The New York state budget includes a measure backed by Governor Kathy Hochul aimed at penalizing individuals for wearing masks while committing crimes. However, the law received criticism from several lawmakers for being inadequate, with state Senators calling it a "nothing burger" and ineffective for enhancing public safety. Many Jewish organizations advocated for the ban in response to antisemitism linked to masked protests following recent violence. While some groups celebrated the new penalties, dissenters argued that the legislation fails to address the core issues of community safety.
"This is a nothing burger," state Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-Suffolk) said while debating the budget on the Senate floor Thursday. "This was well intended, I'm sure, but it doesn't get us to where we need to go."
"It's nice that we have it. We could all go home and say that we did something, but did we really?" state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Nassau) railed on the Senate floor.
"This law couldn't have come a day sooner," the coalition wrote in a statement Wednesday. "With this new language on the books, we look forward to long-awaited oversight and accountability for any and all individuals who would hide their faces to commit crimes with impunity."
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