Monday night, lawmakers in Nassau County controversially voted to ban the wearing of masks in public for the purposes of concealing identity.
The Republican-backed "Mask Transparency Act" was passed by a vote along party lines, with 12 legislators voting in favor and seven abstaining. The ban's stated purpose is to prevent crimes committed by those wearing masks, including a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents in recent months.
Upon the passing of the ban, County Executive Bruce Blakeman - who is expected to sign it into law when the bill reaches his desk - issued a statement, saying, “Unless someone has a medical condition or a religious imperative, people should not be allowed to cover their face in a manner that hides their identity when in public."
The ban will make mask-wearing a misdemeanor that is punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine. Law enforcement will have discretion when it comes to determining if an individual is wearing a mask for a legitimate purpose or not.
At a public meeting held prior to the vote, a mask-wearing woman reportedly became disruptive at approximately 6:30 p.m. and was arrested by police.
Both New York Governor Kathy Hochul has voiced support for similar mask bans at protests and on subways.