In a stand for individual liberty, Huntington Beach City Council members have cast their votes to prohibit mask mandates and COVID-19 vaccine requirements within the city.
The motion, introduced by Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark, gained approval in a 4-3 vote during a council session held last Tuesday.
The ban highlights the council’s concern that past mask mandates implemented throughout the pandemic “unnecessarily limited the freedoms of the citizens of Huntington Beach,” even those who faced no risk of exposure to the virus. The resolution requests that the city manager prepare a resolution for the next city council meeting that declares Huntington Beach a “no mask and no vaccine mandate city.”
“Individuals, whether at City Hall or in the private sector, should have a right to choose whether to wear a mask or get vaccinated or boosted,” the resolution reads.
While the ban applies to city personnel and public areas, it does not prevent private businesses from requiring mask mandates on their property.
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley disagreed with the council’s action and contended that the council lacks the authority to pass health policies in an area traditionally under state jurisdiction.
One city councilman who objected to the ban, argued that there are “years and years and years” of data that support the claims that mask-wearing prevents the spread of COVID-19.
“To say that masks don’t work goes against years and years and years of data,” argued Councilman Dan Kalmick. “You can tell that to every paint sprayer, to every surgeon, to everybody in a full Class A hazmat suit.”
With a minimal rise in a new COVID-19 variant, there has been growing sentiment among the mainstream media to reinstitute COVID-19 protocols. By quickly implementing a citywide ban on vaccine and mask mandates, Huntington Beach City Council is proactively defending the freedom and liberty of its constituents.
