Councilmen Brad Lander and Ritchie Torres wrote Mayor de Blasio today urging him to take a host of aggressive #coronavirus measures: "Suspend classes at public schools, while keeping schools open for emergency childcare for essential workers and vulnerable families...
"Order the NYPD to stop making low level arrests for violations and misdemeanors, in order to prevent the spread of the virus through our jails, courts, and precincts...
"Order the courts to consider release for anyone in pretrial detention over 60. Administratively reschedule all criminal court proceedings for people who are not currently incarcerated. Reschedule all other court proceedings...
"Urge businesses to have all non-essential workers work from home...
"Cancel all City events and revoke permits for events...
"Open a virus hotline for residents to be able to call a nurse and get a home visit if needed for quarantined people with moderate symptoms rather than bring people into the ER," among other measures.
The Councilmen say the letter was penned by "a group of doctors working in the City’s hospitals, jails, clinics and shelters, which calls for the City to rapidly take far more aggressive steps" and that they're sharing it with mayor.
