[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6457914,"mediaKeyId","5825572-b5ef3380c330dfbe6f3808e4bc29c8d2","parentId",5825572,"title","Modesto CPRB ad hoc committee urges repeal of city—mask provision; board backs recommendation","audioSeconds",3500,"startMs",2710000,"endMs",6210000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825572-b5ef3380c330dfbe6f3808e4bc29c8d2&start=2710&end=6210","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825572-b5ef3380c330dfbe6f3808e4bc29c8d2/thumbnail_2710000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6457914/Modesto-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Modesto-CPRB-ad-hoc-committee-urges-repeal-of-citymask-provision-board-backs-recommendation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457914-7c386640559d05c00f538c6e2e79c5b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135128&Signature=Fwr4sCHiUq7C~DMF~C1RECy8iwza3BLlROh1drJ9KqZfOOfyCxKQz3XGtYeGBo5WVgXQ6VadH2b~v61qsZABXneueKqJQwwG~xGBpCJD1VWDXADxyg822aYuU-jWnS6Pn3mZkixNZ3NB3bMkeR0Yei4OO~hggR9Qly0Wwi-36l5ZwSGW1TQ61g-Y5KxeXWkeczs3WEEmhyp1~HpAiOU2DZ80nJ84zUr7xupOWENgZc0lVS8NiKQTeHi8dXJ~i1dhRmhMNNK8-NoFe4EXAKsrwls8joKi-3pAwMawQ5WjYDeGOXT7QY8-0If2RLZ2YBJF9WaRyJOOuH8GYFVKV57a0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Modesto","date","2025-09-24T16:49:40.57Z","article","The Modesto Community Police Review Board on Sept. 17 recommended the city repeal the mask provision in Modesto Municipal Code 4-23.02, subsection 13, after receiving a report from an ad hoc committee and hearing more than two hours of public comment that described the provision as vague, overbroad and chilling to protected speech.

The ad hoc committee\u0000—led in the presentation by Wendy (ad hoc committee member) and listing authors Brad Hahn, Nico Lolo Rio and Latricia Beasley Day\u0000recommended repeal of the subsection that criminalizes wearing \"a mask, scarf, bandana, or any other accessory or item that covers or partially covers the face ... and conceals the wearer's identity,\" with limited exceptions for religious or medical necessity. The committee also recommended that remaining portions of the ordinance be referred to the city manager and city attorney for further review.

Why it matters: community members, civil liberties groups and two local attorneys told the board that the provision has been used selectively and risks violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Several speakers said the ordinance had been enforced against people of color and organizers of a June 14 protest while other groups were left alone, and urged removal before future demonstrations.

Committee findings and public input

Wendy summarized the committee\u0000which examined the original 2019 ordinance, the 2021 amendments, state law (including California Penal Code section 185), letters the group received from the ACLU, First Amendment Coalition, NAACP and CB BIPOC, and comparisons with other California cities. The committee concluded the subsection is legally risky and not needed for public safety; it proposed several alternatives including encouraging megaphone use by event organizers and community training for safety reporting.

More than 30 people spoke at the public comment period. Ryan Roth Gallo, a local attorney, told the board the code \"is overly broad, it's vague and I think it really needs to be repealed.\" Harlan Diven, also an attorney, urged the board to seek investigations into police tactics used at the June 14 protest. Organizers and participants from Central Valley BIPOC (CB BIPOC) and others described arrests and the use of force they said were linked to enforcement of the mask provision. Several speakers asked the board not to condition community safety tools on coordination with the police, arguing that organizers should not be required to register with or be trained by the department.

Board discussion and actions

Board members debated process options: (a) refer questions to the city's planned civic survey vendor (Probolski) for 2' quick questions; (b) ask the city manager and city attorney for a time-bound legal review of the full ordinance; or (c) adopt a recommendation now and pair that with community outreach later. The board ultimately voted on two actions related to the committee\u0000recommendations:

- Recommending repeal of Modesto Municipal Code 4-23.02, subsection 13 (the mask provision). The board recorded the motion and, by roll call, approved a recommendation to the city manager to repeal subsection 13. The board announced the motion passed with a tally of 7 yes, 1 no and 1 absent.

- Asking the city to include up to three questions prepared by the CPRB in the city's upcoming civic survey (administered by the city's consultant). That motion passed by a unanimous recorded vote of 8\u0000yes, 0\u0000no.

What the committee did not decide

The committee explicitly noted its presentation was not a legal opinion and recommended the city attorney prepare any formal constitutional analysis. The CPRB also did not adopt the committee's other operational proposals (for example, a formal program to train community volunteers as \"eyes and ears\"). Several board members and public commenters opposed proposals that would have organizers register with the police, allow officers embedded in crowds in \"plainclothes\" or otherwise expand police-directed crowd management.

Next steps

The CPRB will forward the recommendation to the city manager for consideration by the city attorney and council. The board also secured agreement with staff to pursue inclusion of CPRB questions in the city's near-term civic survey. The ad hoc committee and several board members signaled they will continue community outreach and may return the matter for further board action once the city manager\u0000or city attorney provides analyses or council direction.

Ending

Board Chair Solorio closed discussion after the votes and the meeting moved to other business pieces.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Community Policy Review Board Meeting: September 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Modesto Community Police Review Board on Sept. 17 recommended the city repeal the mask provision in Modesto Municipal Code 4-23.02, subsection 13, after receiving an ad hoc committee report and hearing extensive public comment.","taxTitle","Modesto City, Stanislaus County, California","taxId",3811,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6457909,"Modesto CPRB approves 2024 annual report and sends survey questions to city consultant",778,1932000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825572-b5ef3380c330dfbe6f3808e4bc29c8d2&start=1932&end=2710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825572-b5ef3380c330dfbe6f3808e4bc29c8d2/thumbnail_1932000.jpg","/articles/6457909/Modesto-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Modesto-CPRB-approves-2024-annual-report-and-sends-survey-questions-to-city-consultant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457909-e8859f6484a38ee35827eec751b15378/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135128&Signature=SVkB~-u6ag2Qr9hPy0wGsjp6LPBfYVGUoM2pIh~aP6ms7CC8jqbkAdb4bNMiN8rFfDCKO8Gq7Lw7~H09OaLLA0pYBtmWOomz00Ofq4Vs5XkcNg3OPc0h1ZDED21x6hrB~SuLXUfAycis~5loQUGR~FiFynlignnB1Yxg377wc57Hkni~xVpAOa8ItbACzvyJquOvcePAiNHdYAlDPRVeYGRzrPYVS5kgaoeIpZzVso-IhRasN8ecxrZCHzlvX9XFnSghT1jzYC6HQQ3WkxHrdcTPlEuwHOv8vpoijhinvXDsxbhkATK99B8kNowiQDPXZ7hMRnbI5P7Gx2HANCteQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Modesto Community Police Review Board approved its annual report for Jan. 1\u0000Dec. 31, 2024, and directed staff to pursue inclusion of CPRB questions in an upcoming citywide survey, the board said at its Sept. 17 meeting.

At the start of the meeting the board voted to approve the minutes from its Aug. 20 meeting by voice vote. Later, after the ad hoc committee presentation and public comment on the mask provision, the board took the annual report up for final consideration, incorporated minor wording changes and approved the report by voice vote.

Why it matters: The annual report documents the CPRB\u0000its recommendations, community outreach and requests for resources\u0000and will be delivered to the city manager and posted publicly. Board members said the report will help guide budget and outreach requests and set the board's work plan for the coming year.

Survey coordination

The board also approved a motion to ask the city manager's office and the city's survey vendor (a consultant the city has engaged for a civic survey) to add up to three CPRB questions about the mask provision to an imminent citywide survey. Staff told the board the vendor is prepared to include two to three neutral questions and that the city expects to present survey results to council in November. The motion to request inclusion of CPRB questions passed by recorded vote, 8\u0000yeas, 0\u0000nays.

Board process notes

Board members discussed whether the CPRB should run its own in-depth survey or use the city's consultant. Some members pressed for a broader, third-party-designed instrument to avoid bias; others said urgency and legal risk argued for immediate action. The board approved using the city's vendor to add a small number of questions while preserving the option to do additional outreach later.

Next steps

Staff will coordinate with the city manager's office and the consultant to finalize wording for up to three questions, collect results and return them to the CPRB and the council in time for a planned November workshop.

Ending

After the votes the meeting moved on to staff and board reports.","The Modesto Community Police Review Board approved its January\u0000December 2024 annual report and authorized staff to request that the city's civic-survey vendor include CPRB questions in the upcoming citywide survey.","actionData","errors"]

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Modesto CPRB ad hoc committee urges repeal of city—mask provision; board backs recommendation

Modesto CPRB approves 2024 annual report and sends survey questions to city consultant