City of Oakland workers picket beside an inflatable rat in front of City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. About 3,000 librarians, street cleaners, sewer workers, building inspectors and other city employees are striking to demand a pay raise. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf says the strike is unlawful because the two sides have not reached an impasse. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
The country is in a very odd place right now, and in some ways, it’s good: Americans are spending more time with their families, and the work world is finding — in many cases — that a lot can be accomplished by people in their pajamas.
But we’re also looking at the prospect of encroaching socialism, and in New York, folks are being encouraged to rat out one another as the nanny state protects us from each other.
On April 2nd, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation tweeted instruction to residents, noting that the “parks are open.”
“However,” it said, “everyone must practice social distancing and keep 6 feet apart from others.”
It added that the playgrounds are closed and team sports and large gathering aren’t allowed.
Oh, and this:
“You can report social distancing violations in action to @nyc311 or at http://on.nyc.gov/3dtx0f0.”
If I may say so, that strikes me as:
- Ridiculous
- Disturbing
But maybe I’m wrong — New York City Parks sure thinks so.
You can report social distancing violations in action to @nyc311 or at https://t.co/MMXHjS2J3Y.
— NYC Parks (@NYCParks) April 2, 2020
As for the park and people congregating, Gov. Andrew Cuomo previously chided the youth for getting too close.
Patch.com reported on March 21st:
Now might not be the best time for twenty-somethings to get together with friends in a New York City park in defiance of social distancing guidelines. They just might run into an angry Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo took a minute out of a wide-ranging Saturday press conference on the new coronavirus to call out young people for not complying with steps to stop the virus’ spread.
Here’s what Andrew had to say:
“I’m going to go down there today, I want to see what the situation is myself. But it has to be stopped because you are endangering people.”
And no one’s super:
“[Y]ou’re not Superman and you’re not Superwoman, you can get this virus. And you can transfer the virus and you can wind up hurting someone who you love or hurting someone wholly inadvertently.
“This is a public health issue and you cannot endanger other people’s health.”
Back to the tweet, if you click on the link provided, you’ll find a list of social distancing rules:
- Keeping six feet away from others (non-family group members)
- Not engaging in team sports
- Not gathering in groups
- Non-essential businesses should be closed
- Essential businesses that are open must follow necessary restrictions
Okay. But we’re supposed to turn each other in if people are getting too close?
That, frankly, sounds like cult behavior.
The page indicates three violations you should report:
- A business or location is required to be closed
- An essential business is open, but is not complying with necessary restrictions
- Overcrowding at a business or location
Also provided: A link which, as noted by The Daily Wire, “allows residents to ‘report non-essential construction in progress during the COVID-19 work stoppage.'”
In some cults, forcing members to report on one another is used to prevent trust and camaraderie among followers, keeping their eyes firmly on the leader.
As good citizens, of course, we may have reason to report crimes to officials. If you witness a murder, for example, you should go to the police.
But telling on people if they’re too near to one another? I’m going to say No, New York.
That’s not what we need in America right now.
What do you think of all this?
Let us all know in the Comments section.
-ALEX
See 3 more pieces from me:
One of Boston’s Heroes Fighting the Wuhan Flu Is Former NFL Player Myron Rolle, Now a Brain Surgeon
Unbelievable: A Reporter Asks Trump Why He Hasn’t Closed All Grocery Stores
Find all my RedState work here.
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