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Protests in N.Y.C.: Police Officers Without Face Masks Protests in N.Y.C.: Police Officers Without Face Masks
(8 days later)
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It’s Thursday.It’s Thursday.
Weather: Wet and windy with thunderstorms and a high near 80, nighttime low in the mid-60s.Weather: Wet and windy with thunderstorms and a high near 80, nighttime low in the mid-60s.
Alternate-side parking: Suspended through June 21.Alternate-side parking: Suspended through June 21.
The Times’s Michael Wilson writes:The Times’s Michael Wilson writes:
Handcuffs, a gun, a baton: Police officers carry tools they consider necessary to do their job. After the coronavirus outbreak took hold in New York City, their gear expanded to include face masks.Handcuffs, a gun, a baton: Police officers carry tools they consider necessary to do their job. After the coronavirus outbreak took hold in New York City, their gear expanded to include face masks.
But on any day, at the protests taking place throughout the city, it is common to see officers who are not wearing them.But on any day, at the protests taking place throughout the city, it is common to see officers who are not wearing them.
Last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he was “frustrated” by the situation. In an interview on WNYC, Mr. de Blasio said he spoke to Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea about it “multiple times,” adding, “It has to be fixed, and it bothers me.”Last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he was “frustrated” by the situation. In an interview on WNYC, Mr. de Blasio said he spoke to Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea about it “multiple times,” adding, “It has to be fixed, and it bothers me.”
[Why are so many police officers refusing to wear masks at protests?][Why are so many police officers refusing to wear masks at protests?]
More than 40 members of the Police Department who were infected with the coronavirus have died, the police said. As of May 29, the most recent date that numbers were made available, 901 uniformed members of the department — about 2.5 percent of the total number — were out sick from the virus, down from 19.8 percent at the peak in April.More than 40 members of the Police Department who were infected with the coronavirus have died, the police said. As of May 29, the most recent date that numbers were made available, 901 uniformed members of the department — about 2.5 percent of the total number — were out sick from the virus, down from 19.8 percent at the peak in April.
At first, it was hard for the city to obtain enough personal protective equipment for police officers and other essential workers. And the rules about wearing masks were lax.At first, it was hard for the city to obtain enough personal protective equipment for police officers and other essential workers. And the rules about wearing masks were lax.
On March 20, Commissioner Shea told reporters that officers not wearing masks “could very well be a good thing,” because the face coverings could be preserved for symptomatic people.On March 20, Commissioner Shea told reporters that officers not wearing masks “could very well be a good thing,” because the face coverings could be preserved for symptomatic people.
Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the city’s health commissioner, concurred, saying, “The time to use a mask is when someone is symptomatic, when they’re coughing, when they’re sneezing, and it’s to ensure that that individual doesn’t contaminate other folks.”Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the city’s health commissioner, concurred, saying, “The time to use a mask is when someone is symptomatic, when they’re coughing, when they’re sneezing, and it’s to ensure that that individual doesn’t contaminate other folks.”
But on April 17, the guidance changed. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo made face coverings mandatory for all New Yorkers who were visiting indoor locations or were unable to maintain social distancing.But on April 17, the guidance changed. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo made face coverings mandatory for all New Yorkers who were visiting indoor locations or were unable to maintain social distancing.
Police officers were initially responsible for enforcing face mask and social-distancing rules. That led to some violent encounters, which were recorded by onlookers.Police officers were initially responsible for enforcing face mask and social-distancing rules. That led to some violent encounters, which were recorded by onlookers.
One video, for example, showed an officer sitting and kneeling on the neck and upper torso of a man who was being arrested on the Lower East Side because the police said he did not maintain social distancing.One video, for example, showed an officer sitting and kneeling on the neck and upper torso of a man who was being arrested on the Lower East Side because the police said he did not maintain social distancing.
And in a Brooklyn subway station, a woman was arrested, the police said, after she refused requests to cover her nose and mouth and then hit an officer. The mayor criticized the incident and later put civilian volunteers in charge of enforcing virus safety measures.And in a Brooklyn subway station, a woman was arrested, the police said, after she refused requests to cover her nose and mouth and then hit an officer. The mayor criticized the incident and later put civilian volunteers in charge of enforcing virus safety measures.
Now, during the protests after the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, New Yorkers have noticed that many police officers do not wear masks. At least one Twitter account is dedicated to the issue.Now, during the protests after the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, New Yorkers have noticed that many police officers do not wear masks. At least one Twitter account is dedicated to the issue.
Chaka McKell, 46, a carpenter from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, said, “If you’re out here to protect the public, it starts with you.”Chaka McKell, 46, a carpenter from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, said, “If you’re out here to protect the public, it starts with you.”
The department dismissed the criticism. “Perhaps it was the heat,” a spokeswoman, Sgt. Jessica McRorie, said in a statement on Wednesday. “Perhaps it was the 15-hour tours, wearing bullet-resistant vests in the sun. Perhaps it was the helmets.”The department dismissed the criticism. “Perhaps it was the heat,” a spokeswoman, Sgt. Jessica McRorie, said in a statement on Wednesday. “Perhaps it was the 15-hour tours, wearing bullet-resistant vests in the sun. Perhaps it was the helmets.”
“With everything New York City has been through in the past two weeks,” she said, “and everything we are working toward together, we can put our energy to a better use.”“With everything New York City has been through in the past two weeks,” she said, “and everything we are working toward together, we can put our energy to a better use.”
