Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday sparred on national TV with critics of his controversial COVID-19 vaccine mandates, including last week’s edict requiring the jabs for all private-industry workers in the Big Apple.
During a joint appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” with host Jake Tapper, the embattled lame-duck Dem mayor came under fire from Arkansas’ GOP governor, Asa Hutchinson, who claimed the idea of a jab requirement “hardens resistance” to the life-saving shots, predicting that since President Joe Biden’s similar mandates have been repeatedly slapped down, courts would block Hizzoner’s version, as well.
“By and large, these mandates are unconstitutional overreaches, and the courts are looking at it in that fashion,” Hutchinson said.
In Arkansas — where just 50 percent of residents are fully vaccinated — “education efforts” have been sufficient in getting people immunized while mandates have proven divisive, according to Hutchinson.
“Whenever you look at the vaccination, we are in agreement: Let’s increase the vaccination rates,” he said. “But how do we get there? And to me, we’re right now dividing our country on this issue of mandates.
“Private businesses should be able to make the decision themselves. Many might require their employees to be vaccinated, but let’s let them make that decision.”
De Blasio responded by touting increased vaccination rates in the five boroughs since he first announced mandatory jabs for patrons of indoor businesses in August. The rate was 57 percent at the end of the summer compared to the current 71 percent.
The mayor claimed that Big Apple businesses are more worried about potential virus-induced shutdowns than compulsory vaccinations.
“I’ll tell you what I hear from our business community, that their greatest fear is shutdowns,” he said. “Their greatest fear is going back to where we were in 2020, to restrictions, to people losing their livelihood.
“The greatest threat to employment right now is that the Omicron variant, and the cold winter months are going to supercharge COVID and take us backwards. So, I’m going to argue to you that mandates work, and it’s time,” de Blasio insisted.
“Our restaurants are thriving. Broadway is back, because people go in there, and they know they’re safe. Everyone’s vaccinated,” he added. “Why wouldn’t we want that for everyone?”
During a subsequent appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” de Blasio was pressed by host Chris Wallace about why he announced the thorny policy, set to take effect Dec. 27, when Mayor-elect Eric Adams takes over Jan. 1.
“Why not allow the new mayor, who’s going to come in four days later, to impose that mandate if he’s going to do it?” a skeptical Wallace asked. “You’re sticking him with it?”
The mayor brushed aside the question, only replying that his stringent COVID-19 regulations have proven effective.
“Every time we’ve put a mandate in place, Chris, it has worked,” de Blasio said. “We’re at 71 percent right now of all New Yorkers. All New Yorkers, 71 percent fully vaccinated. We’re leading the country.
“And that’s because we use incentives and mandates and every single mandate we’ve put in place has greatly increased the number of people vaccinated. Since the first mandates back in August, we’ve had over a million more doses, and that’s why the city is open and thriving.
“Really, vaccination equals freedom because it allows people to get back to work, get back to their lives, be safe wherever they are, school, a workplace,” the mayor insisted. “It works, and that’s why we’re continuing to deepen it.”
