United States Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) entered an upstate New York restaurant Friday without a mask despite an executive order requiring one.
The owner of Latham, New York restaurant Innovo Kitchen called out the junior senator’s behavior in an Instagram post that included a brief video clip. Latham is a suburb of the state capital, Albany, where Gillibrand grew up. She worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign after the former first lady and her husband moved from Arkansas to Long Island. Gillibrand was later elected as a representative for the 20th Congressional District. In 2009, she was tapped to fill Clinton’s senate seat when Mrs. Clinton became U.S. Secretary of State.
John La Posta, the owner of Innovo Kitchen, had the following to say:
“The problem with N.Y. politics in a nutshell: my Senator blowing past my manager before she can even ask her to put a mask on. Walking right past a really big sign that says, ‘Masks required to enter.’ The masks are a mandate from the governor. As good citizens, agree or not, we must follow our leaders. Her guest is graciously wearing one. I guess Sen. Gillibrand thinks that the governor is wrong or she is special and above the rules.”
On December 10, 2021, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an executive order requiring masks for restaurants that do not require proof of vaccination against COVID-19. The order, designed to address the expected winter surge of the omicron variant, became effective Dec. 13 and lasts until this coming Saturday. Hochul said in a December statement the policy would be re-evaluated after Saturday to determine if it was still needed. No decision has been announced by her office yet.
Last month, Hochul announced masks will be required in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement.
“As Governor, my two top priorities are to protect the health of New Yorkers and to protect the health of our economy,” she said at the time. “The temporary measures I am taking today will help accomplish this through the holiday season. We shouldn’t have reached the point where we are confronted with a winter surge, especially with the vaccine at our disposal, and I share many New Yorkers’ frustration that we are not past this pandemic yet.”
“I want to thank the more than 80 percent of adult New Yorkers who have done the right thing to get fully vaccinated,” Hochul added. “If others will follow suit, these measures will no longer be necessary.”
La Posta tagged the CDC, local journalists, and news outlets on his post, which included video from a security camera showing Gillibrand walking into the restaurant mask-less, according to a Daily Wire report.
“Enough is enough! You are supposed to be setting an example,” chided La Posta. “What are you thinking, senator?!” The restaurant owner added he believes Gillibrand owes his staff an apology.
“Gillibrand is part of the system that put the mask mandate in place. She thinks she’s above the law,” La Posta told a New York Post reporter.
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