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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is now warning residents that the warmer weather expected over the weekend is “very much a threat” to them.
With temperatures expected to be in the 70s on Saturday and Sunday, quarantine-weary New Yorkers will want to get out of their cooped-up safe environments to get some fresh air, but de Blasio quickly reminded them they could get arrested if they fail to follow coronavirus guidelines.
“The nice weather is very much a threat to us,” the Democrat mayor said on WNYC radio’s “The Brian Lehrer Show” Friday.
“There’s nothing wrong with going out and getting some exercise and getting back home,” de Blasio added in a confusing directive. “Go out for a little bit, but don’t go out for too much. Don’t gather, don’t try and do the things we would normally do on a beautiful spring day.”
COVID-19 restrictions will still be enforced, apparently, as the mayor reiterated a “no tolerance for gatherings” policy which will see a large police presence dispatched to monitor New Yorkers in city parks.
“We’re going straight to summons,” de Blasio said. “If someone resists the summons, we’re going to arrest.”
Once again, de Blasio encouraged residents to confront each other, after coming under fire last month for launching a hotline to be used to report non-compliance.
“If you see someone who’s…getting too close to other people and you say to them, hey, back off. Or someone has a face covering and they’re not wearing it, put it on,” he said.
“I’m not interested in giving a summons if it’s not needed…I want it to be very, very clear that we’re escalating now because we have to. This is about saving lives and about beating back this disease,” de Blasio added.
More than 164,000 cases of coronavirus were recorded by the city as of Friday, including 13,000 deaths. A series of advisory groups were announced by de Blasio to determine ways of reopening New York City.
In May we’ll have stronger enforcement efforts, we’ll pass out free face coverings and we’ll use all the tools we have to assertively make progress. We have the chance to do something transcendent when it comes to testing and tracing.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 1, 2020
“Reopening … obviously is a few months away at a minimum,” de Blasio told one WNYC caller.
The mayor also announced that city streets and portions of parks will begin to open up.
Our open streets initiative is another way we’ll encourage social distancing. We’ll open 40 miles in May and up to 100 miles overall. The first streets will open on Monday, creating 7 miles of car-free space.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 1, 2020
“The open streets are going to be another way to help encourage social distancing, because the warmer weather tells us we’re going to have a new challenge,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
“That’s the beginning, and we’re going to build out from here,” de Blasio said. “This is going to help people to have some more space but also with vigilant eyes to make sure there’s no gatherings, there are no attempts by people to create sports or group activities.”
The mayor ignited a firestorm of backlash earlier in the week after he threatened the city’s entire Jewish community and sent police to break up a large funeral gathering. He also came under fire for “non-essential travel” as he was seen taking a walk miles away from his home.
Angry New Yorker confronts Mayor de Blasio for ‘non-essential travel’ in park 11 miles from mansion https://t.co/vBcuseQGib
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) April 28, 2020
The mayor’s warning of the “threat” of nice weather aimed at New Yorkers hoping to enjoy the spring temperatures this weekend was slammed by social media users.
The worst mayor in the U.S.A. says nice weather is a threat to us.
You can’t make this stuff up.
— Proud Texan (@xmethuselahx) May 2, 2020
Wear a mask and stay six feet away from other people during the nice weather this weekend — or find yourself with a summons or even in handcuffs, Mayor de Blasio warned Friday. 1,000 cops will be enforcing de Blasio’s “no tolerance for gatherings” policy.https://t.co/wsghC5k7oN
— Nick Short 🇺🇸 (@PoliticalShort) May 1, 2020
So n NYC u get locked up as a law abiding citizen for simply being outside or conversing with others while criminals r being set free from jail pic.twitter.com/X7Xo4RTCew
— Pamela (@fireofadara) May 2, 2020
and then @BilldeBlasio and his wife will go to his favorite park in Brooklyn
— Glenn Amurgis (@gamurgis) May 2, 2020
I thought sun, heat and humidity kills the virus. Amirite???
— Denverrockindiva (@godiva1957) May 1, 2020
Evidently the weather will be beautiful in NYC tomorrow, so I expect Gauleiter De Blasio to order us indoors with the usual censorious finger-wagging. He can go to hell.
— Club des Cordeliers (@cordeliers) May 1, 2020
DeBlasio just said “The warm weather is a threat to us. Stay indoors!” as he goes strolling in the park with his wife, and and takes trip to the gym. HERE’S your Socialism, libs. Enjoy it. In fact choke on it, won’t you? Such delectable crumbs they’ve thrown on the floor for you!
— Linda (@Atlantiso1) May 2, 2020
Weren’t we told that the higher temperatures and UV light would kill the #CoronaVirus Now the warm weather is a threat?
— Deplorable ImaCracka❌ (@JanetOstrowski1) May 2, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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