19 THE QUEENS COURIER • APRIL 1, 2022 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Unvaccinated performers, venue workers exempt from vaccine mandates: Adams
BY ETHAN MARSHALL
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Mayor Eric Adams announced that all
unvaccinated entertainers, including athletes,
comedians, singers and dancers, will be allowed
to perform in New York City during a press
conference at Citi Field on March 24. He also
said the exemption extends to all workers at the
venues where these take place.
During the press conference, Mayor Adams
emphasized the exemption didn’t just apply to
professional athletes like Kyrie Irving of the
Brooklyn Nets or any unvaccinated players on
the Mets and Yankees. All the stadium workers
who previously were unable to work due to their
unvaccinated status would be able to do their jobs.
Mayor Adams cited the economic opportunities
for the city as a big reason why this group
was prioritized for exemption. Unvaccinated
people will be able to attend events, spending
money that will help both the workers there
and the city itself grow fi nancially.
According to Adams, this exemption will
help a lot with eliminating unemployment.
“Unemployment leads to economic unhealthiness
of this city,” Adams said. “Th is is the fi rst
step toward economic recovery.”
Eric Adams speaks about the exemption for certain unvaccinated workers from Citi Field’s Jackie Robinson
Rotunda.
Th is “nightlife industry,” was a big source
of revenue for the city prior to the pandemic,
according to Adams, who estimated the value
as being around $35.1 billion.
Th e announcement of this executive order
comes just two weeks before Opening Day of
the MLB season. Prior to the order, there was
concern among the Mets and Yankees that their
unvaccinated players wouldn’t be able to play in
any of their home games, just like what Brooklyn
Nets star Kyrie Irving has experienced up
to this point during the NBA season.
Photo via Twitter/@nycgov
Mets and Yankees presidents Sandy Alderson
and Jerry Levine mentioned that a majority of
the workers in their front offi ces are vaccinated.
Alderson said all but one or two employees were
willing to get vaccinated prior to the exemptions.
However, the one or two who refused
were terminated, as they weren’t allowed to
work at the time. Both Alderson and Levine
said a majority of their team’s players were
vaccinated, but were not at liberty to provide
a precise number due to the CBA agreement.
Adams acknowledged that there would be many
people critical of his decision to exempt these
parties over the likes of municipal employees.
“Some people will boo us, but others will
cheer,” Adams said from the Jackie Robinson
Rotunda in Citi Field. “Th at’s not only the game
of baseball but the game of life.”
When asked about the municipal employees
who were fi red for not being vaccinated possibly
getting their jobs back soon, Adams said that
wasn’t going to happen.
According to Adams, “Th ey were hired with
the understanding that they be vaccinated.”
If COVID-19 cases remain low in the coming
weeks, Adams hinted that unvaccinated employees
who are unable to work in other fi elds
may soon be able to work again. However he has
not yet decided which industries would be next.
“We’ll look for other ways to ease restrictions
in the city,” Adams said.
Adams stressed how reliant he’s been on
his medical team throughout the process of
reopening the city. He said they gave the green
light for him to pass this executive order.
However, Adams also left the door open for
more restrictions to come back if the COVID-19
cases begin climbing exponentially again. New
York City has mostly been able to stave off the
new omicron variant so far, but this executive
order will be the city’s biggest test yet.
SE Queens assemblywoman scores major endorsements to fend off primary challenge
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
As she faces her fi rst primary challenge since
2016, Assemblywoman Vivian Cook received
three major endorsements from Congressman
Gregory Meeks, State Attorney General Letitia
James and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
Cook, 84, has represented her southeast
Queens district in Albany since 1991. Assembly
District 32 represents the neighborhoods of Jamaica
Estates, Rochdale Village and Springfi eld
Gardens.
“I am proud to receive the endorsements
of these longtime, dedicated public officials,
who I have had the pleasure of working
with to protect and improve the quality of
life of residents of Jamaica, Queens,” Cook
said. “As the pandemic comes to a close,
I look forward to continue collaborating
with them and the rest of my colleagues
in government to work for an equitable
recovery that ensures our community and
state become stronger than ever.”
With the primary approaching on June 28,
Cook is facing a challenge from longtime York
College Professor Anthony Andrews, who has
the backing of the Working Families Party.
Meeks, the Queens County Democratic Chair,
threw his support behind Cook, whom he has
worked with for three decades.
“When I was elected to serve in the NYS
Assembly in 1992, my friend Vivian Cook
was already there, paving her own way
in a male-dominated legislative body,”
Meeks said. “As a seasoned assemblywoman,
Vivian has been in the trenches
for more than 30 years fighting for what’s
right, what’s fair, and what’s beneficial
for her constituents in the 32nd Assembly
District. Assemblywoman Cook has proven
she continues to be an effective legislator,
and I am proud to support her re-election
efforts to continue being a powerhouse in
the Assembly.”
During her tenure, Cook has helped thousands
of southeast Queens residents navigate
government services over the years, securing
funding for projects that supported aff ordable
housing, infrastructure, public education and
senior services. She is also credited with helping
to keep rents aff ordable in Rochdale Village,lage,
home to more than 25,000 residents in her
district.
“A real trailblazer and tireless champion n of
her community, Ms. Cook has been a resolute
olute
public servant to generations of hardworking
king
Queens families,” James said. “She is a longudly
longtime
friend and mentor who loves and proudly
serves her community.”
Cook secured funding to build popular
places in Jamaica including the park on 150th
Street between 115th and 116th avenues; the
140th Street Park next to the Van Wyck Expressway;
ular
50th
Exits
and Rochdale Park, including its
tennis courts and recreation building.
“While serving in the state Legislature, I
saw fi rsthand how eff ective and passionate
Assemblywoman Cook is about advocating
for her constituents and I am proud to endorse
her for re-election in the Democratic
primary,” DiNapoli said. “At a time when
we need experienced leaders to help get our
economy back on track, Assemblywoman
Cook is the person we need to make sure
New York comes out of the pandemic
stronger than before.”
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Assemblywoman Vivian Cook
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