Mayor-elect Adams Supports Gov. Hochul’s “Mild” Mask Requirements

Mayor-elect Eric Adams fully supports Gov. Kathy Hochul's new vax-or-mask mandate that went into effect yesterday.

“It is the right thing to do, " Adams said. “I support what the governor is doing. It is a non-invasive way of just telling New Yorkers that this is a serious moment. These spikes and new variants are coming and going from time to time, and we have to adjust.”

Adams’ support for Gov. Hochul’s mandate is notable because the mayor-elect has been non-committal about whether he will uphold Mayor Bill de Blasio’s vaccine mandate for private business, which goes into effect on Dec. 27, just four days before Adams takes office.

New Yorkers, Adams said, realize that we don’t want to shut down our city.

Instead, the mayor said that he and the governor planned to use “soft touches” and ensure that sure credible community leaders assist them.

“It’s really having people do the right thing, and you know what, the overwhelming number of New Yorkers are going to do so,” said Adams, who promised to adopt a reasonable approach toward enforcement of the governor’s new mandate, which will remain in force until Jan. 15.

“We’re not going to be dragging people off to jail because they’re not wearing a mask,” said Adams, who is leaving his position as Brooklyn’s borough president after seven years to be inaugurated as mayor on Jan. 1. “You will not see people being treated in a harsh way, [or see the use of] heavy-handed policing to get this issue addressed.”

On Friday, Gov. Hochul ordered all offices, restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses in New York to require staff, customers, and visitors to choose between showing proof of vaccination or wearing masks. Non-compliance with the policy could result in owners facing $1,000 fines, per violation.

Many businesses owners in the city, where the COVID rate remains low, compared to higher rates in upstate and Western, have complained about the governor’s new mandate, however, the governor, who saw a statewide uptick, issued the temporary regulations for all of New York.

On Jan. 15, Gov. Hochul has said she will reassess the vax-or-mask mandate, based on current data.

Photo: Flickr