Restaurants, Gyms Sue NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

(by Alex Swoyer | Washington Times) – A group of businesses including restaurants and gyms has sued New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio this week over his executive order mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for people going indoors for dining, workouts and entertainment.

They claim the requirement to show proof of vaccination is arbitrary, unconstitutional and does not provide accommodations for individuals who cannot get the shot.

The 18-page lawsuit filed in state court on Tuesday asks the judge to halt the mayor’s order, saying it’s more burdensome than prior COVID-19 mandates issued at the height of the pandemic, which have caused businesses financial distress.

“As more medical and scientific data became available, New York City did not adopt regulations ‘more carefully accounting for constitutional rights,’ ” the lawsuit read. “Instead, the mayor implemented even more arbitrary executive orders, trampling more recklessly on constitutional rights.”

With the delta variation of COVID-19 sending national infection rates soaring again, Mr. de Blasio’s order went into effect this week. If a business violates the requirement, it could face a more than $1,000 fine. The fines will begin to be imposed Sept. 13.

The order argues that the requirement to show proof of receiving at least one COVID-19 shot is needed because of the delta variant, noting “some of these new variants currently account for the majority of COVID-19 cases sequenced in New York City and are much more transmissible than earlier variants.” Read Full Article >