News Sparks: Update on Religious Exemptions from Vaccine Mandate, Republican Jewish Coalition Meets, Mayor says, “We all Aspire to Ditch Masks.”

By Yehudit Garmaise

FDNY Updates on 2,000 City Workers who Applied for Exemptions from Vaccine Mandate

After 2,000 city workers applied for medical waivers and religious exemptions from the city’s vaccine mandate, FDNY Commissioner Bob Nigro updated the press corps today on the status of those requests.

“It is somewhat of a process [to] see whether there's any basis in fact, for these accommodations: whether it's medical or religious,” said Commissioner Nigro, who clarified that those who made requests for accommodations are still working and being tested for COVID. “We'll see how that works out.”

“If someone has been given the accommodation, that will be respected,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said that workers can appeal any rejected requests. “If they ultimately don't get accommodations, they'll be expected to come back to work. Or else if they choose not to: it's leave without pay.”

Republican Jewish Coalition Learns from Victory of Virginia Gov.-Elect Glenn Youngkin

Not only did 700 members of the Republican Jewish Coalition [RJC] erupt in cheers at its annual meeting in Las Vegas last weekend when asked how they felt about the wave of Republican victories nationwide, which were highlighted by the surprise victory of Glenn Youngkin in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, but the RJC carefully considered Youngkin’s subtle winning strategy that kept the controversial president at a comfortable distance.

For instance, while Youngkin ran on many of the policies of Donald Trump, Virginia’s governor-elect did not invite the former president to join him on the campaign trail, and they never appeared together.

While planning for the 2022 Midterm Elections, RJC leaders discussed replicating Youngkin’s successful approach of appropriating Trump’s strengths, while ditching his weaknesses.

Mayor Would Love for Kids to Stop Masking, but Says Too Soon

When asked this morning what he thought about Mayor-Elect Eric Adams’ comment that he would like to see kids lose their masks in school, if possible, on Jan. 1, Mayor Bill de Blasio responded, “I'm like every other New Yorker who is looking forward to the day when I don't have to anymore.

“And I'd love to free our kids and educators and staff from it. But right now, it's too soon for that action in my view because we are going into the colder weather months, because we are still learning about COVID all the time, and because we still have a lot more people get vaccinated.

“We all aspire to ditch the masks.”