New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the removal of many COVID-19 capacity restrictions, effective May 19th.
"Well over a year into the pandemic, our leaders have still not learned key lessons on clarity of message and caution in health measures. The Governor's May 19th reopening announcement undercuts the Mayor's July 1st goal announced just a few days ago, and seems designed to do so. The Governor's back-and-forth bigfooting leaves New Yorkers struggling to keep up and businesses struggling to comply, and has already cost lives in the past.
"Enacting complicated new ordinances on short notice, without clear health data presented as justification, undermines confidence that these decisions are being guided by public health and not politics. When the science indicates safety - such as finally restarting 24/7 subway service - these reopenings can be celebrated. But when it does not - such as bringing city workers back in-person or lifting most capacity restrictions in just over two weeks - those decisions should be scrutinized and leadership questioned."