EDITORIAL
ANOTHER NICE MESS FOR
CUOMO, DE BLASIO
“Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten us
into.”
The old catch phrase from the classic comedy team
of Laurel and Hardy comes to mind when considering
how Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio
have handled the response to COVID-19 spikes in
Brooklyn and Queens.
Where do we begin to recount this latest chapter in
these frenemies’ rivalry that puts at stake the safety of
New Yorkers?
The mayor first announced on Oct. 4 a plan to put
a “pause” on businesses and schools in the nine ZIP
codes where COVID-19 has been spiking. Everything,
he said, was pending the governor’s approval — and it
appeared, to some, that was a formality.
Not so. One day later, on Oct. 5, Cuomo pulled the
rug out from under de Blasio by shifting the school closures
up a day to Tuesday, Oct. 6 (the mayor had wanted
to close the schools Wednesday, Oct. 7) and disagreeing
with widespread closure of businesses.
The governor also questioned whether it was wise
for the city to consider entire ZIP codes or census tracts
by which to map out the cluster zones.
So Cuomo came up with what he deemed to be a
more crystalized plan of attack, with color-coded regions
of Brooklyn and Queens reflecting the cluster
with unique boundaries. The red areas, with the highest
cases, would go back to where they were before New
York City began reopening in June — including severe
restrictions on gatherings at houses of worship.
That development bristled people of faith in Brooklyn.
Members of the Orthodox Jewish community, in
particular, were outraged and took to the streets to protest.
Things got out of hand; an onlooker was assaulted,
and masks were reportedly torched.
Cuomo and de Blasio sought to calm things down and
provide greater specifics about the cluster action plan.
They also reiterated that the enforcement of COVID-19
regulations wasn’t aimed at any one community — but,
by then, the damage was done.
Of course they didn’t make this announcement together,
holding near-simultaneous press briefings on
Wednesday, Oct. 7. The city could’ve used a little unity,
and they couldn’t provide that.
Nothing’s riding on this cluster action plan other
than the overall health and well-being of millions of
New Yorkers, and the fate of our economy.
And its rollout was a nice mess that provoked anger,
confusion and resistance — largely because the governor
and mayor continue to butt heads on the things that
matter most.
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio once again failed to show unity during a time when we so desperately
needed it. Photo by Kevin P. Coughlin/Offi ce of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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