Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon issued this statement in response to the NYC curfew: “Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio have agreed to impose a curfew on New York City residents. The curfew began last night from 11:00 P.M. to 5:00 A.M., and today, Tuesday, June 2, it will begin at 8:00 P.M. All city residents will be required to be inside with the following exceptions:

• First responders
• Health care workers
• Essential workers going to and from work
• Homeless New Yorkers
• People seeking medical treatment or medical supplies
• Members of the press.

Along with the curfew, there will be a doubling of the police force on patrol during the period of the curfew. Additional officers will be sent to areas where violence and property damage occurred during recent protests, including in lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.

In a time of epic budgetary constraints, when people are going hungry and lacking in medical care and school children can’t get sufficient broadband to do their homework, this is ill-advised. With not a little irony, I note that the last curfew was in 1943 and was imposed after a period of unrest following the shooting of a black man by a police officer in Harlem. In my view, this decision to issue a curfew is counterproductive and will lead to escalating violence when we should be de-escalating.

Nevertheless, I urge you to stay safe, take part in peaceful protests as you wish, look after your neighbors, wear your masks and engage in social distancing.”