejected a proposal by Mayor Grover Robinson to end a mask mandate in the city.

Robinson proposed that the mandate be dropped because hospitalizations have continued to decline.

Some of the council members said they were concerned about dropping the mask mandate during the hurricane recovery period, but most expressed it might be a better idea in the future.

The current mandate, approved by the city council in late June, requires face coverings by employees and patrons in Pensacola businesses, and it also adds fines for violations. The ordinance applies only within the city limits of Pensacola, not in unincorporated Escambia County.

The ordinance includes exceptions that include young children, medical conditions and persons that are eating and drinking.

Comments

29 Responses to “Pensacola Council Keeps Mask Mandate In Place, Rejecting Mayor’s Proposal”

  1. John Smith on December 20th, 2020 12:56 pm

    The masks are nonsense. Whom ever is telling you there is scientific proof that masks from china or made of cloth help the spread of ANY virus clearly didn’t read the side of the boxes. You have a better chance of not getting splashed with water using a tennis racket than staying safe from wearing the blue masks.

    Also fact…. Less than 1% percent death rate from covid. This has everything to do with politics. I can’t believe the amount of trained professionals thay are walking along like lemmings in compliance with bs rules. Use you brain. Think for yourself.

  2. Sherrill Dye on October 2nd, 2020 12:02 pm

    As I read the comments above it is very sad to see how many selfish, uncaring, self centered, and self absorbed people are. Wearing masks is not political. It has nothing to do with the constitution or rights. It has everything to do with MORALS. It has everything to do with ‘DOING THE RIGHT THING” being considerate of others in this city, this country, and this world as a whole. Working together as ONE PEOPLE to control and one day hopefully rid all countries of this deadly virus.

  3. Dean on September 28th, 2020 3:36 am

    You non maskers are laughable. There is a definite scientific basis for wearing a mask and yet you with your second grade education are the medical experts! As I always say next time (Most of you unhealthy to begin with)?you have surgery tell those in the operating room not to wear a mask! Look at the comparison between Escambia and Santa Rosa (trump country). Santa Rosa infection rate most days more than twice Escambia county…with way less the population! Sheesh! Ignorance I guess is bliss!

  4. luvdljr on September 27th, 2020 11:05 am

    Wonder how many of these “mask pushers” will be taking their annual flu vaccine this year or is that still a government conspiracy.

  5. Kenneth B Way Sr on September 27th, 2020 10:05 am

    Wearing mask is your right. Not wearing a mask is your right. If your wearing a mask by yourself in a car or walking outside around no one . Its because your common sense thinking is low. If you wear a mask at the voting booth. We know who your voting for. If you remove your mask to smoke , dont worry about washing your hands.

  6. Layla Lichtenstein on September 26th, 2020 11:58 pm

    You should have to sign a waiver if you don’t wear a mask. If you don’t care about others or yourself, why should first responders spend time trying to save you? Not wearing a mask is just selfish and ignorant. Treat others as you wish to be treated.

  7. Brian on September 26th, 2020 11:30 pm

    Hello to everyone…

    I asks the following question, why if wearing masks is so effective then are we considering mandating flu shots for students, employees, health care workers, etc.

    I mean save the needle… keep the dirty masks

  8. T on September 26th, 2020 12:02 pm

    The fact that the latest CDC stats PROVE people under 45 have a miniscule mortality rate is all I need to know. Masks are unconstitutional. I refuse to wear one & highly suggest you all refuse too. You all so eagerly accepted these ‘mandates’ without question. This was only supposed to be for a short period of time for the greater good but it’s been 6 months. The governor just opened up the state with no restrictions. Why are we holding onto these draconian measures? If you’re too scared to breathe without a mask on (that has little effect) then YOU wear your mask. But don’t tell me what to do with my body!

  9. mnon on September 26th, 2020 2:02 am

    Funny how people want to bring up how other countries got covid under control, yet they don’t mention how they did it. I’ll tell you how. You wore a mask or got locked up, you stayed in your house on lockdowns or they nailed your doors shut, if you got out again you’d be thrown in prison or executed.

    Not in ‘Merica everyone seems to know more than doctors and scientists, everyone thinks their rights are being violated and most have turned this into a political issue instead of a global crisis.

    All oh you nay-sayers should get a job with the CDC or WHO or better yet, apply to teach at a medical school, because you are right and know so much.

    I say send everyone who doesn’t like it to Syria or Iran for a 4 year stint… see how much they love the freedom they do have here after.

  10. No Excuses on September 26th, 2020 12:21 am

    @Well:. Masks are effective if everyone uses them. The 95% KN95 masks are comfortable and do control the spread of the virus. I do believe it should be a personal choice to wear a mask, but common sense and courtesy should prevail in situations where social distancing can’t occur, such as in schools, businesses and grocery stores.

