There is a revolt brewing in the Empire State over Gov. Kathy Hochul’s newly revived indoor mask mandate in response to a rising Covid infection rate and fears of the omicron variant. After further clarification, Hochul’s mask mandate will also include businesses that currently fall under a vaccine mandate as well, such as bars, restaurants, and office buildings in New York City. This means in addition to the vaccine requirement, many employees will now be back to wearing masks all day at work at their desks, even if they’re vaccinated.
Businesses and counties around the state were caught off guard by the governor who had previously vowed to be less “heavy-handed” with Covid restrictions than her predecessor, the disgraced Andrew Cuomo.
As a result of the surprise and disgust at the Governor’s actions, some places are straight-up defying the order:
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s sudden mask-at-your-desk mandate sparked outrage in New York City as it went into effect Monday despite the Big Apple having some of the lowest rates of COVID-19 and highest rates of vaccination in the nation.
The new statewide rules, put into effect largely to stem the tide of a surge in cases upstate, where vaccination rates are poor, went into effect just three days after she announced the order for all businesses that don’t require their workers, customers or visitors to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
One Manhattan hedge fund manager called Hochul’s order — which at first was met with confusion about whether it applied to offices as well as retail and service businesses — “shortsighted, in that people were told they have to get a vaccine.”
“These mask mandates hinder the desire people have to get back to the office and further delay the revitalization of Midtown and downtown office life,” the financier said.
“If people want to wear masks, they can wear masks, but we have to let individuals make their own risk-taking decisions and stop making those decisions on their behalf.”
It’s not just businesses. At least five counties around the state have announced they won’t be enforcing the mandate, which was strictly left up to county health departments per Gov. Hochul’s order:
Some Republican county executives in the state say they aren’t going to enforce it, including in Dutchess and Rockland counties, as well as incoming Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
“Come January 1st, my administration will move Nassau forward with a common sense approach that acknowledges the facts, science and progress made by our residents while also protecting businesses and jobs from any further damage created by government mandates,” Blakeman said. “Nassau County is not in crisis, and should not be painted with the same broad brush as the rest of the state. 97% of adults in Nassau County have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, and Nassau hospitals have adequate capacity to handle existing demand.”
County executives in Orange and Putnam counties have also announced they will not enforce the new mandate.
It’s good to see elected officials at the local level standing up to statewide overreach and unnecessary mandates. People are fed up with being told what to do. Anyone anywhere is free and welcome to wear masks until the end of time if they so choose. Wear two or three of them, have fun. In the same vein, let the rest of the country decide their own path and their own risk level, especially given the free and open access to vaccines for people who want them.
Hochul is giving New York businesses yet another punch in the face in terms of more regulations and more incentive for shoppers to do more shopping at home:
Retailers in the Empire State are blasting Hochul’s new directive that will require workers and customers to wear masks or show proof of vaccination starting Monday as yet another challenge for struggling businesses at the height of the holiday shopping season.
“That’s not good for us small businesses,” said Jaser Bsharat, manager of his family owned Harlem Furniture on 125th St. “You could tell a customer to wear a mask or give them one, but you can’t force them to wear them.”
Bsharat said he had already shut down his online business because of shipping delays so if he can’t get people in the store, “We are out of business.”
It’s unimaginable to continue trying to operate a business in New York when the powers that be can decide on a whim to make your life harder as a business owner. Why does Gov. Hochul think record numbers are leaving her state for greener pastures in places like Florida?
In small upstate towns, the governor’s requirements are not realistic for some.
“I can’t stand at the door and be the vaccine police. That’s not possible for us and, as a small business, I don’t know what the answer is. I do know it’s not shutting us down again,” Lynette Thayer, who owns The Mason Jar boutique in Clayton, told news station WWNY-TV.
Heidi Owen West, who owns a clothing store in Saratoga Springs, said the timing couldn’t be worse.
At some point, citizens need to decide when they’re done complying with burdensome mandates from an overreaching state government. This is especially true in New York City where citizens are already under a vaccine mandate to access most public things in the city.
Now they’ll need to be sporting masks in those locations as well. Do the vaccines work or not? Why the need for a second layer of protection offering mixed levels of protection depending on mask type in addition to the vaccine?
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