Brooke Carlson: Local businesses need city to act on face mask requirement

Following a week in which Olmsted County saw our highest number of Covid-19 cases yet, the Minnesota Medical Association joined many leading health organizations in recommending governments adopt face mask policies for indoor spaces. There is now little doubt that these policies will reduce virus transmission.

To keep businesses open and suggest consumers return to normal behavior, some of the City’s primary partners such as Mayo Clinic, Destination Medical Center, Olmsted County, and the Chamber jointly created the “Rochester Ready” initiative. Rochester Ready invites area businesses to sign a pledge to provide a safe environment for employees and guests of hotels, retail shops, and restaurants. The pledge leans heavily on the existing (and solid) Minnesota state reopening requirements. What Rochester Ready does not do is take the necessary step to require masks; instead, it states “Guests are encouraged to wear nonmedical (cloth) face coverings.”

At the request of Mayor Norton, Councilman Campion, and Councilman Wojcik, Rochester is drafting language requiring face masks in City facilities. They are also exploring The City’s options for rules about businesses. This is encouraging news. Based on my experience as a public health professional and a member of the small business community in Rochester, I believe that if we keep our health and economy at the center, the argument for a thoughtfully developed City policy requiring masks is clear.

In speaking with several owners of local brick and mortar businesses, their concerns were extensive and heartbreaking. Gray Duck Theater owner, Andy Smith, said “People who should be making decisions have thrust this into our hands. To expect us to come up with our own policies, cover the extra expenses of providing masks when we are already experiencing financial hardship, and deal with angry people without backup is very difficult.” He also expressed concerns that a negative encounter with a disgruntled customer could affect the theater’s reputation and business in the future. As an owner-operated business, if he gets sick his business will be forced to close for several weeks.

This local theater is not alone. Many of our businesses are already operating with minimal reserves and extra costs for health compliance, as those described in Rochester Ready. Some have creatively adapted their business models to stay afloat while others have closed their doors permanently. In my work with health and human services organizations, I see firsthand how business closures have unintended ripple effects for members of our community, our schools, and the systems designed to support those who have experienced job loss.

Sometimes, even in the face of opposition, our government agencies must make uncomfortable decisions to protect our health, safety, and economy. This is one of those times. Other cities around the state and country have developed policies geared towards outreach and education that provide exceptions for people with certain conditions and only have “teeth” such as fines or citations for people showing extreme disregard for health. These policies become a shared expectation which business owners can cite — beyond their own policy.

Wearing a mask is indeed an inconvenience (try getting a small child to stop pulling it down constantly!). Yet, we are in this together and should not have to face a decision that could affect our personal or family’s health and our ability to pay our bills. We need to lean on our policymakers to do the right thing in this uncharted time. To protect our most vulnerable residents and visitors and ensure a resilient economy, we need to enact a City-wide mask requirement for public commercial spaces. Now.

Brooke Carlson is a candidate for Rochester City Council President and owns a small health and human services consulting firm. Brooke has a B.Envd in urban planning, an M.A. in geography, and an M.P.H. in policy and administration. She lives in Ward 2 with her husband, two young sons, and two dogs.