  11. DK on September 26th, 2020 12:05 am

    @John C. How you recon China has less than 5,000 deaths do you honestly believe that,if you believe that you probably also believe Sleepy Joe gonna hit tha lottery?

  12. Amy on September 25th, 2020 11:29 pm

    Maybe if YOUR worried about getting sick.. YOU need to stay in YOUR home under your bed and let the rest of us live our lives without your authoritarian Karen complex

  13. NPC on September 25th, 2020 10:11 pm

    “……and persons that are eating and drinking.”

    After months of waiting for a vaccine it is obvious the Pensacola city council has had the cure all along. The virus cannot or will not infect anyone who is eating or drinking.

  14. John Caro on September 25th, 2020 9:42 pm

    Did you know China has less than 5,000 deaths? Or that Vietnam has 0 deaths? We have more than twice the deaths in Florida alone because shelfish crybabies won’t wear masks. Every death or disability is caused by not wearing masks.

  15. Dale Flowers on September 25th, 2020 9:13 pm

    I was in town today for a medical appointment and afterward stopped at two restuarants for lunch. Both had a notice on the front door saying a mask was required per orders from Pensacola. Odd to me that I needed a mask to enter but there were people inside eating with their masks off, (of course).

    If some one wants to wear a mask to be safe that is fine. If that mask makes you “safe” then the wearer shouldn’t be overly concerned about a person who choses not to wear a mask.

    The efficacy of masks is mostly anecdotal, not scientific. I wear one if I have to. Today I didn’t dine in Pensacola. I drove outside of the city limits to eat at Subway. Freedom to choose.

  16. Ronda on September 25th, 2020 6:45 pm

    Just wondering how any who are advocating for the mandate by citing the fewer number of cases are explaining the declining number of cases in Escambia county over all and in Santa Rosa county where there was never a mask mandate.

  17. DK on September 25th, 2020 5:51 pm

    Just as planned they want you to live in fear and bow down to their rules no not me I ain’t no sheep bahhh.

  18. Roz on September 25th, 2020 3:53 pm

    Wearing a mask is great. It saves lives just like wearing a seat belt. We all want to go back to a normal life,following CDC guidelines is best for us all. I think all of Pensacola should wear a mask it’s not a hard thing to do.

  19. Amy on September 25th, 2020 3:07 pm

    Nazis

  20. Jim on September 25th, 2020 3:01 pm

    “… the executive order, which takes effect immediately, also prohibits local governments from closing businesses or collecting fines related to pandemic-related mandates, such as mask requirements.” The Orlando Sentinel, 9n the Florida Governor’s executive order doing away COVID19 restrictions statewide.

  21. Just4me on September 25th, 2020 2:02 pm

    Read the last sentence in another article in today’s issue… Florida Reopens Phase 3: DeSantis Lifts Restrictions On Restaurants, Other Businesses “Local governments cannot collect and fines or fees on individuals, and that includes to enforce a mask mandate.”

  22. KB on September 25th, 2020 1:46 pm

    With Desantis new order it says they can’t charge fines at least that’s what I just read?

  23. Jay on September 25th, 2020 1:43 pm

    @DDD

    So you are saying that you won’t come to town because you refuse to wear a mask…

    You do realize that you are an example of the mask mandate working, right?
    It is keeping the people that refuse to exercise safe and responsible behavior OUT of the city, thus keeping the city residents safer.

    So please, by all means, STAY AWAY.
    We thank you for your cooperation.

  24. Linda Dunwoody on September 25th, 2020 1:16 pm

    Science has proven that masks work in preventing the spread of this virus. Why do you think the number of cases is decreasing. It’s because of the mask mandate.

  25. DDD on September 25th, 2020 12:33 pm

    The businesses in the city will only continue to lose money. Most masks people wear don’t prevent Covid19. Masks should be an individual choice. I simply won’t spend money in the city until the mandate is removed. I will spend it where I live, in the county. City may have to increase property taxes next year to recoup losses due to the mandate. Enjoy.

  26. Well on September 25th, 2020 11:44 am

    And wearing a mask is kinda like jumping out of the plane with a sheet instead of a parachute.

    USELESS

  27. Steve on September 25th, 2020 10:07 am

    Removing the mask order is kinda like taking off a parachute in the middle of a jump because you are going slow.

  28. Ruth Jackson on September 25th, 2020 9:06 am

    Well you can stick your mask man date. We have been through enough and I’m sick of your rules. So shove them idiots.

  29. Josh Jones on September 25th, 2020 8:52 am

    Thank you Pensacola City Council for having the cojones to do the right thing. We’re not out of this yet and masks are a big part of what will eventually defeat, or at least control the virus:

    wash your hands often
    avoid close contact with others
    wear masks when around others
    cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
    clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.