New city and state COVID mandates threaten small businesses

Big Brother is watching.

Everything from an employee’s sneeze to a tourist’s vaccination papers are now under the watchful eye of the government thanks to a pair of new COVID-19 warrants, one from town hall and the other from ‘Albany.

New York City’s besieged small businesses, still struggling to stay alive, fear they will buckle under the weight of the additional burdens.

“We’re done,” a longtime Manhattan commercial operator told The Post, while bemoaning the two terms and “the moron army” enforcing the city’s vaccination protocols.

“They just want to crush small businesses. They are sick people.

The city’s high-profile vaccine mandate, which took effect on Monday, has tasked ‘thousands’ of public employees to roam the city as COVID cops and issue fines of up to 5,000 $.

The less publicized HERO law, quietly enacted by Governor Hochul last week, places page after page of new onerous requirements on businesses statewide – while exempting government agencies.

The HERO (Health and Essential Rights) law was enacted in May, but came into effect on September 6, when Governor Hochul declared COVID an airborne infectious disease.

The law micromanages every detail of occupational hygiene, including “sneezing etiquette” and “shaking dirty laundry,” and allows workers to sue employers for up to $ 20,000 for violations minor.

“This is another low impact COVID welfare business mandate that some will follow, some will ignore, but all will be subject to a new round of violations and lawsuits,” City Councilor Joe said. Borelli (R-Staten Island), The Post said.

The state’s Department of Labor confirmed to The Post that the law only applies to private companies and that government agencies, including schools, universities and public employers, are exempt.

The city’s COVID vaccine mandate, meanwhile, has sparked backlash from public employee unions whose members are now tasked with the drudgery of barging into businesses to demand compliance with the vaccine mandate.

The city’s enforcement plan involves officers from 13 different departments, ranging from park workers to sanitation workers.

“Who will watch the parks? Asked Joe Puleo, chairman of District Council 37, Local 983, whose 4,000 members included 350 Park Enforcement Patrol officers on duty as COVID enforcement officers.

“We already get so many complaints from communities that already don’t feel safe, so the last thing we need to do is get out of parks to inspect private companies.”

These new COVID cops are tasked with observing “business interaction with the customer”, including asking for “proof of identity to match proof of vaccine.” Inspectors would issue warnings and violations for non-compliance, according to the city’s 18-page law enforcement training presentation obtained by The Post.

City Hall has ruled out fears that COVID inspections could hamper public safety elsewhere.

“Staying flexible is part of a public servant’s job and these agencies are ready for it,” a spokesperson for the mayor told The Post. “It’s not that difficult and it doesn’t require any specialized training to get it right. We are 100% confident in everyone’s ability to do this effectively.

Danny DePamphlis, who has long operated Hell’s Kitchen’s landmark Rudy’s Bar, says he’s vaccinated, encourages his friends and neighbors to do the same, and enforces the warrant. But he says city and state leaders continue to “unfairly target” the bar and restaurant industry in the battle against COVID.

He cites the state’s own report from last year which found that only 1.4% of COVID transmissions were traced to bars and restaurants, while 74% were traced back to homes. Other states have reported similar results.