WE SEE YOU STROLLIN’
Bill de Blasio confronted by New Yorker for traveling 11 miles to walk in park AGAIN amid coronavirus lockdown
NEW York Mayor Bill de Blasio has once again sparked outrage for ignoring his own “stay home” order to go for a stroll in the park on Saturday.
De Blasio was filmed being confronted by park goer Darren Goldner who accused the “selfish” mayor and his wife, Chirlaine McCray, of traveling “non-essentially” to Brooklyn, 11 miles from their home.
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Critics say the mayor’s visits to Prospect Park are unnecessarily jeopardizing the health of the staff who drive and accompany him to and from his mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side – located within Carl Schurz Park.
The mayor's actions also contradict his plea to New Yorkers to limit non-essential travel under stay home orders.
“Seriously, you guys have a park,” Goldner can be heard saying in the video.
“You live in a park. You don’t need to non-essentially travel to Brooklyn. Come on, you won’t even open roads for people of all backgrounds. I’m not going to give it a break. This is selfish behaviour.”
The mayor and his wife, wearing face masks and dressed in exercise gear, waved away Goldner as he filmed.
Goldner voiced the frustrations of many New Yorkers when he noted that De Blasio had declined the suggestion to close some thoroughfares to cars, so residents who aren’t fortunate enough to live near parks can have more space during the coronavirus shutdown.
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“De Blasio opposes opening streets for all, [especially for] those who don't happen to live near a nice park, aren't chauffeured in fossil-fuel convoys to Park Slope. They tend to be poorer, working class, POC,' Goldner tweeted.
On Monday – two days after the Saturday visit to Prospect Park – Mayor de Blasio made an about face, saying 40 miles of car-free streets would soon be designated.
“Over the next month, we will create a minimum of 40 miles of open streets,” he said.
“And as the crisis continues, the goal is to get up to 100 miles. We will focus first on streets in and around our parks.”
Mayor de Blasio and his wife were also spotted at Prospect Park by members of the public on March 28 and April 4.
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In response to criticism of these outings, Mayor de Blasio said at a press briefing:
“Everyone who needs some exercise should get the exercise for the amount of time they need and then get back to home or work if they're doing essential work.”
New York City is the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the US, with more than 160,000 confirmed cases and 12,200 deaths.
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