CURFEW IMPOSED: Cuomo, de Blasio announce 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew following violent George Floyd protests

NY Protests
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NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have imposed a curfew on New York City from 11 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday.

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Cuomo's office on Monday evening noted that the following essential workers and businesses are exempt from the curfew: 

  • Healthcare operations including research and laboratory services
  • Infrastructure including utilities, telecommunication, airports and transportation infrastructure
  • Manufacturing, including food processing and pharmaceuticals
  • Essential retail including grocery stores and pharmacies
  • Services including trash collection, mail, and shipping services
  • News media
  • Banks and related financial institutions
  • Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations
  • Construction
  • Vendors of essential services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences or other essential businesses
  • Vendors that provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support, child care 
  • Services needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public

The full text of the mayor's executive order declaring the curfew is below: 

“In New York City, I spoke with the mayor — there’s going to be a curfew in New York City that we think could be helpful,” Cuomo said during a radio interview Monday afternoon. “More importantly, there is going to be an increase in the force.”

Cuomo also announced the city would ramp up the number of officers on duty during protests scheduled for Monday night. 

“There were about 4,000 officers on duty last night," he during the interview. "There’ll be double that tonight, about 8,000."

In a joint statement released by Cuomo and de Blasio soon after the governor's announcement, the two advised New Yorkers planning to participate in protests to "take proper health precautions and wear face coverings while we continue to fight the COVID-19 virus."

"I stand behind the protestors and their message, but unfortunately there are people who are looking to distract and discredit this moment," Cuomo said in the statement. "The violence and the looting has been bad for the city, the state and this entire national movement, undermining and distracting from this righteous cause."

"While we encourage people to protest peacefully and make their voices heard, the safety of the general public is paramount and cannot be compromised," he added. "Tonight the mayor and I are implementing a citywide curfew starting at 11 p.m. and doubling the NYPD presence across the city."

In his own statement, de Blasio said the curfew was meant "to protect against violence and property damage." 

"I support and protect peaceful protest in this city. The demonstrations we've seen have been generally peaceful. We can't let violence undermine the message of this moment. It is too important and the message must be heard," he said. 

"(NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea) and I have spoken at length about the incidents we've all seen in recent days where officers didn't uphold the values of this city or the NYPD," he added. "We agree on the need for swift action. He will speak later today on how officers will be held accountable."

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