Mayhem Expected In New York City As First Responders In Vax War With Mayor de Blasio

Mayhem is expected to engulf New York City as first responders and other municipal workers protest Mayor Bill de Blasio’s vaccine mandate. Those who are unvaccinated could be placed on unpaid leave starting Monday, possibly jeopardizing lives and letting garbage fill the streets.

Protests have erupted all over the city as a result of the vaccine mandate. The mandate covers 160,000 city employees and the deadline to get vaccinated was Friday at 5 p.m. Medical and religious exemptions were due on Wednesday.

Over one-third of New York City Fire Department employees and sanitation workers, along with one-fourth of New York City Police officers, have yet to receive the vaccine. Over 140,000 city employees have already been vaccinated due to previous mandates.

Mayor de Blasio defended his decision to enforce the vaccine mandate, saying “I am not having second thoughts,” adding, “Until we defeat COVID, people are not safe. If we don't stop COVID, New Yorkers will die. We must stop COVID -- and the way to do that is vaccination and that must include our public employees.”

Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association. said he was “insulted” by de Blasio’s orders and that 30% to 40% of firehouses may have to close because of the mandate. A 20% drop in staff is expected, according to FDNY union members.

“It’s his choice to put the lives he’s entrusted with, in jeopardy,” Ansbro added. "The mayor should really avoid this upcoming catastrophe. This is really an absolutely unnecessary threat."

The Police Benevolent Association filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the mandate, but failed when a Staten Island judge rejected the request on Wednesday. It appealed the case on Thursday with a court date set for Nov. 12.

“The city is in bad shape now, and it’ll be in worse shape when you call 911,” said Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa. “It's going to mean less cops in the streets, less firefighters, less sanitation workers. We already have less municipal hospital workers and less teachers."