h. nazan ışık —

1 April 2020—

Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday,” We are going to close down the New York City playgrounds.”

“My favorite topic – young people must get this message. And they still have not gotten the message, too many situations with too much density by young people… They’re putting their lives at risk… I’ve said this 100 different ways. The compliance is still not where it should be…. So we’re going to take more dramatic actions. We’re going to close down the city playgrounds,” said

Governor Cuomo closes all playgrounds  (photo: h. nazan ışık/NKENdiKEN)

How did we come here that Governor Cuomo used his authority to close all of New York City’s playgrounds?

On 22 March Governor Cuomo said, “There is a density level in New York City (parks) that is wholly inappropriate.

“This kind of density, we talk about, social distancing, I was in these parks – you would not know that anything was going on. This is just a mistake. It’s a mistake. It’s insensitive, it’s arrogant, it’s self-destructive, it’s disrespectful to other people and it has to stop and it has to stop now.

“This is not a joke and I am not kidding […] we need a plan from New York City, I want it in 24 hours because this is a significant problem that has to be corrected.”

A sign on the gates of a playground reads, “Playgrounds are not sterilized; play at your own risk.” (Photo: h. nazan ışık / NKENdiKEN)

Mayor de Blasio announced on 26 March,” that basketball hoops will be removed from 80 public courts, which failed social distancing, to prevent players from gathering and playing to stop the transmission of coronavirus.”

“And NYPD will enforce social distancing rules and fine people up to $500 for violating social distancing rules. “ said Mayor de Blasio on 29 March.

Reporters always asked whether or not he would close the playgrounds?

And, same question was asked by a reporter again on 30 March at the USNS Comfort press conference.

And Mayor de Blasio’s answer was, “ look, 8.6 million people in a very small space, I don’t think taking away parks is a great idea unless we have evidence that people are not following the rules in a really substantial way.

I have had this conversation daily with our Police Commissioner. On the playgrounds, if we see individual playgrounds where there is noncompliance. We can close the playground. If we see it, broadly, all the playgrounds will be closed. But, based on the sheer facts coming back from the Police Department, Parks Department, noncompliance is limited.

On Tuesday, 31 March, the mayor threat and announced that 10 city park playgrounds would close.

And one day after that, on 1 April, Governor  Cuomo announced, “We agreed initially with the mayor that we would try compliance and the mayor was going to try to use the NYPD to enforce compliance, social distancing in playgrounds. It is still a problem.

“We’re going to close down the city playgrounds and leave the open spaces available. So use the open space in a park -walk around, get some sun – great.

“No density, no basketball games, no close contact, no violation of social distancing, period.

“That’s the rule!”

Photos: © h. nazan ışık / NKENdiKEN