New York Mayor Bill de Blasio loves the YMCA so much, he wanted to visit it one last time before #Coronapocalypse shuts its doors.
Or, so he says. Everyone else just thinks he went to the gym while disregarding a public health crisis.
De Blasio caught flak on social media Monday after visiting his local YMCA at literally the same moment New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was announcing the statewide closure of all “non-essential” businesses like restaurants, bars, and – ironically – gyms.
New York City has shut the schools and is shuttering restaurants.
— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) March 16, 2020
Bill de Blasio still went to his **public YMCA** gym mid-morning. https://t.co/PNtFRSlsF7
When faced with the backlash, de Blasio’s Press Secretary, Freddi Goldstein, put out a statement saying the mayor “wanted to visit a place that keeps him grounded one last time” before the gyms are ordered closed at 8 p.m. Monday night.
Statement from spokesperson @FreddiGoldstein on the mayor’s gym trip today (she also says “new routine to come”) pic.twitter.com/zywYCTJZer
— Good Idea Dave (@DaveCoIon) March 16, 2020
Despite calling for that nationalization of industry and calling the coronavirus crisis a "war-like situation, de Blasio has raised more than a few eyebrows over the past week for allowing New York City schools to remain open despite the widespread number of closures across neighboring states, as well as his own continuing to visit public spaces like his gym and local schools, despite his city’s leadership urging people to stay away from such areas to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
(Cover Photo: Gage Skidmore)