De Blasio’s vaccine mandate in NYC a ‘business death sentence,’ gym owner suing mayor says
Lawsuit filed on Tuesday aims to end citywide vaccine mandate
NYC business owner says vaccine mandate is a 'death sentence'
Staten Island Judo Jujitsu Dojo owner Joseph Cannizzo on the lawsuit to end New York City’s vaccine mandate
New York City business and restaurant owners are suing Mayor Bill de Blasio to end the city’s indoor activity vaccine mandate.
Plaintiff and Staten Island Judo Jujitsu Dojo owner Joseph Cannizzo said the executive order is a "death sentence" to small businesses on "Mornings with Maria" Thursday.
"My chances of survival are slim to none with all the other mandates and restrictions that Mayor de Blasio's put on my studio," Cannizzo said. "It's a business death sentence."
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, claims the mandate will "severely impact" the owners’ businesses, life savings and livelihood. Prominent Republicans like Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and City Council member Joe Borelli are backing the petition.
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"The decision to get the vaccine should ultimately lie with the individual and his doctor, who knows that persons’ complete medical history, rather than a politician," court papers state.
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De Blasio’s executive order went into effect Tuesday, meaning New Yorkers who want to dine inside restaurants, work out at a gym or attend an indoor concert must show proof they’ve gotten at least one of their shots.
The citywide mandate is the first such requirement in the nation.
"It filters down the amount of people that we can have at our establishment, the type of people that we can have in our establishment," Cannizzo explained, "and generally, it wants us to segregate people when it's not something that a lot of us are comfortable with."
While Mayor de Blasio has maintained that the mandate is crucial in mitigating the spread of the delta variant, Cannizzo asserts it is not small businesses’ responsibility to monitor patrons’ health.
"For some reason, gyms, restaurants, we're always the ones that have to take on this social responsibility to keep people safe. It's not our job," Cannizzo stressed.
NYC businesses sue to end vaccine mandate
Staten Island Judo Jujitsu Dojo owner Joseph Cannizzo on how the city’s vaccine mandate is impacting his business.
But Mayor de Blasio stands firm that the city will fine businesses which violate the mandate.
Cannizzo said the move only makes it harder for those businesses who just reopened their doors this summer following pandemic closures.
"We were the first to close to keep America safe. I was shuttered for 15 months, so I bear the brunt of this," Cannizzo pointed out, "and just even reopening my doors was beyond a Hail Mary."
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The New York Post's Will Feuer contributed to this report.