West Point Mask Fight

There will soon be a change in the way customers in West Point can shop inside retail stores.

There will soon be a change in the way customers in west point can shop inside retail stores// city leaders pass an ordinance requiring all employees and customers to wear face coverings before entering// our quentin smith speaks with city leaders and a business owner about the changes.

Quentin what are they saying?

Scott, mayor robbie robinson says they're doing this to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus in clay county.... this month alone, he says there have been nearly two dozen new cases.... one business owner says he understands why the city passed this measure... but he also believes requiring people to wear face coverings could have a negative impact on his business.... as customers shop inside petal pushers...pretty soon we're face coverings like this...will be the new norm.

" it caught me by surprise for a little bit.

I wasn't real sure that it was going to happen until i heard about it yesterday."

Scott reed owns the flower shop and admits, he has mixed views about making customers wear face coverings.

"i understand we need to keep people healthy, we need to keep people safe, so i'm all for masks if that's what needs to happen.

I'm just a little bit worried from a business owner about enforcing an ordinance like that and how it could affect my business if someone chooses not to wear a mask."

If someone comes in without their face being covered, business owners would be required to ask the customer to leave the store.

"a lot of people are saying that in response to this or an opposition to this, they are just going to not shop in west point anymore, and that bothers me more than anything.

Owners didn't have anything to do with this ordinance, and for them to protest in a way by avoiding our businesses, that's only hurting us, and our employees, and people who are depending on the store."

" hopefully the general public will comply."

Mayor robbie robinson says the measure was passed strictly for safety reasons.

Within the past week, he says there have been 22 cases of covid-19 and he believes this measure could help flatten the curve.

"the ordinance will not take affect until monday, may 11 at noon.

There are some nuances about the language in the resolution that could possibly be addressed by the board early next week."

" honestly i hope some things change before it comes into play monday.

If things don't change, we will do the best that we can.

We're going to offer curbside if someone just doesn't want to wear a mask but still wants to shop here."

Robinson says some of the nuances they'll address next week is determining who will be in charge of paying the fine if customers violate the ordinance.

They'll decide if it'll fall on the customer or business owner.

I do want to point out....customers are not required to strictly wear facemasks.

The face coverings can include a t- shirt.... bandanna... or anything covering the nose