In his press briefing today, Governor Andrew Cuomo warned there were two threats to the people of New York: lack of compliance and the national spread of the virus. On the topic of lack of compliance, Cuomo cited a party boat in Manhattan whose captain and owners were arrested for having more than 170 people partying on the boat, whose capacity is 600, in defiance of the state's mandate regarding social distancing. Columbia County has its own issues with lack of compliance. This afternoon, the Columbia County Department of Health reported fifteen new cases that could be traced back to two golf outings that happened sometime in July. No information was provided about which mandates were violated: social distancing, masks, or the number of people permitted to gather.
Here in Hudson, there have also been reports about lack of compliance. On Friday, July 24, there was a graduation party in Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, which according to an observer involved at least 70 people, very few masks, and no social distancing. Outdoor gatherings are permitted in Phase 4, but they are limited to no more than 50 people. In his press briefing today, Cuomo stressed, "Local governments have to do a better job . . . have to crack down on these [violations]." Given that directive from the governor, it's surprising that the party last Friday had a mass gathering permit which had been approved on July 20 by Mayor Kamal Johnson.
This discovery inspired Gossips to explore the mass gathering permits that have been approved for recent and upcoming events in Hudson. On Saturday, July 25, a birthday party in Charles Williams Park for 65 guests, which featured two bouncy houses, had an approved mass gathering permit. On Friday, July 31, the Hudson Islamic Center had a prayer service in riverfront park for 150 to 200 worshipers, which also had an approved mass gathering permit. On Saturday, August 1, there was a memorial service in riverfront park for 50 to 75 people, which also had an approved mass gathering permit. Next weekend, there is a mass gathering permit, approved on July 22, for the annual African American Arts and Cultural Festival, which will run from Friday through Sunday and is, according to the permit application, expected to attract 2,000 people.
Why is it that, instead of cracking down on violations, it seems local government in Hudson is enabling events that have the potential to turn into super spreaders?
COPYRIGHT 2020 CAROLE OSTERINK
Unfortunately, it looks like Mayor Kamal Johnson is as bad as President Trump in terms of failing to understand the severity of this public health crisis. A competent mayor would revoke the permits that have been issued and stop issuing permits for future gatherings until the crisis is over. The Summer
ReplyDeleteStreets program should also end now.
There are a lot of people who don't think basic precautions apply to them. We all see it, every day. Just the other day, a maskless person told my husband she doesn't wear one because "you can get it through the eyes". Meanwhile, my husband was wearing a mask, and she was spraying aerosolized droplets all over his.
ReplyDeleteWe are in for a long haul, and for what? The right to spread both Covid AND misinformation?
What a sad sad mess we've gotten ourselves into.
Thank you for bringing this to the public's attention.
ReplyDeleteTwo of those events, as I understand it - the graduation party and a party at Wm Farmer and Sons, were both approved and ATTENDED by the Mayor! Isn't he supposed to be leading by example? Instead he is flaunting his authority and ignoring the mandates. Shame on him and shame on these people who are attending events that have the possibility of further spreading CoVid19. A co-worked told me she went to the pop-up (I think run by the people who own Lil Deb's?) in the Rivertown Lodge parking lot and said there were about 50 people there, all eating and drinking on the hill behind the parking lot, non of them following the guidelines! She said she and her husband left immediately. What is wrong with these people?
ReplyDeleteShame shame shame!!!!!!!!
DeleteI admonished a maskless customer in the small laundromat on Green Street yesterday. His response: "Whatever!" He proceeded to have a 10 minute very loud conversation on his phone while walking all around the space. I don't know who could enforce a mask requirement law, but it needs to be done soon. B HUSTON
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone find that the existing space for sidewalk pedestrians in front of American Glory and Swoon on the 300 block of Warren is disrespectful, and kinda ridiculous? When Swoon has their tables out front, there is barely room for a wheelchair to get by easily, let alone someone walking. I measured 2 feet of width the other day where their two properties meet on the sidewalk. 2 feet and surrounded by maskless diners. Who at city hall, if anyone, is checking on these businesses to make sure there is ample space for pedestrians? B HUSTON
ReplyDeleteyes and the flag touches you as you walk by and maybe it has touched others so you have to walk in the street with the traffic if you want to avoid it Put the flag somewhere else please
Deleteyes, the flag in the face, as if the narrowed space wasn't annoying enough. Thanks so much, Glory. Are you flying the flag to show you are free to do whatever you want on the sidewalk?
DeleteStrange that the city would issue permits for gatherings over 50 people when 50 is the limit. So who would be penalized, the city or the gatherers?
ReplyDeleteHudson's governance, at least from the cheap seats, appears rudderless at the exact moment when it needs to be at its most organized. Granting mass gathering permits in excess of the state-recommended size is simply foolhardy and courting the deepening of an already existing community health issue. Clearly this administration's decision making is muddled.
ReplyDeleteDoes the Columbia County Health Department have the authority to intervene here?
ReplyDeleteBefore I published this post, I sent an email to Jack Mabb, the director of CCDOH, asking him to comment. My thought was that I might be missing something. That although all the published information about Phase 4 makes it clear that outdoor gatherings can be no more than 50, I thought there might have been some interim directive I was missing--one that relaxed the minimum under certain conditions. Mabb never responded to my inquiry.
DeleteThe doors of City Hall are locked, so I guess the mayor is protecting himself from the virus while he doles out permits that put the rest of us in jeopardy.
ReplyDeletePressure to socialize especially while drinking alcohol adds to poor judgment. This kind of behavior is why our country is going to be in this terrible mess for so much longer than necessary. If we had real leadership on every level it would resolve faster. Sad.
ReplyDeleteIs there anything you people don’t complain about?
ReplyDeleteCompetence and transparency come to mind.
Delete