Thursday, August 15, 2024

Exec signs Nassau County's controversial mask ban into law

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed the county's controversial mask ban into law on Wednesday. Blakeman was joined by several victims of hate crimes, as well as advocates, community members, and lawmakers, including Nassau Legislator Mazi Pilip, who sponsored the bill.

Posted by LampLighter at 12:21 AM | 5 COMMENTS | permalink

Comments

More from the article...

... The so-called Mask Transparency Act makes it illegal to wear a mask "for the purposes of concealing an individual's identity in public places," as well as wearing a mask on private property without the consent of the owner or tenant.

It does not apply to "facial coverings" worn for medical or religious reasons. The misdemeanor charge carries a $1,000 fine, up to a year in jail, or both.

"We've seen people using masks to commit crimes, from shoplifting to carjacking to robbing banks. This bill gives our police another tool to maintain Nassau County as the safest big county in America," Blakeman said.

The New York Civil Liberties Union is among the groups opposed to the ban, saying in part:

"We'll say it again: masks protect people who express political opinions that are controversial. Officials should be supporting New Yorkers' right to voice their views, not fueling widespread doxxing and threatening arrests. Masks also protect people's health, especially at a time of rising COVID rates, and make it possible for people with elevated risk to participate in public life. We should be helping people make the right choice for themselves and their loved ones - not letting the government exile vulnerable people from society."

Paula Frome is a member of the Nassau Residents for Good Government. She fears the ban will prompt profiling by police. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-08-15 12:22 AM

Nassau County, New York
en.wikipedia.org

...
Nassau County ... is a suburban county located on Long Island, immediately to the east of New York City, bordering the Long Island Sound on the north and the open Atlantic Ocean to the south. ...

A 2012 Forbes article based on the American Community Survey reported Nassau County as the most expensive county and one of the highest income counties in the U.S., and the most affluent in New York state, with four of the nation's top ten towns by median income located in the county.[9] As of 2024, the median home price overall in Nassau County is approximately US$750,000, and the Gold Coast of Nassau County features some of the world's most expensive real estate.

Nassau County high school students often feature prominently as winners of the International Science and Engineering Fair and similar STEM-based academic awards.[10] ...

For most of the twentieth century, residents of Nassau County and neighboring Suffolk County primarily supported the Republican Party in national elections. ...



#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-08-15 12:28 AM

A curious side issue...

More and more NYPD officers opting to live outside NYC as lawmakers try to push residency requirement
nypost.com

... Less than half of New York City cops live in the city they police, according to a City Council report.

The percentage of NYPD officers living in the five boroughs last year plummeted to 48%, down from 49% in 2020 and 58% in 2016.

The steady decline includes both rank-and-file cops and higher-ranking officers.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are pushing for a requirement that all new recruits live in the five boroughs. The department currently allows officers to live in the suburban counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester, Putnam or Orange. ...


#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-08-15 12:31 AM

How about orange bronzer?

Or eyeliner?

#4 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2024-08-15 03:28 PM

So, do I need a note from my Dr if I'm wearing a mask in Nassau Co? Are the cops going to test me, somehow, for disease on the street? What are the criteria for stopping someone, or is just up to the "discretion" of the cops? This will keep some lawyers employed.

#5 | Posted by morris at 2024-08-16 06:33 PM

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