On Thursday night, outgoing New York City Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN’s Michael Smerconish that the government should apply COVID-19 vaccine mandates “forcefully” because people will not want to go without their paycheck or be prohibited from eating out at restaurants. De Blasio also claims that this would actually help the economy, and that companies have asked him to put mandates in place because it makes the government “the bad guys” and takes the pressure off their backs.
Smerconish started the segment with de Blasio by beginning a long commentary, saying in part, “As for those who won’t get vaccinated, I’m convinced that no amount of browbeating is going to cause them to change their ways. I don’t wish them ill, but there’s also a limit to my sympathy and compassion should they not take steps to protect themselves and society. And finally, I’m resolved not to let COVID stop me from leading a productive and as happy a life.”
But, the host added that New York City’s rising positivity rate is making it harder for vaccinated people like him to live their lives. “Mayor, what the heck just happened here?” the host asked, referencing the new mandates imposed.
“Omicron happened. This is a whole new animal,” de Blasio said. “And we got to be honest about the fact that it’s moving very fast, and we have to move faster. And honestly, Michael, I really appreciate the humanity and the sort of openness of what you said about what you’re thinking. But I’m only going to differ with you on one thing — which is, you know, the folks who aren’t getting vaccinated. If we apply mandates forcefully, it actually moves a lot of people. The number of people who are just 100% ideologically, dye- in-the-wool anti-vax is still very, very small.”
“This city right now, 90% of adults have had at least one dose of the vaccine. And there are plenty of people with strong opinions here. There are plenty of people who like Donald Trump here. There are plenty of people who don’t want the government to tell them what to do,” he added. “But the mandates made a difference because people are not going to lose a paycheck over it. They’re not going to not be able to go to a restaurant. If you say, ‘Here are some clear rules, you want to fully participate in society, all you gotta do is get vaccinated,’ the vast majority of people say, ‘Okay, I’m in.'”
Later on, de Blasio claimed that critics who said vaccine mandates are bad for business are wrong because they prevent businesses from having to shut down.
“Covid is bad for business. Mandates are good for business. Covid is bad for business,” de Blasio told the host. “I’ve heard from so many business people, first of all, [who] bluntly said, ‘Please do it for us. If the government does it, then we don’t have to be the bad guys, right? We don’t have to say to our employees, ‘let me explain this to you … We can just point out that sign on the wall and say, hey, guys, everyone has to do it.'”
“A lot of businesspeople said, ‘Please make it as universal as possible. So folks won’t go from one industry to another.’ They’re trying to shop for a place with no mandate,” de Blasio said. “I actually think this is what’s going to save business. And also what’s the worst thing in the world for business? What’s going on now? In England, Germany, Austria, shutdowns restrictions. That’s what kills business. That’s what kills jobs. Mandates are actually going to save us from having a shutdown.”
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