Los Angeles County could issue an indoor mask mandate this Friday. The City of Beverly Hills is not on board. Leaders voted unanimously Monday not to deploy city resources to enforce another indoor masking requirement.
“Our job is to be proactive and public about what we believe. This is a united City Council and community that cares about health,” Mayor Lili Bosse said. “We are not where we were in 2020, and now we need to move forward as a community and be part of the solution.”
Beverly Hills devoted significant resources to enforce the initial mask mandate.
“For 11 months, Beverly Hills city staff and contract workers — including public works, police and park ranger employees — had almost 55,000 contacts with the public or businesses about issues related to masks, the agenda said. Employees issued almost 200 citations related to people not wearing masks,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Beverly Hills officials say they are also considering the creation of their own health department, which would be a massive undertaking. The city’s position underscores dissatisfaction with the Los Angeles County Public Health Department and some of the actions it has taken during the pandemic.
Friday’s mandate is not set in stone. County officials have said it could be delayed due to a slowing of new cases in the county. The flattening of local infections comes amid a decline in cases statewide.
The county is expected to announce its decision on the mandate Thursday.
UPDATE: Feeling the pressure, LA County forgoes another mask mandate.