By COLlive reporter
Brick-and-mortar businesses and shops in Crown Heights have been inundated by visits from inspectors, every day for the past few weeks, fining storeowners for allowing customers to enter without face coverings.
“These inspectors have been literally storming Kingston Avenue,” one frustrated store owner told COLlive.com on Monday in reference to the state and city requirements to wear facemasks indoors to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
Inspectors are coming from many different law enforcement agencies, he explained.
He said that the surprise inspections from the NYC Health Department, the NYC Building Department, the NY Fire Department, and others, are not coordinated between the agencies. “Sometimes they come in as many as 3 times a day,” he added.
Every time an inspector comes in and finds a customer without a mask on, the store receives a $1,000 fine.
“It’s only fair to the store owners for people to wear a mask,” he said. “The stores are struggling as it is due to the pandemic, and this is making it even more difficult.”
“We are stuck in the middle,” another shop owner told COLlive. “We want to make sure our customers are happy, but at the same time, we are risking very high fines, which is costing us thousands of dollars. It would be really nice if the public would understand our position and just wear the mask – even if it’s just for our sake.”
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After everything the stores have been in through,1000 dollars!!!!!!
Evil
But people who are already vaccinated, why do they have to wear a mask? The law has to start to change. Asap!
They can still spread the virus.
So then what’s the point?
Even after being vaccinated, You’re planning to wear a mask for life? Good luck!
Virus can go straight through mask
even if you have the vaccine you can still be a carrier
Hopefully these Crown Heights science deniers will start wearing their masks, not because they’ve educated themselves, not because they want to save lives, but for the simple and selfish reason of money. But I guess this is what it takes to get trump supporters to wear a mask.
I support him and I wear a mask.
The ONLY reason to wear a mask is that fellow yidden shouldn’t get fined,- masks don’t protect against anything
If all these precautions are working and LA has the strictest laws in the country why do they have the highest infection and death rate, and people there are wearing masks and social distancing why have things there gotten worse. Asking for a friend
Schools are open shuls are open ppl are hosting big meals friends are hanging out. Maybe when they go to public places they wear but many many many not following rules
Actually people in LA do not listen to the rules and do not wear masks. They go to friends homes like my neighbors always are having guests
Science proves that masks don’t work in preventing spread of the virus. Just saying.
Science proves that masks do work in preventing the spread of the virus, to a percentage. Just saying.
The problem isn’t we don’t want to wear masks, the vast majority do the right thing. The real problem is that Jewish stores are being targeted.
Clearly there is a reason for it unfortunately
I didn’t see anything in the article about Trump supporters. Not sure why that issue of Trump supporters has to do with this.If you’re saying that Trump supporters don’t wear masks then all the rioters and looters and BLM people must be Trump supporters, because I don’t recall then wearing masks during their “peaceful demonstrations”.
I might add, maybe not letting people in unless they sign that if you get fined because of them specifically they have pay?
I don’t think the City should be micromanaging and policing this but you have to put yourself into the best position available.
just wear a mask
It’s pretty simple. Put on a mask before you enter any shop – don’t make the owner/ workers beg you to wear a mask – it won’t be YOU who has to pay a fine ! This is not about politics or “science” It’s stam Ahavas Yisroel .
Exactly there is NO other reason to Bec masks don’t help to stop spread
Masks are definitely not foolproof, but they definitely help stop the spread.
help SLOW the spread. not stop just making this whole thing longer.
everyone will get it in the end
is the same thing happening on the UWS and the Upper East Side?
I wonder. It’s sick, but that is life these days.
Another question: Is the same thing happening on Utica Avenue?
I have yet to see a person on the street without a mask. So there is no one to stop from shopping maskless.
I work on the Upper Eastside and everyone wears a mask…outside and inside. I personally do not like wearing the mask but I always do, on the street and at my job because I do not want to make a Chillul Hashem. I do not see anyone unmasked there. From your fellow crown heights neighbor ! Just wear it for that reason.
People on the UES wear masks and it shows. Masks help a lot. Look at East Asia where masks are common and see how that numbers are different.
Absolutely no compassion, pure hate
We can be happy and wear masks when shopping. It’s not a big deal, crown Heights. Healthcare workers wear them all day.
Causes low oxygen,suffocation, difficult y breathing and is useless in preventing any disease- ask your dr
I asked my doctor and you are wrong. How many people do you know that died from wearing a mask? And how many died from Covid?
