Northeast
NY Gov. Hochul says she’s considering a mask ban to reduce hate crimes, triggers COVID fearful X users
Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., said she was considering bringing back a ban on masks in her state to reduce crime, a proposal that was rejected by some social media accounts still fearful of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hochul spoke to CNN anchor Laura Coates on Wednesday night about potential measures she may take to reduce rampant crime in New York City, including reinstituting a previous mask ban. Jewish leaders have stated that the masks have made violent offenders less afraid to commit antisemitic hate crimes.
“But I absolutely will go back and take a look at this and see whether it can be restored because it is frightening to people,” Hochul said of the mask ban.
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Coates brought Hochul on to talk about a 4% rise in antisemitic incidents throughout New York City. The anchor noted that the “tone” and the “aggressiveness” of the antisemitic crimes and vandalism “seem to have truly escalated and they are where commuters are and beyond.”
The governor described these acts as “textbook antisemitism” and that they “constitute hate crimes,” and touted her administration for reforming the bail laws so that suspects accused of committing hate crimes could be held on bail.
She added that her team listed “28 more offenses to our hate crime list,” “beefed up security at vulnerable places, particularly places of worship,” and worked to protect college campuses during commencement season.
Coates then brought up the potential mask ban, stating, “There‘s also a call some have talked about – some Jewish leaders actually in New York are calling tonight for a mask ban, saying that covering faces allows protesters to have some level of anonymity to be more aggressive, to be more entitled to say what they want because they don‘t fear repercussion the same way.”
“Would you support that endeavor?” the anchor asked.
The governor began by noting that there used to be a mask ban “before the pandemic, that you couldn’t have a face covering that didn’t serve a purpose… The pandemic removed that from our state law.”
She continued, noting she “absolutely will go back and take a look at this.”
“You‘re sitting on a subway train and someone puts on a mask like this… you don‘t know if they‘re going to be committing a crime, they‘re going to have a gun or whether they‘re just going to be threatening, intimidating you because you are Jewish, which is exactly what happened the other day. Absolutely unacceptable in the state of New York,” Hochul said.
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Multiple accounts on social media apprehensive about COVID-19 voiced their displeasure with a potential mask ban.
Public health commentator Dr. Lucky Tran posted, “UPDATE: NY Governor Kathy Hochul said on CNN last night that she is considering a ban on masks. @GovKathyHochul this is absolutely shameful! New York has suffered so much from COVID, and COVID is not over. We should be normalize[sic] and depoliticizing masks, not banning them.”
The account “COVID Advocacy NY” posted, “NY ACTION ALERT: @GovKathyHochul said on CNN that she is considering banning masks in NY. We need to all speak out against this!”
The account also provided details for how to contact the governor or her team.
Health policy activist Myra Batchelder commented, “I just called and spoke with Gov Hochul’s staff. I urge New Yorkers to call and message her office today and urge her not to ban masks in NY! A mask ban will endanger people’s lives and health. We cannot ban masks in NY.”
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Boston, MA
Mass. Gov. Healey seizes Steward-run hospital in Boston in bid to keep its doors open
The Healey administration said Friday that it had seized a Boston hospital most recently operated by bankrupt Steward Health Care.
The Democratic governor’s office said it used eminent domain to seize St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in the city’s Brighton neighborhood, a move that will allow it to take control of the property and transfer the hospital’s operations to Boston Medical Center.
- Read More: St. Elizabeth’s landlords fight state takeover of Steward-owned hospital
As part of the legal process to take the hospital, Healey’s office argued that a potential shutdown for St. Elizabeth’s would create a public health emergency.
That’s because of the large number of patients the hospital now serves, and the knock-on effects to medical services across the region, the administration said.
The firms that controlled the hospital’s real estate had fought the takeover, rejecting what they say is the state’s low-ball offer for the property, State House News Service reported last month.
On Friday, Healey said that while one of the firms, Apollo Global Management “continues to put its greed ahead of the health and wellbeing of the people of Massachusetts, we are taking action to make sure St. Elizabeth’s remains open.”
“By transferring operations to Boston Medical Center, we will protect access to care for tens of thousands of patients and save thousands of jobs,” Healey said in the statement.
Healey’s office had previously announced that it had found new operators for five of Dallas-based Steward’s seven hospitals in Massachusetts.
Lawrence General Hospital will become the new operator for both campuses of Holy Family in Haverhill and Methuen, Lifespan will assume operations of Morton and Saint Anne’s, and Boston Medical Center will take over Good Samaritan.
These transfers of ownership are expected to go into effect on Oct. 1, Healey’s office said.
Two Steward-run hospitals, Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, and Carney Hospital in Dorchester, closed in August after Steward said it failed to find “qualified” bidders for the property.
Earlier this week, Healey’s office said it had convened a pair of working groups aimed at addressing the impact of those shutdowns.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate approved a resolution intended to hold Steward’s CEO, Ralph de la Torre, in criminal contempt for failing to testify before a Senate panel.
The Senate approved the measure by unanimous consent.
Members of a Senate committee looking into the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care adopted the resolution last week after de la Torre refused to attend a committee hearing despite being issued a subpoena.
The resolution was sent to the full Senate for consideration, The Associated Press reported.
Pittsburg, PA
Colts Send Message to Steelers’ T.J. Watt
The Indianapolis Colts know what they’re getting themselves into when they line up across from T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters that his team has had to prepare effusively for Watt leading up to Sunday’s contest given his game-wrecking ability and motor.
“The guy is a phenomenal football player,” Steichen said. “He is always around the ball. He has a relentless motor. He plays 100 miles an hour on every snap. So, we’ve got to have a plan for him…”
On the year, Watt has recorded three sacks and eight total pressures while being chipped at the highest rate of any pass rusher in the league by a wide margin, according to Pro Football Focus.
Indianapolis’ offensive line is among the best in the league largely in part due to their tackle duo of Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith, who have been nails so far this season.
Watt and the rest of the Steelers’ defense represent a whole different challenge, however, and Indianapolis offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter acknowledged that fact this week.
“… In this league there are these just phenomenal players on some of these defenses, and T.J. Watt is certainly one of those,” Cooter said. “We’ve got to know where he’s going to line up and how he’s likely to align within their scheme – sort of what his role is likely to be defensively each play, and how we can go best attack the defense…”
The Colts’ game plan will likely center around neutralizing Watt, and for good reason. The 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and four-time First-team All-Pro can single-handedly stop an offense in its tracks, and he’s likely to attract even more attention then he initially would have now that Alex Highsmith will be out with a groin injury for Pittsburgh.
Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson provided his own opinions on Watt’s prowess, mentioning that the team has plans in place that are aimed at keeping him out of the backfield.
“Man, I mean everybody knows he’s a potential Hall of Famer,” Richardson said. “He’s a great guy – high motor, a lot of effort. He’s pretty strong, physical. So, we definitely have a few things for him so he doesn’t get to the quarterback.”
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Connecticut
Route 6 in Plymouth closed; drivers asked to avoid area
Route 6 in Plymouth is closed after a crash.
Police said the road will be closed until further notice and all drivers should avoid Route 6 and seek another route.
Drivers of all tractor-trailers should avoid Route 6 through the town of Plymouth.
The state Department of Transportation said the crash involved three vehicles.
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