Mayor de Blasio Acknowledges Protests but Says we Must Prevent a Second Wave of COVID

By Yehudit Garmaise

     Mayor Bill de Blasio acknowledged this morning in a press conference that he understands that “people,” seemingly alluding to Boro Parkers, may disagree with the nature of the city and state’s plans to reduce COVID outbreaks in the hotspots. 

“This is a democracy,” the mayor said, “and we appreciate that there are always going to be disagreements, but it is crucial that those who disagree still respect the fact that the state and city have made a decision for the health and safety of all.”

  De Blasio acknowledged that Americans have the right to protest and that “there is a place for peaceful protests,” but he added that “the NYPD will not tolerate people doing harm to others.”     

    “There will be no tolerance for assaults, for damage to property, for setting fires, and anything like that is unacceptable” the mayor said, alluding to a photographer, who was unfortunately assaulted last night during the neighborhood’s protests. 

   “When the NYPD makes clear to anybody that [he] needs to act in a way that is appropriate given the challenge we are facing, [he] must adhere to the instructions of the NYPD.

    “If you don’t [adhere], as in every other situation in this city, there will be consequences. The NYPD will give people warnings, will make the ground rules clear. But people have to follow those ground rules, or else consequences come next.”

 Among the consequences that Gov. Andrew Cuomo just signed into law in an executive order are fines of up to $15,000 per day for mass gatherings in violation of state laws. The mayor also mentioned fines as high as $1,000 per day given to people who refuse to wear face coverings or to maintain social distancing, after first being reminded and then given the opportunity.

   The governor also signed into law the temporary measure that houses of worship in red zones, which are areas with 3% positivity rates of COVID for seven consecutive days be limited to 25% maximum occupancy and a maximum of 10 people, the temporary closure of non-essential businesses, and a take-only mandate for restaurants.

    “No one wants to see anyone fined if it can be avoided, but it is a very serious situation, and people need to adhere to the new rules,” said Mayor de Blasio, who added that the city and state together will be enforcing those penalties.”

   “We have to greatly reduce the level of activity in the red zones, which those with the highest numbers of COVID positivity.”

   Citing a full-on second wave in Europe that de Blasio attributed to the continent letting its guard down, the mayor, emphasized that the city needs to address COVID upticks rigorously and quickly.

 “The faster we address [the upticks] all together, the faster we will stop this problem and get back on the right track,” the mayor  said. 

    “It will not be easy,” the mayor acknowledged, as he empathized with parents who want their kids in school and with business owners who are losing parnassah. “It will take hard work and discipline, and certainly there will be sacrifice.”

   But the mayor reminded New Yorkers, that “the faster we address this challenge [of the resurgence of COVID], the shorter the shutdown will be, and have to keep that in mind.”

   “For everyone who feels that the shutdown will be harmful or difficult for their lives, remember, we can overcome this quickly if we work together,” Mayor de Blasio said.

  “We need to stop this outbreak dead in its tracks for the good of all of New York City. Remember: we need to do this to save lives. The farther the coronavirus spreads again, the more vulnerable people will be reached. We cannot let that happen.”