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Adams' vax mandate controversy grows
PoliticoA still-unvaccinated Kyrie Irvingplayed his first home game in Brooklyn last night after New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to reverse the city’s vaccine mandate specifically for athletes and performers while leaving it in place for everyone else.
While Nets fans at the Barclays Center greeted Irving with a big ovation, elsewhere in the city, the chorus of jeers over Adams’ move is only growing louder. “Tonight @KyrieIrving (soon followed by MLB) is working despite refusal to get vaccinated, while other workers in NYC were fired for doing the same. The vaccine mandate was and is the right thing to do,” Public Advocate Jumaane Williams tweeted last night. “Carveouts for performers and athletes absolves wealthy & famous of their responsibility to protect fellow New Yorkers.” The decision also caused a rare rift between the mayor and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who called the move a step away from sensible pandemic policy.
Unions for city workers, whose members were fired for refusing to get the shot, are mulling new legal action in light of the mayor’s latest policy change. While their previous challenges to the mandate failed, they believe Adams' decision to lift the rules for professional sports teams may give them a stronger case.
“No double standard,” Adams said Friday. “You may consider it a double standard, I consider it an analysis that I made and I’m comfortable with my decision.” He also reversed himself a day after flatly denying he was lobbied on the matter, despite public records that prove otherwise. Yes, he suddenly remembered, former City Council Speaker Corey Johnson did in fact lobby him on behalf of the Nets.
While Nets fans at the Barclays Center greeted Irving with a big ovation, elsewhere in the city, the chorus of jeers over Adams’ move is only growing louder. “Tonight @KyrieIrving (soon followed by MLB) is working despite refusal to get vaccinated, while other workers in NYC were fired for doing the same. The vaccine mandate was and is the right thing to do,” Public Advocate Jumaane Williams tweeted last night. “Carveouts for performers and athletes absolves wealthy & famous of their responsibility to protect fellow New Yorkers.” The decision also caused a rare rift between the mayor and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who called the move a step away from sensible pandemic policy.
Unions for city workers, whose members were fired for refusing to get the shot, are mulling new legal action in light of the mayor’s latest policy change. While their previous challenges to the mandate failed, they believe Adams' decision to lift the rules for professional sports teams may give them a stronger case.
“No double standard,” Adams said Friday. “You may consider it a double standard, I consider it an analysis that I made and I’m comfortable with my decision.” He also reversed himself a day after flatly denying he was lobbied on the matter, despite public records that prove otherwise. Yes, he suddenly remembered, former City Council Speaker Corey Johnson did in fact lobby him on behalf of the Nets.