By Mary O’KEEFE

Wearing a mask is not a suggestion but a mandatory order in the City of Glendale anytime anyone is in public.
“Our goal to educate and gain compliance voluntarily, and we have generally been successful with counseling by GPD and Neighborhood Services-Code Enforcement. That said, if the violation is egregious, we have the ability to issue citations. Our community is working to slow the spread of COVID-19 with these procedures by educating, (strongly) encouraging and through citations if necessary,” according to the City of Glendale orders.
The order throughout LA County requires employers of essential workers to supply face coverings to their employees. In addition the public must wear face coverings when entering any public area, like a grocery store, though the County strongly suggests wearing a face covering anytime they leave their house. According to LA County Public Health, everyone is asked to wear a face covering when they are interacting with others in publilc or private spaces who are not members of their household.
CVW has been contacted by numerous readers who are concerned that they have seen people who are not following the face mask order. Most of the complaints were not of workers but of members of the public not wearing masks while shopping at stores.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. and Glendale Police Dept. representatives have encouraged people to call when they see an issue concerning face coverings. They both stated they will respond to these calls.
“At Crescenta Valley Station our goal is to respond to every call for service. If a citizen calls regarding a violation of the Safer-At-Home Order, our intent is to respond and educate the violator(s) on the order and dangers of violating it. We are sensitive to the fact many people are growing tired of complying with the Health Department Order and want a return to normalcy. As a last resort, deputies can issue a citation for violating Health and Safety Code 120220, which states: ‘When quarantine or isolation, either strict or modified, is established by a health officer, all persons shall obey his or her rules, orders, and regulations,’” said Sgt. Thomas Brooks, LASD/CV Sheriff Station.
“The key hurdle is to get this information out to the public,” said Sgt. Hauptmann, GPD spokesman.
Hauptmann added that when officers are called out they first make certain people understand the order. If the person does not have a mask officers carry them in their vehicles to provide those in need of a face covering.
He echoed Brooks’ sensitivity about those who have been complying with the Safer-At-Home Order but also reminds people this is an order and not a suggestion.
For those who do not comply or are defiant about the order, officers can cite them. The citation carries fines not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed six months.
In Glendale, violations may also be enforced by Glendale Municipal Code Chapter 1.24, with fines of $400 for the first citation, $1,000 for the second citation and $2,000 for the third citation.