An infringement on freedom or a simple thing to protect for the health of others?<\/p>\n
There is a wide disparity on how people view the wearing of masks, and it\u2019s a disparity that\u2019s playing out in both Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, where mask ordinances are in effect.<\/p>\n
And while some are working to rescind the Glenwood ordinance altogether, others are making it easier for people to obey the ordinance and wear a mask.<\/p>\n
Need a mask?<\/p>\n
The city of Glenwood Springs has purchased 10,000 disposable masks that can be given out to visitors and to local businesses in case customers don\u2019t have one of their own. These will cost the city 29 cents apiece, Sara Weigel, executive administrative assistant for the city of Glenwood Springs, said in an email.<\/p>\n
Native Son<\/p>\n
Ricky Rodriguez, owner of Native Son restaurant and bar in Glenwood, is leading an effort to rescind the mask ordinance. He is opposed to mask-wearing for several reasons.<\/p>\n
Requiring patrons to wear masks coupled with reduced occupancy restrictions is not good for business, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like right before running a marathon they cut one of your legs off and expect you to run it. That\u2019s what they\u2019re doing to us. \u2026 It\u2019s destroying our economy here, destroying small businesses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As a bartender, he said masks stifle human interaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s taking away that intimate connection with people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Making people wear masks is an infringement on their rights, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA big part of it is about our rights. It\u2019s (also) our right to do what we want in our business,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d prefer letting customers choose.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive people an option to come into a place. Put up a sign saying, \u2018We\u2019re not wearing masks, it\u2019s your right to come in or not,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also said it isn\u2019t fair to police.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Enforcing this ordinance) is putting the police department in a very bad situation,\u201d he said. \u201cHow can they enforce this temporary ordinance and be a positive presence with the citizens at the same time?\u201d<\/p>\n
Treadz<\/p>\n
Jon Zalinski, co-owner of Treadz shoe store and Toad & Co. clothing in Glenwood Springs, said he has to be the front line for mask ordinance information.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only big issue I have with customers that come in is that a lot of them are coming from other places that don\u2019t have mask ordinances and they have no idea, and we are the first people sometimes to even explain to them what our ordinance is,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
It comes down to getting the information out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest hurdle is some education, that\u2019s about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Glenwood Chamber<\/p>\n
One of the places visitors get information is from area chambers of commerce.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn everything we print or post on our website or answer in email or answer by phone we inform people that, \u2018By the way there\u2019s a mask ordinance currently in Glenwood Springs, which means that if you enter a business you have to wear a mask, if you\u2019re walking to a dining table you wear your mask until you get to your table, if you are going to the pool you wear your mask everywhere on the property except in the water,\u2019\u201d said Lisa Langer, director of tourism promotion for Visit Glenwood Springs, which is a department of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association.<\/p>\n
While that helps, it doesn\u2019t reach every visitor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are telling people verbally, but people driving through have no idea,\u201d Langer said.<\/p>\n
The Colorado Department of Transportation is using dynamic signage to spread the message that people should \u201cknow before you go\u201d when it comes to local health orders, but it\u2019s still up to visitors to do the research on their own.<\/p>\n
Carbondale Chamber<\/p>\n
The Carbondale chamber is also giving out as much information as it can.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn our website we have references to the task force page as well as the general messaging of what the general health orders are,\u201d said Katie Montie, office manager for the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen people are calling asking visitor questions we always make sure to let them know what the current standards are and where they can check for information. For people requesting physical info packets we\u2019re definitely making sure to make them aware as much as possible of what our community health approach is in our county and the town,\u201d Montie said.<\/p>\n
Bad for business?<\/p>\n
The mask ordinance isn\u2019t an issue only when considering visitors. Some area residents have been expressing their displeasure on Facebook. <\/p>\n
The group Open Silt up 100% has several posts from people saying they are refusing to shop in Glenwood Springs due to the mask ordinance. Some examples are: \u201cOur money will be spent in GJ\u201d: \u201cAvoiding spending any money in Glenwood \u2026 This overreach is getting old\u201d; and \u201cI will not be shopping in Glenwood!!!\u201d<\/p>\n
Custom Body Fitness<\/p>\n
Sandro Torres, owner of Custom Body Fitness in Glenwood, Carbondale and Basalt, is also not a fan of the mask ordinances. <\/p>\n
Like Rodriguez, Torres considers them a violation of his rights. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt should be a choice. \u2026 If I walk into a business and they tell me to wear a mask, I walk out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Whether at his business or elsewhere, he said masks are a physical barrier in terms of interaction with others.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe lose human contact. We can\u2019t see facial expressions, we can\u2019t tell if people are happy or angry,\u201d he sad.<\/p>\n
He related that one of his clients was concerned about the effects on children of seeing so many adults with masks and not being able to see their expressions.<\/p>\n
Torres also said that it\u2019s important to take action against the ordinances.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we don\u2019t fight locally, it\u2019s going to get worse nationally,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n