When rules aren’t rules

On March 7, as the coronavirus rose over New York and darkness fell, Gov. Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 202, declaring a statewide emergency to deal with the coming wave of death. Since then, he’s promulgated 40 subsequent orders continuing, expanding, modifying or ending various aspects.

On March 23, Executive Order No. 202.10 decreed: “Non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason (e.g. parties, celebrations or other social events) are canceled or postponed at this time.”

Two months later, gatherings up to 10 were allowed “provided that social distancing protocols and cleaning and disinfection protocols required by the Department of Health are adhered to.” That restriction remains in place until June 28; Mayor de

Blasio has echoed it with his own orders.

Black Lives Matter protests, now running for two weeks and counting, have lots more than 10 people, but the governor and mayor only weakly ask protesters to get tested. God help Cuomo and de Blasio, and us, if the protests lead to rising infection, sickness and death, as the rest of the country is suffering.

This flaccidity isn’t present as the mayor keeps playgrounds padlocked to families with kids. Would he be fine with protesters taking over playgrounds?

Statewide, Cuomo is permitting outdoor graduations up to 150 people starting June 26. But President Trump wants a West Point ceremony tomorrow for him to address 1,000 cadets. Last we checked, West Point is in New York, 1,000 is more than 150, and June 26 isn’t for two weeks.