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September 8, 2021

‘Mask police’ find few scofflaws on Orange Street

Photo | Liese Klein New Health Director Maritza Bond and Mayor Justin Elicker address the media during a mask-compliance visit to Crafted by Hand Cafe on Orange Street.
By Liese Klein

Whether surgical, cloth or even a star-and-stripes-patterned neck gaiter, masks of all kinds were on display Tuesday afternoon at New Haven businesses.

During the city’s latest “mask compliance canvass” with the media, few were non-compliant at the businesses visited along Orange Street. The canvass was conducted by Health Department officials along with Health Director Maritza Bond and Mayor Justin Elicker.

“My sense is that people are trying to do the right thing,” Elicker said before the canvassers set out. “We had conversations before implementing this mask mandate with the business community — a lot of folks have said, ‘It’s helpful to us, it gives us the ability to push our customers to do the right thing and keep our employees safe as well.’”

Businesses where employees fail to mask up or that serve customers without masks at the counter will first get a verbal warning, followed by a written warning and then fines up to $100. If all else fails, city officials will close down the business. 

Only four businesses of 75 warned since the mask mandate was imposed on Aug. 9 have had to be cited a second time, Bond said. 

Photo | Liese Klein
G Cafe Bakery Manager Tyler Demora speaks to New Haven Health Department workers about mask compliance at the business.

“I play the mask police,” said Tyler Demora with a laugh. He’s the manager at G Cafe Bakery at 141 Orange, where patrons looked up from their laptops on an outdoor patio as the canvassing squad and TV news crews visited. 

Demora said he had a few people get angry when asked to mask up earlier in the pandemic, but no one has complained this time around. 

New Haven’s tough stance on masking has had benefits for the business community, said Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli. 

“I think it gives everyone a sense that we’re following the public health protocol, and that supports businesses across the board,” Piscitelli said. “We want to stay open and continue the recovery, and the mask-wearing is part of that process.”

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.

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