Opposition grows immediately as mask ban becomes law

MINEOLA, N.Y. (PIX11) —  Police can stop a person and question them if they’re wearing a mask, and officers determine that the mask is being worn for suspicious reasons.

That’s what a new, first-in-the-nation law allows. It was formally adopted in a signing ceremony Wednesday morning, and within minutes, opposition to the measure started building. Legal challenges to the new law are expected shortly.

At the signing ceremony at the Nassau County Legislature building here on Wednesday, County Executive Bruce Blakeman said that the law was meant to prevent masks from being worn at protests, especially pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

There have not been any pro-Palestinian protests in Nassau County at which masking has been an issue. However, because it’s been an issue with incidents that have taken place in New York City, Blakeman said that the new measure is needed.

“If you’re going to spew racial epithets, and anti-semitism, don’t be a coward,” Blakeman said during the signing ceremony. “Take your mask off.”

Mazi Pilip, the sponsor of the bill that became law, is a Republican county legislator. She and her fellow GOP legislators approved the bill strictly along party lines, with all 12 voting in favor, and all seven Democrats voting to abstain.

The Democrats had said that they had a bill of their own that fights antisemitism without banning masks. Their abstention, according to Nassau County Democratic Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, was in protest of GOP legislators choosing “to ignore any opportunity for bipartisan compromise or [to] even consider the Democratic bill — a bill that upholds the rule of law, offers a fairer approach for residents and imposes firmer penalties on actual offenders.”

For her part, Pilip, at the signing ceremony, said that even though the measure was partisan, it was meant to be broadly applied.

“This bill is made to protect all citizens of Nassau County,” she said.

She and the law’s supporters say that it’s also meant to prevent crimes, by allowing police to question mask wearers.

“They can sniff out somebody who’s lying,” Blakeman said, “and this gives them the ability to stop them and ask them, ‘What are you doing?'”

He said that the law is written to allow for mask-wearing for health, religious and celebratory reasons — like Halloween, or masquerade parties.

Despite that, there is opposition among some county residents.

Lisa Dresner is a local teacher. “I’m gonna keep wearing a mask,” she said, as she walked to her car from a supermarket. “I want to protect my students. I want to protect myself.”

If she were asked by police why she’s wearing a mask — they are not allowed to force anyone to remove their mask — she said that it would make her uncomfortable.

“It would make me feel a little like ‘Show me your papers,’ but I would list my medical conditions. and hope that person [making the inquiry] was reasonable.”

Meris Zanarini, another local resident said that the new law compromises people’s independence.

“It should be my decision,” she said, as she loaded her groceries into her car. “I don’t want to be stopped.”

A growing list of groups, including Disability Rights NY, and the New York Civil Liberties Union, oppose the mask ban. Paula Frome, a retired attorney, is on the board of Nassau Residents for Good Government. Her organization also opposes the new law, and she predicts legal challenges right away.

“This is all going to cost Nassau County a good deal of money,” she said, in an interview. “I don’t believe a court is going to find it constitutional. I do believe that we’re going to spend a fortune on legal fees for a doomed piece of legislation.”

No official legal challenge has yet been filed.

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