New York has long had some of the strongest COVID-19 requirements in the country, a practice that Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has upheld.
One of those measures, however, hit a legal snag this week when a New York State Supreme Court justice declared on Monday that her mask mandate was unconstitutional. Judge Thomas Rademaker ruled that the governor lacks the jurisdiction to impose a mask mandate unilaterally, according to WHEC.
Hochul retaliated with a statement promising to challenge Rademaker’s judgment, stating her administration will “pursue every opportunity” to overturn it.
“My responsibility as Governor is to protect New Yorkers throughout this public health crisis, and these measures help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and save lives,”” Hochul stated.
Meanwhile, some local school administrators have already stated that the verdict will have no impact on school-based obligations, according to WHEC.
Bo Wright, President of the Monroe County Council of School Superintendents, tweeted,“School leaders are aware of a ruling by a state judge on Long Island today that deemed the governor’s mask mandate unconstitutional.”
“This evening, NYSED announced that the mask mandate remains in effect in schools based on the state’s intent to appeal. More information to follow.”
In contrast, Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt (NY) released a statement of his own which welcomed Rademaker’s ruling, saying that New York has become the epicenter of the pandemic, two years ago.
Last August, New York Magazine writer David Zweig pointed to a little-publicized CDC study of schools in Georgia which found that student mask mandates had little impact on COVID-19 transmission rates.
