Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-New York, said she was considering reinstating her state's mask ban to reduce crime, a proposal that was rejected by some social media accounts still fearful of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hochul spoke with CNN anchor Laura Coates on Wednesday night about possible steps he could take to reduce rampant crime in New York City, including reinstating an earlier ban on masks. Jewish leaders have stated that masks have made violent criminals less afraid of committing anti-Semitic hate crimes.
“But I will definitely go back and take a look at this and see if it can be restored because it scares people,” Hochul said of the mask ban.
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Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-New York, told CNN on Wednesday that she was considering banning masks in New York City to prevent crime. (Screenshot/CNN)
Coates invited Hochul to discuss a 4% increase in anti-Semitic incidents throughout New York City. The presenter noted that the “tone” and “aggressiveness” of anti-Semitic crimes and vandalism “appear to really have increased and are where the travelers are and beyond.”
The governor described these acts as “textbook anti-Semitism” and that they “constitute hate crimes,” and praised her administration for reforming bail laws so that suspects accused of committing hate crimes could be detained. on bail.
He added that his team included “28 more crimes on our hate crimes list,” “strengthened security at vulnerable locations, particularly places of worship” and worked to protect college campuses during graduation season.
Coates then mentioned the possible ban on masks, stating: “There is also a call that some have talked about: Some Jewish leaders in New York are calling tonight for a ban on masks, saying that covering their faces allows protesters to have some level of anonymity to be more aggressive, to have more right to say what they want because they don't fear the repercussions in the same way.
“Would you support that effort?” the presenter asked.
The governor began by noting that there used to be a ban on masks “before the pandemic, that you couldn't cover your face if it didn't serve a purpose… The pandemic removed that from our state law.”
He continued, noting that he will “definitely come back and take a look at this.”
“You're sitting on a subway train and someone puts on a mask like this… you don't know if they're going to commit a crime, if they're going to have a gun, or if they're just going to be threatening, intimidating because you're Jewish, which is exactly what that happened the other day, absolutely unacceptable in the state of New York,” Hochul said.
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul presents her 2025 executive state budget in the Red Room of the state Capitol on January 16, 2024, in Albany, New York. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)
Multiple social media accounts concerned about COVID-19 expressed their displeasure with a potential ban on masks.
Public health commentator Dr. Lucky Tran posted: “UPDATE: New York Governor Kathy Hochul said last night on CNN that she is considering banning masks. @GovKathyHochul this is absolutely disgraceful! New York has suffered greatly from the COVID, and COVID we should not normalize.[sic] and depoliticize masks, not ban them.”
The “COVID Advocacy NY” account posted: “NY ACTION ALERT: @GovKathyHochul said on CNN that she is considering banning masks in New York. We need all of us to speak out against this!”
The account also provided details on how to contact the governor or her team.
Health policy activist Myra Batchelder commented: “I just called and spoke with Governor Hochul's staff. I urge New Yorkers to call and message her office today and urge her not to ban masks in New York. A ban on masks will endanger people's lives and health. We cannot ban masks in New York.”
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