A 4 year year was rushed to emergency room diagnosed with a severe bacterial infection which fr said was caused by prolonged mask use
this would be caused from wearing the same mask for a long time with poor hygiene utilized. part of the benefit of a cloth mask is it can be washed.we must protect everyone including our children by washing their masks
yes that explains why surgeons have been wearing them for decades during 5 hour long operations.,
I am a nurse and I can attest to the fact that masks are, indeed, inconvenient but are in NO WAY dangerous when used properly. they should be washed (or replaced if disposable) as REGULARLY. This is akin to saying we shouldn’t have to wear shoes or socks because they can cause fungus if we wear the same socks for a really long time without changing them out/washing them. come on guys, we’re smarter than this.
Even the rabonim all over the world begged and begged to just keep a distance where a masks. if you dont want to where a mask, because of the virus, where it, in order to prevent a chilul hashem.
I think that the staff at the store should wear the mask as well. Not hanging off the face. So the customers will understand and comply.
Yemach shmom vezichrom
So we’re in the middle of a worldwide pandemic!!
Re: vaccinations-I don’t know how it is in NY but where I live only people 65 and older are being vaccinated at the moment.
I think everyone when they go shopping etc. should be wearing a mask.
You all want to be rid of the social distancing but you don’t want too help rid the world of the pandemic.
You can’t have it both ways!!
Masks don’t prevent spread
Masks actually do help help prevent spread.
It’s about time we rise up as a community. Let’s all protest together to get this law repealed. It has been too long that the city and state have the power to give fines for every little thing. It’s about time we stop taking these things silently.
When I say protest I mean with our voices not with burning things.
We have dictators that don’t even follow science in reality. Most science has been inundated with identity and no identity politics. Coumo and De Blasio are hoping that Biden will bail out NY for the massive financial failures and purposefully poor management of not only this health situation but all their years prior. The Dems here have blocked a bill that would curb Cuomo’s “emergency powers” which technically end in April of this year but he at his own will could extend them under any stupid reason he comes up with. The government is shaking down the surviving businesses by… Read more »
I go into many stores, owners , and workers are not wearing masks, When I ask them where are your mask and your workers mask they just shrugged me off.
We need to follow the rules and the owners and workers need to be a model that everyone can follow. Unfortunately, you have the anti-maskers.
I hate hate masks but people need to learn to follow the rules. Easy as that. We do not get to decide masks are not needed just because we had it. I cannot respect people who think they can make their own rules.
Between obedience, compliance, and then allowing the government power that they should not be given.
Causes respiratory problems
Masks rarely cause dangerous respitory issues, but Covid does. Covid caused my father to stop . He passed away. Not from hospital care. From Covid Pneumonia.
Covid can cause death
And when they say Jews should wear yellow stars, will you say we need to follow the rules???? I only wear a mask in the store to prevent the owner from receiving a fine bec of me. I’ve been in a store while the inspector was there. He asked me if I had a mask. Luckily I did in my pocket.
What does yellow stars have to do with wearing a mask?? The whole world is wearing a mask, why can’t you?
to compare the antisemitism during the holocaust (singling out ours/ other minority groups) and a world-wide mandate applying to all people is just beyond reason. please please don’t make chilul Hashems like this. it’s so sad.
Where did our medical exemptions go? It’s no inspectors business to know why someone chose not to wear a mask
But not like that matters much anymore…
Dear store owners, pls band together and fight the fines. We want our freedom back. No more forced masks for healthy people. It’s insane.
Masks are meant to protect the public.
Went into a local store tonight. Guy wasnt wearing a mask so I conveniently took mine off. He then notices me approaching counter without mask and slips one on and tells me to put on a mask. Okay, fine. Few minutes later a few girls came in without – store manager tells them to put on masks. Meanwhile, her and her colleage are maskless! Chutzpah. If you tell someone to wear one, WEAR ONE TOO!
The guy behind the counter only has to wear a mask when he can’t social distance.
Customer’s must always wear a mask.
That’s the protocol.
Don’t like it….doesn’t make sense.
But these are the rules.
u dont know the facts – the three behind the counter (staff) were NOT social distanced whatsoever and I was the only one in the store before the three walked in and PLENTY room to social distance and btw its not true that no need to wear mask in a store if keeping social distance
just because they are doing something wrong, means that you also have to? I’m confused
Time to stand up for our community.. we been targeted by this mayor and idiot governor for a long while. Stop bowing down to there incoherent draconian policies we as a community should be chasing these inspectors out of here… when I see them I chase them away stand up and fight for your civil rights it’s not science it’s not law it will get to a point where you’ll have to show s vaccination card just to get into a store if we keep bowing down to this… stop being afraid and fight back
Requiring masks are not draconian. They are meant to protect the public. And they are being worn by billions of people around the world except in frum communities.
