Modesto wants more community input on mask ordinance, launches survey
As a decision over Modesto’s mask ordinance still looms, the city has launched a survey asking residents to share their opinion on it.
The survey follows the Community Police Review Board’s September recommendation that Modesto include questions about the ordinance in its community survey to gather additional public input. The board also has urged the city to repeal the ordinance, but no public discussion or decision has yet been made.
Survey results are expected in the coming weeks.
“The City will continue to analyze all relevant factors including legal and community concerns in order to provide the City Council with options to consider,” the city wrote in a statement to The Bee.
National opinion and research firm Probolsky Research is conducting the survey online and by phone. Online survey participants will receive an invitation by email or text message containing a unique link that can be used only once. The survey asks Modestans 53 questions on various topics, including housing development and the proposed soccer stadium.
Regarding the public assembly ordinance, respondents are asked whether they are “aware of the City of Modesto’s ordinance prohibiting masks or face coverings at public protests or assemblies except when needed for medical or religious reasons,” whether they support or oppose it, and why. Modesto adopted the mask ordinance in 2019 at thePolice Department’s request ahead of a planned straight-pride rally. During the “ICE-Out” and “No Kings” protests on June 14, five people were arrested on suspicion of wearing face coverings.
Though the charges were dropped, criticism of MPD’s enforcement of the ordinance persisted, and public comments at City Council and Community Police Review Board meetings have called for the ordinance’s immediate repeal.
City wants to hear from entire community
City Manager Joe Lopez, who received the recommendation from the CPRB, thanked the board for its work and suggestions in an Oct. 2 letter. He agreed that additional community voices and concerns should be considered before any decisions are made.
“For this reason, my office is taking several additional steps to fully evaluate potential future changes to the Ordinance before bringing final recommendations and options to the City Council for consideration,” Lopez wrote.
Lopez acknowledged the many residents who have called for the immediate repeal of the ordinance during CPRB and City Council meetings but noted that the City must also consider the views of the entire Modesto community.
This includes the residents and business owners the ordinance is “designed to protect in the form of public safety,” as well as individuals who may feel deterred from protesting if the ordinance is changed, he said. Lopez said the city recently also has been hearing sentiments from community members who support the ordinance.
“Public input, whether for or against the Ordinance provision, is always informative,” Lopez added.
For this reason, the city decided to move forward with the community survey
In the meantime, Lopez said the city will continue working with its First Amendment counsel to evaluate all options and consult experts to ensure that protests take place in safe and lawful environments.
“It is important that we do our due diligence, given that the City has experienced violent protests in recent years,” Lopez stated.
On Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the First Amendment Coalition sent another letter to the city, reiterating its demand that the city repeal or amend its ban on face coverings at protests. This time, however, the ACLU and FAC set deadlines.
The letter demands the city provide a written update by Oct. 23 on the City Council’s position and to place the issue on a meeting agenda by Nov. 4. The groups warned that failure to meet these deadlines could result in legal action.
It also states that the ordinance “poses an ongoing threat to constitutional freedoms, especially in light of upcoming national protests,” such as the “No Kings” protest scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18, in Modesto.
“While such a survey may offer additional insight as to the Ordinance’s scope and impact, the survey cannot cure the legal deficiencies that we have identified in our letters,” the letter stated. “The survey’s development and administration should therefore not delay open discussion and action.”
Bee reporter Trevor Morgan contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 13, 2025 at 10:15 AM.
