“Enough is enough. With vaccines and boosters readily available to those who want them, and contact tracing technology and testing being more accessible than ever, we do not need a statewide mandate to protect people’s health. More than that, it is despicable that Gov. Hochul has decided to threaten our people and businesses with a $1,000 fine for any incidents of noncompliance. This mandate will be disastrous for our small businesses, which have had this mandate suddenly thrown into their laps during the critical holiday sales period and will stifle our collective recovery as a state. Protecting public health should be a priority for us all, but it can be done without implementing a statewide mandate that in no way considers the unique circumstances of the communities it affects.”