@CareNotCOVIDChi
Ald. Lopez (Ward 15) recently introduced an anti-mask ordinance amendment. You can read it here.
The proposed amendment was introduced to Chicago’s Committee on Public Safety. It is possible that the proposed ordinance will not even be put on the Committee’s agenda—which is what we want. We don’t want it to even get that far!
The person who ultimately decides whether or not it’s put on the agenda is the Chair of the Committee: Ald. Hopkins.
ACTION ITEMS (script suggestions at the bottom):
- Call/email the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety, Ald. Hopkins (Ward 2). According to the Chief of Staff of Ald. Hadden’s office (who I spoke to about this), it ultimately comes down to Hopkins whether the proposed anti-mask ordinance amendment gets put on an agenda. We want him on *our* side.
E-mail: office@aldermanhopkins.com
Ward Office Phone: (312) 643-2299
- Call/email the other members of the Committee on Public Safety—there are 18 of them, so please do this as your energy allows.
Yancy (Ward 5)
E-mail: Ward05@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (312) 744-6832
Chico (Ward 10)
E-mail: Ward10@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 768-8138
Vasquez (Ward 40)
E-mail: Ward40@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 654-1867
Knudsen (Ward 43)
E-mail: Ward43@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 348-9500
Fuentes (Ward 26)
E-mail: Ward26@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 395-0143
Gutierrez (Ward 14)
E-mail: Ward14@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: 773-236-0117
Gardiner (Ward 45)
E-mail: Ward45@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 853-0799
Sposato (Ward 38)
E-mail: Ward38@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 283-3838
Taliaferro (Ward 29)
E-mail: Ward29@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 237-6460
Tabares (Ward 23)
E-mail: Ward23@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 582-4444
Sigcho-Lopez (Ward 25)
E-mail: Ward25@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 523-4100
Silverstein (Ward 50)
E-mail: Ward50@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 262-1050
Manaa-Hoppenworth (Ward 48)
E-mail: info@the48thward.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 784-5277
Curtis (Ward 18)
E-mail: Ward18@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 284-5057
Martin (Ward 47)
E-mail: Ward47@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 868-4747
Hadden (Ward 49)
E-mail: Ward49@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 338-5796
Lopez (Ward 15) - Let him know his ordinance amendment is not acceptable!
E-mail: Ward15@cityofchicago.org Ward Office Phone: (773) 823-1539
- Call/email *your* Alderperson, if not listed above.
- Tell us where the Alders stand: Let us know whether they are opposed to the ordinance or not! Tell Clean Air Club / @Clean_Air_Club_ (they are compiling a spreadsheet of responses). If you got an emailed response, please send them a copy of what they said, too.
Script suggestions for Chicagoans:
I’m [A CHICAGOAN, A CONSTITUENT OF YOUR WARD, ETC], and I’m deeply concerned about a proposed ordinance amendment recently introduced by Alderman Lopez.
His proposed Section 8-5-010, “Enhanced penalties for concealing or attempting to conceal identity”, would criminalize masks. Masks, such as N95s, are essential medical devices that are critical to protecting one’s health and the health of others. In addition to protecting people from infectious respiratory diseases, such as COVID-19, they are also used by people to combat allergies during pollen season, as well as to protect themselves from air pollution—like the dangerous Canadian wildfire smoke that decimated Chicago’s air quality last year.
People have a right to use whatever medical devices they need, at any time, in any setting, without penalty or fear of punishment. Any proposed changes to Chicago’s Municipal Code that would threaten to take away our right to wear a mask is not just materially dangerous and ableist—it would also open the door to further criminalizing disabled people’s ability to freely and safely participate in public life. This is a civil rights issue, and it would also undermine our constitutional right to participate in protest.
Further, this proposed ordinance would put our Black and Brown community members at additional risk, both from worse health outcomes and from increased harassment from the Chicago Police Department (CPD). According to the lawsuit filed by the ACLU, Latino people are twice as likely, and Black people four times as likely, to be stopped by CPD while driving in Chicago. Passing an ordinance criminalizing masking increases the likelihood these communities will be unduly targeted and harassed. These same groups are also disproportionately impacted by medical and environment racism, and consequently have worse health outcomes. Ald. Lopez’s proposed ordinance would reproduce and exacerbate these injustices.
