Letters: Mask ban means we will no longer shop, dine or enjoy events in Louisville

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding Ordinance 130.01, which seeks to enforce a ban on masks in public places. This ordinance will profoundly impact my family's ability to visit and participate in the vibrant economy of Louisville.Enforcing this ordinance would put the health, safety, and freedom of my family, and many others like us, at great risk. Since my wife completed chemotherapy for stage 3 Lymphoma in 2019, masks have been a crucial tool in protecting us and everyone who is immunocompromised or vulnerable to severe illness. Even a simple cold has caused ER visits and hospital stays. We, who have experienced much isolation in the pandemic, would be prevented from freely and safely engaging in everyday activities, thus hindering our ability to contribute to and benefit from the local economy.

There have been documented cases of discrimination against immunocompromised people wearing masks in other cities where such bans were proposed, and we fear businesses could openly discriminate against people who are wearing masks for legitimate health reasons.Because of this, we would no longer shop, dine, or enjoy events in Louisville. My kids especially enjoy our zoo membership, but this ordinance would potentially involve screening and profiling of our family when we visit — a trauma that I would not expose our children to. This is especially difficult for my oldest daughter, a freshman at the University of Louisville, who regularly masks to protect herself and my wife. She has the same genetic marker for cancer as my wife but cannot be considered immunocompromised by a doctor.

Letters: Greenberg's mask ban hurts people with illnesses and allows targeting of others

My other teenage children, who have been actively engaged in this issue, express these concerns poignantly in their own words. One of them writes: "Ordinance 130.01 you are considering enforcing will severely affect the health and well-being of many mask-wearers who live in and around Louisville, including me and my family. I have been wearing a face mask ever since the outbreak of COVID to protect my mom, who had cancer and is immunocompromised, and my baby brother and sisters, who would be greatly harmed if they succumbed to long-COVID ."Another shares: "Banning masks in public places will harm my family. My family has many people vulnerable to COVID-19, and this law will make it hard for us to live. My mother has just recovered from cancer, and we also have several babies in the house with weak immune systems. Criminalizing masks will also limit my sister’s college opportunities."We urge Mayor Craig Greenberg and the city to consider the severe repercussions this ordinance would have on families like ours and to refrain from enforcing it. This ordinance needs to be abolished, not amended. The well-being of many residents depends on maintaining their right to wear masks for protection. —The Wilde Family, 47108

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Letters: Mask ban means we will no longer shop, dine or enjoy events in Louisville