'Height Of Irresponsibility' Dropping School Mask Mandate: Pols

SEAFORD, NY — Several state lawmakers have weighed in about Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's controversial decision allowing the mask mandate in schools to end. He is giving school districts the power to reverse the mandate.

However, the state Department of Education said the new county executive does not have the authority to override the mask mandate in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ten lawmakers made a joint statement on Friday criticizing Blakeman.

"At this point in the pandemic, when pediatric hospitalizations are spiking at dangerous levels, it would be the height of irresponsibility to ignore Governor Hochul's vital efforts to protect public health."

Senator John Brooks, Senator Todd Kaminsky, Senator Anna Kaplan, Senator Kevin Thomas, Senator Jim Gaughran, Assemblyman Michaelle Solages, Assemblymember Chuck Lavine, Assemblymember Judy Griffin, Assemblymember Taylor Darling and Assemblymember Gina Sillitti penned the statement.

"We are confident the school districts of Nassau County will continue acting responsibly in the coming days, as they had no input in the County Executive's actions. For the sake of our children, teachers, and school personnel, County Executive Blakeman must immediately rescind his irresponsible and clearly unlawful executive order."

Gov. Kathy Hochul said at her COVID-19 briefing on Friday, "I have the law of the state of New York behind me and I will always exercise my authority to protect the health of the people of this state."

Regarding Blakeman's choice to put the mask mandate in the school districts' hands, Hochul said, "Municipalities are creatures of the state, have to follow state law."