An irate New York City mom crashed a City Hall press conference of Mayor Eric Adams on Monday, April 4, accusing him of reneging on his promise to abolish the toddler mask mandate. The New York Daily News reported that Daniela Jampel stole the show in a press conference for LGBTQ issues, telling Adams that he pulled the rug out from under NYC parents.
Jampel said, "Three weeks ago, you told parents to trust you that you would unmask our toddlers. You stood right here, and you said that the masks would come off April 4. That has not happened."
Jampel told Adams that not only did he renege on his promise to rescind the toddler mask mandate, he also had his lawyers race to court on Friday night, making an argument that there would be irreparable harm if children under the age of 5 are allowed to take off their masks along with their older siblings in school.
Jampel questions Adams about toddler mask mandate in NYC
After her compelling opening statement, Jampel went on to ask Adams two questions-"What is the irreparable harm to children aged 2 to 4 to take off their masks, just as they do in Long Island, just as they do in Westchester? and "When will you and will you unmask our toddlers?"
The New York Post reported that City Hall staffers tried to cut Jampel off when they realized she was not a reporter. Adams, who looked miffed at the furious Big Apple mom getting a question in, allowed Jampel to continue her questioning. Adams told her, however, that she needed to turn on her phone so she could get his answer correctly.
Adams said there has recently been an uptick in new COVID-19 cases locally, which is why he decided to keep the toddler mask mandate order in place. Adams admitted that he was looking forward to announcing taking the masks off for children ages 2 to 4 years old.
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Adams keeps toddler mask mandate in place as COVID cases rise
The NYC mayor clarified, though, that he also stated that if they see an uptick in COVID cases, they will come back and announce what they are going to do. Adams added that they would pivot and shift as COVID pivots and shifts. That he did with the Seattle Times reporting that the mayor vowed to keep the toddler mask mandate in place for the time being.
Adams reminded everyone that there is a new COVID variant, and the numbers are increasing. Adams said they would move at the right pace because of this, and that is the role he must do.
Jampel found Adams' reply unacceptable, slamming the New York City mayor for his decision to punish toddlers because he does not have the political will to put masks on everybody in the Big Apple. Jampel said in an interview that they should not require masks only on the youngest members of their society and on the people with the lowest case rates, with the mother citing a chart published by the New York City Department of Health.
