NYC Mayor Adams Receiving Backlash for Lifting Mandate for Athletes
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing a heater from New Yorkers who are angry over the mayor’s sudden about-face to partially life the employee vaccine mandate in the City to exempt professional athletes and performers who are unvaccinated.
The decision, which was made official during a press conference at Citi Field with front office members of the New York Yankees and Mets in tow, will mean players like unvaccinnated Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving can now play in games in New York City again. Irving has played in only 20 games this year, all of them on the road.
Adams, who was criticized by the likes of Kevin Durant about a week and a half ago for keeping the mandate in place, is now getting criticism form blue collar workers.
The New York Post chronicled stories of several workers who had lost their jobs because they didn’t get the jab against the virus, including Elissa Embree, who worked at Citi Field as a waitress for Aramark, and hasn’t been able to get back to work because she is unvaccinated.
Meanwhile, the mayor’s opponents are taking pot shots, including his opponent in the 2021 mayoral election, Curtis Sliwa, who was one of many online to point out that Adams received a $1.5 million campaign donation from Mets owner Steve Cohen.
Money Talks to Eric Adams While He Turns His Back on the Real Heroes, our civil servants. The next 911 call let's see if Steve Cohen responds in his stretch limohttps://t.co/TMtgZzaoIC via @bpolitics
— Curtis Sliwa (@CurtisSliwa) March 24, 2022
Hey @kyrieirving @Yankees @Mets @NYCMayor How about you guys refuse to play in a home game until ALL city workers can come back including the people who lost their jobs in your home stadiums/arenas. Not to mention the lowly civil servants.
— Desiree M (@DesireeMcCaffr3) March 25, 2022
Hey @NYCMayor
— Al (@AlBeachGuy) March 25, 2022
You’re embarrassing yourself. Fix this and bring the workers back. pic.twitter.com/4scbMVZv60
Owners and executives of some of the wealthiest and most influential sports franchises in the U.S. urged Mayor Eric Adams to allow unvaccinated athletes to play in New York. https://t.co/5dWRqJctRy
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 25, 2022
Irving is eligible to play Sunday when the Nets host the Memphis Grizzlies. The Yankees open the season April 7 at Yankee Stadium against Boston, while the Mets have their home opener on April 15 against Arizona.