Free Republic

Mayor Bill de Blasio sprang a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on all private businesses in New York City on Monday — drawing immediate rebuke from trade groups, New York office workers and some fellow elected officials who said the backbone of the Big Apple was “blindsided” by the stunning move. De Blasio, whose mayoralty ends at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, labeled making vaccines compulsory for private businesses a “pre-emptive strike” against an expected surge in COVID infections this winter amid the emergence of the Omicron variant. ... Kathryn Wylde, head of the business group Partnership for NYC,...

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday urged every New Yorker to again wear masks in all indoor public places as city health officials prepared for the imminent arrival of the Omicron variant. “It’s time to remind people and double down and say, ‘Even if you started to move away from masks before, we’re telling you to get those masks back on now,’ ” de Blasio said at a remote press briefing from City Hall. City Health Commissioner David Chokshi said the advisory covers even fully vaccinated people and those who have had the virus. “Today I’m issuing a commissioner’s advisory...

Mark Ruffalo apologized this week for suggesting that Israel committed “genocide” during its 11-day conflict with Palestinian militants in Gaza. “I have reflected & wanted to apologize for posts during the recent Israel/Hamas fighting that suggested Israel is committing ‘genocide’,” the outspoken actor tweeted Monday. “It’s not accurate, it’s inflammatory, disrespectful & is being used to justify antisemitism here & abroad. Now is the time to avoid hyperbole.”