By Hank Russell
Members of the Nassau County Democratic Legislative Minority held a press conference inside the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola on August 5 to introduce emergency legislation that they say would enhance penalties against criminals who use face coverings in the commission of a crime and are convicted of a misdemeanor or felony. They also said that legislation also addresses glaring deficiencies contained within a Republican anti-mask bill – one that legal experts warned will be overturned by the courts if passed.
Masi Melesa Pilip (R-Great Neck) introduced the “Mask Transparency Act,” which would make it a crime for anyone over 16 years of age to cover their faces a mask in public in order to hide their identity from others. Those who do so will face a misdemeanor charge and a $1,000 fine. Those who wear face coverings for health, safety or religious reasons are exempt. Outside the county, the legislation has garnered support from both sides of the political spectrum, including New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) and even Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat.
Pilip introduced the bill in response to those who commit attacks on the Jewish population without the victim being able to identify their attacker. If the legislation passes, Nassau would be the first municipality in the metro area to institute this ban.
Nassau Legislative Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) said the Democrat version of the bill would solely prosecute those who wear a mask while committing a crime, whereas the Republican bill prosecutes those who wear a face covering, even if they didn’t commit a crime; this, she said, will result in an infringement of personal freedoms, racial profiling or unjustified stops, and legal action.
“Unlike the broad and punitive Republican bill, our approach avoids unconstitutional overreach and respects personal liberties,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.
According to DeRiggi-Whitton, the Republican majority has yet to meet with the Legislative Minority on the Democrats’ version of the bill, which, she said, would protect the health and safety of the county residents. “We call on the Republicans to adopt our proposal instead of their blatantly illegal, controversial, and flawed legislation, which will be overturned by the courts and will cost taxpayers significant amounts of money,” she said. “Our approach ensures efficient use of police resources and fosters a better relationship between the community and law enforcement.”
Long Island Life & Politics has reached out to the Republican Legislative Majority for a response, but did not hear back as of press time.
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