Nassau County
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Politicians in Nassau County, Long Island, approved a sweeping ban on face masks, sparking heavy debate and concern.
On Monday (August 5), the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature passed the Mask Transparency Act, which was introduced to combat “antisemitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks” since the attack on Israel by Hamas last October. The bill, which passed by a 12-0 vote with all seven Democrats in the Legislature abstaining, makes wearing a mask a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,000 and up to one year in jail. The ban allows for health and religious exemptions, and it applies to anyone over the age of 16. The bill is set to be signed into law by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. It comes as New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul are weighing bans on masks in public places.
The Mask Transparency Act was introduced by Republican politician Mazi Melesa Pilip, who cited the pro-Palestinian protests against the war in Gaza where demonstrators wore face coverings. “I have been to CUNY, Columbia, local high schools, community meetings, rallies in Great Neck,” she said. “I have heard the people speak loudly and clearly. They want this done.” Congressman Anthony D’Esposito seconded the sentiment at the Monday meeting, saying: “It is vital that these protesters remove the masks, come out of the darkness and are shown in light, which I believe will deter them from committing violence.”
Democratic politicians and civil libertarians blasted the ban. “Nassau County’s mask ban is a dangerous misuse of the law to score political points and target protestors,” wrote Nassau County Regional Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union in a statement, which ended with: The ban’s so-called health and religious exceptions are entirely inadequate: “Nassau County police officers are not health professionals or religious experts capable of deciding who needs a mask and who doesn’t.”
That sentiment was expressed by those opposed during the meeting of the legislature on Monday, where protesters verbally clashed with legislators. One unidentified woman was escorted out and arrested by Nassau County police. “You have chosen to participate in a culture war without recognizing that you are feeding right into a very dangerous demon,” said Kiana Abbady, who then had her microphone cut off and was escorted out.
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Embattled congressman George Santos has broken his silence to insist he will not resign over growing calls to step down over his growing history of lying about his past.
On Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 11), as the freshman Republican congressman was leaving his office, he was asked about the calls to resign from local officials of his party by ABC reporter Rachel Scott. “Will you step down?”, she asked. Santos swiftly answered, “I will not.” As he stepped onto the elevator, he refused to answer further questions from other reporters.
Santos would later take a more defiant tone on social media. “I was elected to serve the people of #NY03, not the party & politicians, I remain committed to doing that and regret to hear that local officials refuse to work with my office to deliver results to keep our community safe and lower the cost of living. I will NOT resign!”, he wrote.
Earlier on, leaders from the Nassau County Republican Party had held a press conference to publicly call on Santos to resign. “Today, on behalf of the Nassau County Republican Committee, I’m calling for his immediate resignation,” committee chairman Joseph G. Cairo said to the press. Saying he “deceived voters”, Cairo continued: “His lies were not mere fibs. He disgraced the House of Representatives. … He’s not welcome here at Republican headquarters.”
Cairo was joined by more than 20 prominent Republicans at the conference and remotely from Washington D.C., including four of Santos’ fellow members of the House – New York Representative Anthony D’Esposito along with Reps. Nick LaLota, Nick Langworthy, and Brandon Williams, as well as South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace. It was the strongest condemnation of the controversial politician from his own party to date, marking a sharp contrast to their full support of him during his campaigns in 2020 and 2022. Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County GOP executive, stated that Santos’ lies about being Jewish were particularly offensive. “He is a stain on the House of Representatives. He is a stain on the 3rd Congressional District,” he said.
The senior Republicans in the House – Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Majority Whip Tom Emmer – have remained mum about the latest calls for Santos to resign. McCarthy said on Wednesday “the voters have a voice in the decisions, not where people pick and choose based upon what somebody’s press has.” The GOP currently has a slender majority in the House, thanks to Santos’ flipping of the district in the midterms.
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