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Want more news? Check out our full coverage.Want more news? Check out our full coverage.
The Mini Crossword: Here is today’s puzzle.The Mini Crossword: Here is today’s puzzle.
What is it like delivering mail during a pandemic? U.S. Postal Service workers in Jamaica, Queens, open up. [The Cut]What is it like delivering mail during a pandemic? U.S. Postal Service workers in Jamaica, Queens, open up. [The Cut]
A Black Lives Matter mural will be painted in front of City Hall in Syracuse. [Syracuse.com]A Black Lives Matter mural will be painted in front of City Hall in Syracuse. [Syracuse.com]
Some residents in New London, Conn., want to remove a Christopher Columbus statue. [The Day]Some residents in New London, Conn., want to remove a Christopher Columbus statue. [The Day]
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, join stars from the abbreviated Broadway season for songs, stories and a conversation exploring what this time of national unrest means for artists and the theater.At 7 p.m. on Thursday, join stars from the abbreviated Broadway season for songs, stories and a conversation exploring what this time of national unrest means for artists and the theater.
First, Wesley Morris, a Times critic at large, will sit down with Adrienne Warren and Daniel J. Watts (“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”); Celia Rose Gooding (“Jagged Little Pill”) and Kenny Leon (director of “A Soldier’s Play”) to hear their perspectives on the protests shaping the lives of creators and fans alike.First, Wesley Morris, a Times critic at large, will sit down with Adrienne Warren and Daniel J. Watts (“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”); Celia Rose Gooding (“Jagged Little Pill”) and Kenny Leon (director of “A Soldier’s Play”) to hear their perspectives on the protests shaping the lives of creators and fans alike.
Updated July 27, 2020 Updated August 3, 2020
Then Times writers, critics and editors will reveal some of their favorite moments from the shortened season, and the moments they are looking forward to when the curtain rises again. R.S.V.P. here for the event.Then Times writers, critics and editors will reveal some of their favorite moments from the shortened season, and the moments they are looking forward to when the curtain rises again. R.S.V.P. here for the event.
The Times’s Andy Newman writes:The Times’s Andy Newman writes:
Early this spring at Brooklyn Hospital Center — when the intensive-care unit was overflowing, coronavirus patients were dying left and right and a third of the doctors and nurses were out sick — a cheering section would materialize outside daily as 7 p.m. approached, like fans at the stage door hoping to glimpse their idols.Early this spring at Brooklyn Hospital Center — when the intensive-care unit was overflowing, coronavirus patients were dying left and right and a third of the doctors and nurses were out sick — a cheering section would materialize outside daily as 7 p.m. approached, like fans at the stage door hoping to glimpse their idols.
And every evening, as the people on the sidewalk hooted, blasted songs and held up signs that said things like “Boundless Gratitude,” exhausted hospital workers would come out at the end of their shifts, soak up the love, sway to the music and wave like beauty queens.And every evening, as the people on the sidewalk hooted, blasted songs and held up signs that said things like “Boundless Gratitude,” exhausted hospital workers would come out at the end of their shifts, soak up the love, sway to the music and wave like beauty queens.
Now, with the outbreak in New York City vastly diminished and attendance at the nightly cheer dropping, the organizers threw a farewell party.Now, with the outbreak in New York City vastly diminished and attendance at the nightly cheer dropping, the organizers threw a farewell party.
On Monday evening, as the nurses and doctors and orderlies filed out, a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace.” A medic gave a bouquet and a hug to one of the regular cheerleaders. The D.J. played “Last Dance,” and everyone followed suit.On Monday evening, as the nurses and doctors and orderlies filed out, a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace.” A medic gave a bouquet and a hug to one of the regular cheerleaders. The D.J. played “Last Dance,” and everyone followed suit.
“It’s been so uplifting to have people give their time to come here and support us,” Alyeshan Quinones, an emergency room nurse, said.“It’s been so uplifting to have people give their time to come here and support us,” Alyeshan Quinones, an emergency room nurse, said.
It’s Thursday — uplift others.It’s Thursday — uplift others.
Dear Diary:Dear Diary:
It was September 1969. I was on Columbus Avenue somewhere in the mid-90s motorcycling toward my place on West 81st Street at around 9 p.m.It was September 1969. I was on Columbus Avenue somewhere in the mid-90s motorcycling toward my place on West 81st Street at around 9 p.m.
I was riding very slowly, mesmerized by the complex symphony of clicks, purrs, clacks and whirs that my brand-new CB 750 Honda’s overhead camshaft, four-cylinder engine was performing.I was riding very slowly, mesmerized by the complex symphony of clicks, purrs, clacks and whirs that my brand-new CB 750 Honda’s overhead camshaft, four-cylinder engine was performing.
Suddenly, I sensed a presence to my left.Suddenly, I sensed a presence to my left.
Turning my head, I saw a topless Mercedes-Benz SSK roadster circa 1930. The driver was wearing a large flat cap and an equally oversize pair of jet-black shades. He looked directly at me, nodded slowly and pulled away.Turning my head, I saw a topless Mercedes-Benz SSK roadster circa 1930. The driver was wearing a large flat cap and an equally oversize pair of jet-black shades. He looked directly at me, nodded slowly and pulled away.
It was Miles Davis.It was Miles Davis.
— Tom Benghauser— Tom Benghauser
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