Mayor Eric Adams exempts NYC athletes from vaccine mandate — but other city workers aren’t so lucky

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced an exemption on Thursday for city-based athletes and performers from NYC’s vaccine mandate following plenty of pressure, most notably the bad optics of NBA star Kyrie Irving being barred from playing in Brooklyn Nets’ home games — yet being allowed to enter the Nets’ arena as a spectator and sit courtside.

Other city workers are still required to abide by the mandate, however, and leaders of their unions aren’t happy, the New York Post reported.

The paper said the exemption for athletes and performers is effective immediately.

“Being healthy is not just about being physically healthy, but being economically healthy,” Adams said at Citi Field, according to the Post. The stadium is the home of major league baseball’s New York Mets.

The mayor, prior to his announcement, said he’s “going to make some tough choices. People are not going to agree with some of them. I must move this city forward. Generals lead from the front. I was not elected to be fearful, but to be fearless,” the paper added.

The Post said New York City’s vaccine mandate — which resulted in more than 1,400 employees getting fired — still applies to municipal and private-sector workers. Adams added that he’s not planning to rehire them, the paper reported. – READ MORE