N.Y. Leaders Considering Ban on Wearing Face Masks in Public

Gov. Kathy Hochul has told legislative leaders she wants New York to adopt some kind of statewide ban on wearing masks in public, involving herself in a hot-button issue that pits civil-rights and health concerns against unease over anti-Israel protests and crime.

Banning masks has been a recent source of acrimonious debate amid heated protests on college campuses. Those angered by protesters note how often they wear masks, which became commonplace during the coronavirus pandemic, to shield their identity from law enforcement. Protesters say they mask to avoid being doxxed.

The idea is particularly resonant in the aftermath of Mahmoud Khalil’s detainment by federal agents and potential deportation. He was a leader of protests at Columbia University and stood out because he chose not to wear a mask.

Ms. Hochul said on Wednesday that any restrictions on mask use should include exemptions for medical and religious purposes. But people who wear masks as they commit “a crime are deeply troubling to me,” she said.

“Think about a bank robber, walks in, their face is covered,” she added. “Someone assaults someone on the subway, they can get away with it despite the fact that we have cameras because they are masked. And so this is something that, as I’m protecting public safety, is very much top of mind.”

The potential mask ban was relayed to legislators this week, according to two people familiar with the matter. Both people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, stressed that the negotiations are in the early stages, but it was clear that the governor wanted to include the measure in the state budget.