Cuomo warns COVID-19 scofflaws

ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that New York would seek $20,000 in fines against the promoters who organized a July concert by The Chainsmokers that saw widespread violations of social distancing rules.

The Democrat also threatened to take away state funding from schools in coronavirus hot spots that are ignoring orders to shut their doors, saying their defiance was endangering public health.

“This is a last and final warning,“Cuomo said.

The governor’s office said the promoter of The Chainsmokers concert, In the Know Experiences, violated public health law at the Southampton event by holding a nonessential gathering and failing to enforce rules requiring people to wear masks if they couldn’t stay 6 feet (2 meters) apart. Crowds gathered near the end of the concert despite the presence of private security and town police officers.

Cuomo called the concert, attended by more than 2,150 people, “an egregious violation” of the rules. The concert organizers declined comment through their promotion company.

Cuomo said he was also temporarily revoking the ability of the Town of Southampton to issue permits for similar events without state approval.

Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said the town has already been asking the state to weigh in on special event permits, but said he didn’t know about Cuomo’s decision until he announced it Wednesday.

Schneiderman said “it’s a standard no other town has to go through.”

Cuomo aides told the town’s attorneys Wednesday afternoon that the town made errors in permitting the event, but did not share what those errors were or which events need state approval, Schneiderman said.

“We followed the rule when we issued the permit and the state may feel otherwise,” he said. “It’s challenging when an event organizer doesn’t follow the rules.”

“If we made a mistake let us know what it is and give us a chance to fix it,” he added.