New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is blasting local officials in one New York City borough who are bucking his COVID-19 restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.
Cuomo described the decision by some local leaders to defy statewide restrictions as “very troubling and disturbing.”
While he noted that people are frustrated by the restrictions and anxious, he said, “We have to deal with it.”
He turned his attention to Staten Island, which once had the lowest death rate in New York City, but has seen coronavirus deaths soar and now has the highest death rate in the city.
“So all these local officials who are saying, ‘That’s right we don’t have to do any of this. Forget this, don’t comply, freedom.’ Yeah, freedom to die,” Cuomo said.
He added, “Congratulations, you went from the lowest death rate in the city of New York to the highest death rate in the city of New York. You gave great advice to your people. More of them died.”
“Congratulations, you represented your people well. More have died. Go back and campaign, ‘We went from the lowest death rate in the city to the highest death rate in the city because of my advice.’ Congratulations.”
Watch the video below:
Cuomo on Staten Island officials who are resisting COVID-19 restrictions: "'Forget this, don't comply, freedom.' Yeah, freedom to die. Congratulations — you went from the lowest death rate in the city of New York to the highest death rate in the city of New York" pic.twitter.com/Z6YajjTpqJ
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 7, 2020
Cuomo has previously expressed his exasperation with local officials who declare their opposition to his restrictions, as IJR reported.
Before Thanksgiving, Cuomo released new restrictions that limited the size of indoor gatherings, even in private residences. However, several sheriffs declared that they would not enforce his new limitations.
“I believe that law enforcement officer violates his or her constitutional duty. I don’t consider them a law enforcement officer,” Cuomo said of sheriffs who do not enforce his restrictions.
He continued, “Because you don’t have the right to pick laws that you think you will enforce, and you don’t enforce laws that you don’t agree with. Right. That’s not a law enforcement officer. That’s a dictator.”
In November, Cuomo announced that he would reopen a field hospital in Staten Island as cases surged there.