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New Yorkers, please call your state rep, state senator, and Kathy Hochul and tell them NO MASK BANS. This garbage proposal would kill people. We're on the verge of a measles epidemic and this terrible governor is pushing this? NO. Find your reps here: reps.fyi gothamist.com/news/gov-hoc...

gothamist.comGov. Hochul is pushing a last-minute mask ban in state budget talksThe governor has expressed support for restrictions in protest settings, while many protesters say they need to conceal their identities to avoid retribution.

Seriously, call your local reps. State assembly members and senators, because Hochul's bringing this up during budget negotiations. But also city council members. Tell them to tell Hochul to leave New York City the hell alone. reps.fyi

I keep interrupting myself in the middle of leaving these damn messages for my reps to say out loud "I can't believe I have to call about this." So angry.

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I called Hochul's office again and pressed "2" to speak to a rep instead of just leaving a message -- and actually got through for the first time in recent memory. Please make these calls, friends. Tell her this mask ban will kill people and to STOP PUSHING IT. 518-474-8390.

Dan Gilmore notes that the original article has been updated with more info from Hochul - thanks! She appears to be calling for a mask ban with "exceptions for religious and medical use." But any mask ban would be weaponized & decrease mask usage during a time of pandemics. bsky.app/profile/gilm...

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And allowing for medical exceptions is just handwaving. Will I have to get a note from my doctor to wear a mask? What about people without doctors? What about the cost of obtaining an exception? What about the fact that cops will stop and frisk regardless and thereby increase danger to people?

Hochul raises the specter of subway crime in the new quotes in the article. But we all know a mask ban would be enforced against demonstrators as a pretext for arresting them regardless of whether they've broken any other law. This is a public health threat and a first amendment threat.

We aren't going to have a flu shot this year and the feds are black bagging people in NYC right now. And people wonder why the democratic brand is in the toilet.