‘We need to do something’: Las Cruces City Council will soon vote on making masks mandatory in city
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- The Las Cruces City Council on Friday signaled that it will soon vote on whether to require all residents of the city to wear masks in public as an effort aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus.
"No one wants to wear a mask," said Councilwoman Johana Bencomo, who represents District 4. "I don't want to wear a mask. But I know I have to. That's sort of the point."
When ABC-7 visited a Walgreens, Walmart and a local grocery store, some residents chose to wear masks and others did not.
"If people were going to do this because they want to, then they already would have," said Councilwoman Tessa Abeyta-Stuve, who represents district two. "It's just too may people not adhering to these guidelines."
Police Chief Patrick Gallagher told councilors he worries about jeopardizing the safety of his officers by putting them in contact with people who choose not to wear masks.
"If we increase our exposure of officers to people who are not wearing masks, I worry our risk of exposure would be higher," said Chief Gallagher. "It kind of defeats the purpose of keeping people safe when we have to put hands on them and take them to jail."
Despite Chief Gallagher's hesitation, most city councilors were in favor of requiring masks throughout the city. Mayor Ken Miyagishima said he expects a vote on either May 18 or May 22.
"We need to do something and do it now," said Councilwoman Kasandra Gandara, who represents District 1. "I'm not about trying to trample on people's civil liberties."