Prove scientifically that they help
Writer of the original comment, don’t take it so personally
CH is not wearing masks! Drive around the city and a majority of people are following the rules. More importantly stop chasing people, you’re going to get arrested.
Let it be known that the treatment which “they “ call a vaccine does NOT stop the transfer of the virus ! And “they “ don’t claim it does. ! Go figure.
I’m an essential worker and where we work we must wear masks, in the beginning when it all started in March and April it was very very uncomfortable to wear masks, but we had to. Today me not wearing a mask is like me going with out a piece of garment that I would wear every single day, now masks became very very useful for me take it from me you will get used to it……it may be extremely hard in the beginning, but some good will come out of it overtime.
This reminds me of some of the Arabic countries that have tzniyus police!!! Isn’t this America? What happened to our freedom?!!
Why do people feel they need to force masks. Whoever wants to wear it wear it. Whoever doesn’t doesnt, its their health period.
This control is unconstitutional and unhealthy! An abuse of power!
Our local Drs know that masks r useless and dangerous
My local doctors all strongly recommend masks and even wear clear shields over their own N95 masks. They never had the virus and not many of their patients did either. Bec around here everyone wears masks outside the home.
Bec even the N95 are NOT efficient enough
The point is clear. There out to get us so just put on a mask when you walk in and take it off if you would like when you leave
Get a holy mask, and add some extra holes in the shape of smile (or frown depending if you wear it up or down)
It’s annoying to wear a mask. Especially before you get used to it. But billions of people around the world are doing it. You can too. True, a mask is only 15% to 95% effective, but that’s enough. Masks are not the enemy. Covid is.
Sharia law has arrived. Just get used to it. No big deal. Compliments of Pakistan and Iran. No questions allowed or pow pow.
Dont even try to compare. Just helping someones parnasa, stopping a chilul hashem, if you dont want to where it for corona
It is all about control. Not corona. Corona is just the pretext. It’s also about destroying independent business and consolidating absolute power. What that means is the sooner we give in and all wear a mask the quicker they can proceed to the next step of imposing absolute control. Think forced vaccination, tracking, censorship, selective lockdowns, withholding services, or worse. This deception and intimation is standard Soviet practice. That’s how they get control.
They are not allowed to walk in a store which is private property unless they are giving permission .
Store owners can tell them they are traspasing and video them and call cops
they can walk in like customers can, what do you mean
I won’t go into stores in CH because people don’t wear masks. There is literally no other place I have been where this is the case. We are still losing thousands of people a day to covid. People are getting reinfected, you cannot rely on antibodies just because you had it once. Why do we yet again think we are smarter than everyone else?
This article is not about a referendum if we should wear a mask or not, or does it really help to wear a mask or not, or I already had corona so I don’t need to wear a mask. This is about protecting the store owners who already are having a difficult time with parnoso from getting a fine. Thank you very much for understanding and cooperating.
G-D bless you all.
It may seem like it’s helping the stores until you realize that complying with this gvt abuse will normalize it and invite worse. Fining a store bc a customer refuses to wear a mask needs to be fought hard, wether or not you agree with mask wearing bc I doubt you want to let the gvt have that much control over you. Today it’s the mask and tomorrow it will be….
Why is it so hard for stores to hand out masks to shoppers who are too stupid/lazy/selfish/in denial to bring their own? Then everyone is happy! No fines & no hassle. It is not antisemitism to keep going back to inspect, it’s COMMON SENSE! We are in our late 60’s, high risk due to various health issues, and we just got a positive test. We are known to be super careful – no visitors, no socializing, an outdoor, socially distanced minyan (weather and energy permitting), we even wipe down all packages and groceries that come into our house! Yet somehow… Read more »
Uh you just disproved your point. All these mandates are useless and no we cannot live like hermits forever. Do you have treatment? Hcq/ivermectin with zinc, vit d,c. Oregano oil really work when started within the first few days before your immune system spirals out of control. Take them!
I started wheezing just from trying to smell the oregano oil I just want to say I agree with you that there are treatments far more effective than going to the hospital where they’re neglecting patients or being intubated or laying down all day, but I don’t know about the oregano oil maybe people can be allergic but we have to be careful when self medicating with herbs .
Do not let them in
But they do prevent spreading. So please just wear a mask. A slight inconvenience in order to prevent people from getting sick and preventing fines? Are people really that selfish that they still refuse to wear one?
What’s diff between catching and spreading
May I suggest walking into the 71st precent WITHOUT a mask and sending a fine/summons to the Police chief or the city(store owner)
Study finds past coronavirus (COVID-19) infection provides some immunity for at least 5 months, but people may still carry and transmit the virus.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/past-covid-19-infection-provides-some-immunity-but-people-may-still-carry-and-transmit-virus