Sorry, gov, I'm hosting a big Thanksgiving

[brooklynite]

New York Daily News

Uncle Bill was a Navy frogman, the precursor to the SEALs, and on every holiday, he regales our family with tales from the Korean War and of his sailor’s appreciation for the fine ladies of Anchorage. He is the 11th member of my extended family, and when he comes to my home, he will have a place set at the Borelli family Thanksgiving table regardless of whether Gov. Cuomo or Mayor de Blasio approves.

Let me be clear about this: Government should have no role in determining how many family members you may lawfully have in your own home. Not even in the midst of a deadly pandemic. Suggestions, recommendations or guidelines are all fine, but our governor’s and mayor’s new regulation requiring 10 or fewer people in a private residence crosses a line. My family, my house, and, so long as we obey fire and zoning codes, my rules.

Besides, you try telling Uncle Bill to shelter from a virus.

It is now November 2020, eight months after COVID-19 overran our hospitals and elder care facilities, and sent thousands of our neighbors to untimely deaths. That happened. It was tragic. There’s no denying it.

[PJMcK]

1. Interesting point of view

I note that the author, Joe Borelli is a NYC councilman from Staten Island where the infection rates are exploding.

Sounds like your plan is piss poor, Mr. Borelli. I hope your Uncle Bill stays healthy but your behavior is selfish and dangerous.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

[Orangepeel]

2. why is it okay to have fire and zoning codes?

[LizBeth]

11. I was thinking the same. And it is not past tense "that happened" Still happening.

[Tien1985]

3. I sincerely hope

That if anyone else *must* die from this stupid virus, it's people like this person, who can't handle simple precautions. It's truly unfair to have this family's children go infect their teachers and peers because Uncle Bill can't possibly deal with just getting a phone call this Thanksgiving.

[yardwork]

4. Mr. Borelli needs to reread the Constitution, and read some history.

In the event of a national crisis or emergency, including a threat to the public's health, the Constitution provides broad powers to the government to suspend many rights and invoke martial law.

This right of the government has been invoked before. Mr. Borelli could read about how the US government has handled outbreaks of scarlet fever, for instance, when people's private property was confiscated and burned.

[Delphinus]

5. I wonder

how that would play out in this era with the constitutionalists.

[yardwork]

6. I've been a little surprised that Trump hasn't used it.

If it were useful to Trump, he would have invoked those powers. I guess there's no money in it for him.

An authoritarian leader who was primarily interested in securing complete control would have used it this year.

[Freethinker65]

7. Can the host be sued if guests become ill because of his negligence?

If the residence becomes the site of a spreading event, is there any recourse for others that later become infected?

[Klaralven]

8. One of the NJ hot spots is Deal - 122 cases in population of 732 - or 1/6

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deal,_New_Jersey

[Happy Hoosier]

9. So ole Uncle Joes gets sick and dies....

And maybe takes a few people with him. They are a death cult

[Indykatie]

10. Then You Do You

The deaths from family get togethers before we learned of how easily COVID was spread are tragic. I'm sure that many families like yours will disregard that risk now and have their traditional large family gatherings. That's on you. Mine will not be one of them.

[Renew Deal]

12. What's the difference between "fire and zoning codes" and the covid order?

I think the writer has somewhat of a point, but that's not it.