More than 70 Milwaukee restaurants and businesses – including OnMilwaukee – have written a letter to Mayor Tom Barrett and Common Council President Cavalier Johnson, calling on them to require that masks be worn by patrons and workers in public spaces, including stores, theaters, museums, restaurants and bars (while not consuming food or beverages), to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The letter – titled "Mayor Barrett, President Johnson: Please Don't Let Us Become Florida or Texas" – comes signed by several restaurants from the city as well as Fiserv Forum, the Pabst Theater Group, Verlo and more. 

The letter notes that more than 20 states and hundreds of cities across the nation have mask mandates, as health experts have pointed to regular public mask wearing as one of the best ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus while a vaccine is in the works. 

"Without a city mandate, many customers will not be willing to come to our businesses," reads the letter. "Compliance with requirements a business may establish will be inconsistent at best. Our employees can't be assured of a safe work environment. And the risk is much higher for new outbreaks, which could result in new stay-at-home orders that put us out of business for good."

To sign a petition asking for a Milwaukee mask requirement, click here. The full letter can be found below: