The city of McAllen is still trying to determine whether cities can legally mandate masks under the new order issued by Gov. Greg Abbott, an order which Mayor Jim Darling called “contradictory at best.”

During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Darling said there was still some confusion regarding Abbott’s order which lifts a statewide mask mandate and allows businesses to return to 100% capacity. The order goes into effect on March 10.

While businesses are allowed to require the use of masks on their premises, Darling said there were still plenty of public spaces such as the city’s library, their parks and areas of city hall.

Darling said the city wasn’t sure whether Abbott’s order allowed them to require masks in those areas but, nonetheless, strongly encouraged the public to do so.

“We’re going to seek legal advice so we make sure we’re not caught up in some legal quagmire about whether we can or not,” Darling said. “Our position is if we can, and legally justify that, then we’re going to go ahead and do that but we’ll give a report next week.”

Some areas of city hall, such as his private office, those of the city manager and others in city hall that aren’t easily accessible to the public, will still require masks.

He added there were some areas in the city that were mandated by federal law to require masks such as the airport or the city’s bus service.

The city of Edinburg also stated Wednesday that officials there are also waiting for further guidance from the state and the county.

“The City will continue to implement the same safety protocols it has in the past,” Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina stated in a news release. “We ask that our citizens continue to practice social distancing and wear their facial coverings when attending City events.”

Edinburg City Manager Ron Garza said the city had yet to hear of a business in their city that intended to remove their mask requirements.

“So our business community does understand that customers and employees are safer with masks,” Garza stated.

As for McAllen businesses that will continue to mandate masks, Darling urged the public to be respectful of that store or restaurant by wearing the mask.

“We don’t want law enforcement to get involved but if you have a business that requires masks, please wear them, respect that business.” Darling said. “We don’t want to have our police department have to intervene in those situations but as we have in the past, we will — respecting the businesses’ right which the governor gave them the right to require masks.”

On the part of those businesses, Darling said he hoped management for those businesses would take responsibility of any possible confrontations with customers who resisted the use of masks instead of placing that burden on their frontline workers.

“The bottom line is be safe, be respectful to everybody,” Darling said. “We want our businesses to open, we want them to open safely, and we want to keep them open and the only way we do that is respect each other and practice safe communication and safe meetings.”


[email protected]