SPEAK OUT AGAINST A MASK BAN!

ACTION TOOLKIT

Website: COVIDAdvocacyNY.org

Links to this resource: http://bit.ly/StopMaskBanNY or bit.ly/StopMaskBanNYAction

#NoNYMaskBan


Join us in speaking out against a mask ban and urge Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, and New York State and New York City elected officials to uphold the right of all New Yorkers to wear a mask.

BACKGROUND:

  • Governor Hochul and NYC Mayor Adams spoke out publicly in June 2024 about pursuing banning masks in NY, including at protests and on subways. 

  • The NY State legislature is out of session until January 2025. However, there are rumors they may return for a special session in 2024 and a mask ban may be one of the things they could address.

  • Two problematic mask ban bills were already introduced in the NY State legislature this year:  A10057A/S09867 by Democrats and A10043/S09194 by Republicans. 


    ACTIONS:

    1. Contact Governor Hochul.  Urge her not to ban masks. 

    1. Phone: 518-474-8390 (press 1 to leave a message, press 2 to speak to a person)

    2. Email: https://governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

    3. Mail:
      The Honorable Kathy Hochul
      Governor of New York State
      NYS State Capitol Building
      Albany, NY 12224

    4. Twitter: @GovKathyHochul


2. Contact your NYS Senator and Assemblymember. Urge them to speak out against mask bans and to commit to not support mask ban legislation. 

    1. Find your state elected officials and their contact info at: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials



      Contact NYS Senate and Assembly leadership.       Urge them to speak out against mask bans and to not support mask ban legislation. 

    2. NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie 

      1. Phone: 518-455-3791

      2. Email: Speaker@nyassembly.gov

      3. Twitter: @CarlHeastie

    3. NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

      1. Phone: (518) 455-2585

      2. Email: scousins@nysenate.gov 

      3. Twitter: @AndreaSCousins


  1. Contact NYS Senate and Assembly Health Committee Chairs. Urge them to speak out against mask bans and to commit to not support mask ban legislation.

    1. NYS Senate Health Committee Chair J. Gustavo Rivera

      1. Phone: Albany Office - 518-455-3395

      2. Email: grivera@nysenate.gov

      3. Twitter: @NYSenatorRivera

    2. NYS Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin 

      1. NOTE: Paulin is a co-sponsor for the mask ban bill A10057A. 

      2. Phone: Albany Office - 518-455-5585

      3. Email:  paulina@nyassembly.gov

      4. Twitter:  @AmyPaulin


  2. Contact your local elected officials, including City Council Members and NYC Borough Presidents. Urge them to speak out against mask bans.

    1. Find your city elected officials and their contact info at: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials


  3. Contact NYC Mayor Adams. 

    1. Email: https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/mayor-contact.page

    2. Phone: 311 or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC 

    3. Twitter: @NYCMayor and @NYCMayorsOffice

    4. Mail:
      Mayor Eric Adams

City Hall

New York, NY 10007

  1. For those not in NY State, you could contact the NY’s Tourism Board and let them know you won’t be traveling to NY State or are canceling your travel plans to NY State due to the proposed mask ban. 

    1. Email: info@iloveny.com

    2. Twitter: @I_LOVE_NY

    3. More info: https://www.iloveny.com/


  2. Write a letter to the editor or op-ed.


  3. Post your opposition to a mask ban on social media and share why you still wear a mask. Use the hashtag #NoNYMaskBan.

     

  4.  If you are Jewish, sign on to this sign-on letter to state leaders organized by Jews for Mask Rights. This letter is open to all Jewish people affected by this legislation, whether as New Yorkers, commuters, or tourists.


  5.  Spread the word! Share a link to this toolkit (http://bit.ly/StopMaskBanNY) and graphics below to encourage other people to take action.



   
(Image Description: Drawing of a person wearing a NY hat and wearing a mask. Text says Action Alert CONTACT GOVERNOR HOCHUL and urge her not to ban masks! 518-474-8390.  #NoNYMaskBan COVIDAdvocacyNY.org) 


(Image Description: Drawing of a person wearing a mask and NY hat. Text says: CONTACT YOUR NY STATE SENATOR AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER And urge them to speak out against mask bans and to commit to not support mask ban legislation. #NoNYMaskBan COVIDAdvocacyNY.org) 



(Image Description: Text: TAKE ACTION AGAINST A MASK BAN IN NY! Action Toolkit: bit.ly/StopMaskBanNY. Picture of a hand holding a bullhorn and COVID Advocacy NY logo and QR code.)