“Cincinnati passes unconstitutional ordinances,” yells a lone protester outside Cincinnati City Hall while the debate went on inside over the proposed ordinance.

"This is a once-in-a-generation, global health emergency,” said Council Member Greg Landsman, who co-authored the ordinance in part at the urging of Health Commissioner Melba Moore.

"It is my responsibility to protect you by wearing my mask,” Moore testified to council.

For council member Wendell Young, the decision was personal.

“My granddaughter, her mother has COVID-19. A friend of mine, her husband has COVID-19. I recently lost a family member to this disease," Young said.

Jeff Pastor is against the ordinance, and it was also personal for him.

“I'm always concerned for the skin that I'm in, and the disparity of the enforcement, whether it's the police department or the health department or anyone else."

The fine for non-compliance will be $25 with tickets administered by health inspectors who will first give out masks instead of ticketing.

"We will have a scenario in which we are passing out way more masks than tickets,” said Landsman. “That's the goal."

"I don't understand why it's necessary,” argued Council Member Betsy Sunderman. “If the health department can already go out and hand out masks and encourage people to wear masks, they can already do that."

But with the pound of the gavel, the ordinance passed. City Council also had the seven votes it needed to waive the second and third readings, so the ordinance goes into effect next week, July 9 -- meaning voices opposed will soon be a bit more muffled.

Here are the tenets of the ordinance as passed:

It would require masks indoors at/on:

Businesses open to the public
City-operated facility open to the public
Public transportation
It would not include religious facilities.

Exceptions:

Health reasons
Violations of safety policies
Working alone in an area not open to the public
Children under 6
While exercising
While eating, drinking at restaurants and bars or outdoors
First responders
Schools are also excluded because they will likely have their own regulations.

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