I am [DISABLED, IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION, HAD AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT, ETC], and I urge you to strongly oppose Ald. Lopez’s ordinance amendment 8-5-010. Where do you stand on it?
Script suggestions for those who live outside of Chicago:
I’m a resident of [TOWN], and I visit Chicago frequently for [WHATEVER]. I’m deeply concerned about a proposed ordinance amendment recently introduced by Alderman Lopez.
His proposed Section 8-5-010, “Enhanced penalties for concealing or attempting to conceal identity”, would criminalize masks. Masks, such as N95s, are essential medical devices that are critical to protecting one’s health and the health of others. In addition to protecting people from infectious respiratory diseases, such as COVID-19, they are also used by people to combat allergies during pollen season, as well as to protect themselves from air pollution—like the dangerous Canadian wildfire smoke that decimated Chicago’s air quality last year.
People have a right to use whatever medical devices they need, at any time in any setting, without penalty or fear of punishment. Any proposed changes to Chicago’s Municipal Code that would threaten to take away our right to wear a mask is not just materially dangerous and ableist—it would also open the door to further criminalizing disabled people’s ability to freely and safely participate in public life. This is a civil rights issue, and it would also undermine our constitutional right to participate in protest.
Further, this proposed ordinance would put our Black and Brown community members at additional risk, both from worse health outcomes and from increased harassment from the Chicago Police Department (CPD). According to the lawsuit filed by the ACLU, Latinos are twice as likely, and Blacks are four times as likely, to be stopped by CPD while driving in Chicago. Passing an ordinance criminalizing masking increases the likelihood these communities will be unduly targeted and harassed. These same groups are also disproportionately impacted by medical and environment racism, and consequently have worse health outcomes. Ald. Lopez’s proposed ordinance would reproduce and exacerbate these injustices.
If this were to be incorporated into Chicago’s Municipal Code, it would prevent me from safely traveling to Chicago. If it becomes law, I will no longer have safe access to your city, and I will spend my money elsewhere. I am [DISABLED, IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION, HAD AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT, ETC], and I urge you to strongly oppose Ald. Lopez’s ordinance amendment 8-5-010. Where do you stand on it?
You may also include:
Masking as ADA accommodations
- Masking as a tool for survival; medically necessary device like a wheelchair or other mobility and accessibility aids, glasses, hearing aid
- When we criminalize masking we make it impossible for immunocompromised and other people to work, support the economy, be part of society
Collective Wellbeing & (What they Care About) The Economy
- Collective impact on hospitals, school and work sick days. Will cause more people to miss work and school; cause delays in receiving crucial healthcare; deplete the labor force and damage the economy
- Masks as necessary for general health & wellness for many elderly and disabled people - not just about COVID
Ban as Impinging on Personal Freedom / Protections of 14th Amendment / Encouraging Profiling
- It impinges on our freedom. Mask wearing has been presented as a matter of personal choice and Ald. Lopez wants to strip us of that choice, he wants to make that choice for us
- People have different reasons for needing to cover their bodies (religious, medical, psychological) and they should have a right to do so. You cannot determine the reason that someone is covering their body just by looking at them; this ban could impinge on 14th amendment rights
- This will disproportionately impact people who already receive discrimination and biased treatment from law enforcement.
- There is no legitimate link between medical mask-wearing and the original intent of laws against racist hate groups; this is a misguided perversion of previous legislation. People with disabilities are not the KKK.
Ongoing Pandemic/Risks to Public Health and Safety
- As we speak, new COVID variants have emerged and experts predict another wave of infections, disabilities, and death this summer. To criminalize the use of an essential medical device during an ongoing risk to public health is irresponsible and endangers your constituents
Personal Connection
- Having been disabled by COVID-19, I worry for others who could be disabled and also for what would happen if I were to get sick again; I could lose the ability to work and support myself or to participate in social life, be dependent on systems that can’t support me
Credit Where Credit Is Due!
This document is compiled from three different sources: