Some city workers have been participating in a quiet protest, involving work slowdowns for the sanitation department, in order to support their fellow workers who do not want to get vaccinated. Consequently, trash has been piling up throughout the five boroughs.
Kathy Hochul, the current governor, was speaking across the street from the protest. She was speaking at a campaign rally for Democratic candidates running in Tuesday’s election. While the governor was late, she was greeted with loud boos from the protesters when she did finally arrive.
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street.
Image Credit: D Alban
Upon following up regarding the FDNY after the mandate went into effect, as of Monday, 18 out of 300 fire companies across the city are out of service. Over 2,300 firefighters called out sick, on top of the unknown number who were sent home after reporting to work, according to the Daily Mail. Another 5,500 police officers await their fate as exemptions have been filed but not yet approved.
According to the New York Post, as of Saturday, October 30th, 26 firehouses were out of service.
This mandate has already lead to closed firehouses, and may also result in fewer EMS workers to respond to emergencies, fewer police protecting people and property, and less efficient garbage collection.
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. Image Credit: D Alban
It is not yet known what effect all of these terminations will have on the city, but some residents are calling for an end to the mandate. The sentiment of many of those gathered was that these are the same workers for whom the city was hosting parades to thank them for being essential, and now they have become expendable.
Other residents say they want their garbage picked up and their streets safer, and requiring vaccines, in their opinion, is hindering these reasonable expectations. Even city workers who are vaccinated have said that this will hinder the ability of the fire department to fulfill its mission. Many of the protesters at the rally were vaccinated, but were not happy with this turn of events.
Of course, only time will tell.
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Forest Avenue Vaccine Mandate Protest By City Workers. Staten Island, NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul was across the street. See accompanying article at StatenIslander.org.
Image Credit: D Alban
Staten Islander News Service Staff Writer
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