The latest violation of Covid rules for which no one will pay any price because of course they won't, was a group of powerful and connected Brooklyn politicians and power brokers, attending a, you guessed it, birthday party.
(That's a long thread, click through if you're in the mood.)
So now we know you can violate Covid restrictions for mostly peaceful protests, Biden victory celebrations, and birthday parties (what is it about birthday parties?), the latter of which only applies if you are important enough, and if you have to ask if you are important enough, you aren't.
"Adherence to COVID regulations was checked at the door at a recent birthday party featuring a number of Kings County powerhouses.
Photos of a celebration for Carlo Scissura, head of the powerful construction trade organization New York Building Congress, show revelers in close quarters without masks.
Attendees included Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Ingrid Lewis-Martin and former Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman Frank Seddio."
The event occurred just days after Governor Cuomo decreed ever more draconian limitations on your activities. "Take this seriously," he officiously proclaimed.
These people do not appear to be taking it seriously.
"In one image, about two dozen people are seen mingling with one another in an ornate dining area while celebrating Scissura's 50th. Only two of them are visibly wearing masks."
"New York follows the science."
"We know indoor gatherings and parties are a major source of COVID spread."
"To slow the spread, NYS will limit indoor gatherings at private residences to 10 people."
Apparently, not all of New York follows the science. They are above science. Science is for the subjects.
In another shot, there are a dozen people crammed in the dining area, with just one person wearing a mask. Seddio can be seen in the background chatting with Lewis-Martin — neither of them with a mask.
These are then always followed not by ramifications, but the ritualistic apology.
"'This is a particularly trying time and there were shortcomings that I regret,' [Scissura] said in a statement. 'I greatly appreciate the gesture of my friends to throw me a surprise party, but we all must follow strict protocols so we can get past this pandemic.'"
Well, that sounded sincere.
In fact, you can tell how contrite he is by the way he mocks you.
"'I farted about four times, but fortunately it didn't smell. That was a good thing that happened,' he said. "My wife punched me twice ‘cause she heard me do it. That was the most exciting part of the night.'"
Respect.
And then there's the lying. There's always the lying.
"Seddio insisted, '[Scissura] and I and about 10 others got together.'"
And he would have gotten away with it, too, were it not for those meddling photographers!
"But when told there were pictures of him at a party with at least two dozen other attendees, he sarcastically said, 'That's a great angle ... I can't even imagine that.'"
Imagine, what? You'd get caught?
But he didn't really get caught. Getting caught carries consequences.
It was plenty serious for these people. But then, they were just practicing an unalienable right as recognized in the Constitution, not attending a surprise birthday party for a local power broker.
"New York City sheriffs deputies cited five religious institutions in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn for violating the city health code by holding a gathering of more than 10 people. Each violation carries a $15,000 fine."
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, alone, isolated, faceless, and powerless.
That's how they like it.
