Statement from Chair of NYC Council Committee on Public Safety Council Member Donovan Richards Regarding New Mask Enforcement and Outreach Policy

UsaNewsOnline.Com Desk, New York : “I commend Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea for resetting mask enforcement which prevents the NYPD from issuing summonses and making arrests for New Yorkers not wearing masks,” said Council Member Donovan Richards, Chair of City Council Public Safety Committee. “I’ve pushed to prohibit NYPD mask enforcement to prevent further exacerbation and division during this pandemic. Wearing a mask is not a legal issue, it’s a social one. By transitioning mask outreach and education from officers to community organizations we are demonstrating that we trust our partners to expand the availability and encourage proper use of masks. I urge New Yorkers to continue covering their faces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have to get this right and I believe we can together, as a city.” Press Release.