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governor.ny.govGovernor Contact Form

I am furious. You can call Hochul at 1-518-474-8390. You can send her a note via her website here. www.governor.ny.gov/content/gove...

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.

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.

19/3/25, 8:48 pm18 reposts102 likes

Rachel Gutin

@rachelgutin.bsky.social

21 Mar 2025

I'm glad now that I specifically mentioned the subway when I called. It's one of the places I am MOST likely to wear a mask. So many people, so many germs! (And also, so many smells! I am sensitive to those, even if they are "good" smells.)

npr.orgNew York's subway now has a 'you do you' mask policy. It's getting a Bronx cheerMillions of New Yorkers embraced an "all in this together" motto during the pandemic — and many are roasting the city's transit agency over updated signs explaining its newly relaxed masking policy.

Also worth noting some of Hochul's history with masking. Back in 2022, she shared the MTA's terrible new campaign announcing that masks would not be required any longer - a campaign that actively MOCKED masks and encouraged improper mask wearing. She doesn't get it. www.npr.org/2022/09/08/1...

Finally, it's worth noting that mask wearing works best when MORE people wear masks. So sure, you can argue that folks who really want to mask can get medical exceptions and I guess avoid exercising their 1st Amendment rights in public. But overall, the effect will be fewer masks - and more disease.

dramatic owl is a night owl (she/her/hers)

Finally finally - this isn't even just about Hochul. This is about Trump. Maybe you kind of trust Hochul to administer this? But it's Trump who'll exploit it. No new prosecutorial powers for the government in 2025. No, no, no.

@dramaticowl.myatproto.social

@trixienorton.bsky.social

yes, and she absolutely appears to be leaning toward bending to trump. as far as the "medical/religious exceptions": nobody should have to tell anyone whether or not they mask for medical or religious reasons. this ban is discriminatory and draconian. and HIPAA is still a thing for now

Call me Trixie

@cassandrasaidso.bsky.social

Do not expand the carceral state when fascists are in charge. Politics 101. I called my Governor and asked her why she wants cancer patients not to be protected from diseases.

Cassandra in the 305

@danaaddydesigns.bsky.social

So glad you brought this up. That campaign was horrendous.

Dana Addy