Maskless Niagara Falls mayor says photo taken out of context
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati is again taking flak for not wearing a mask during an event in his city.
A photo is circulating on social media of Diodati celebrating Saturday’s grand opening of Sticks & Bricks Realty Ltd. on Thorold Stone Road, where he is seen holding a bottle of champagne and laughing with fellow participants.
Some people on social media criticized the mayor for not wearing a mask in the photo.
Diodati also faced criticism in May when a short video during a religious celebration showed he was not wearing a mask or physically distancing.
Diodati said much like the May gathering, some of the participants at Saturday’s event were wearing masks and people were also physically distancing.
He said there were no microphones at Saturday’s event, so people who spoke could not wear a mask and be heard.
“People were trying to spread out as best as they could,” Diodati said.
“It’s not too hard to catch somebody, with the right angle, at the right moment, being too close together. The main thing is it was an outside event. It was a hot day, and everybody was trying to get to the shade.”
He said speeches lasted only “a few minutes.”
“You’ve got to take your mask off, or you can’t be heard.”
Diodati said participants were “conscious” and “respectful of each other’s space.”
He said it’s frustrating some people want to use the pandemic to target others by posting photos to social media and criticizing them.
“The last thing we want to do is pit one neighbour against another and have people waving their finger in other people’s faces.”
Diodati said he had a mask during Saturday’s event and always carries one in each pocket.
“In my car, I have two different Ziploc bags filled with masks. I’ve got surgical kind, peace of mind kind, and I’ve got some other fun, decorative kind. Typically, I put it on only if I can’t physically distance. If I feel people are getting too close, I put it on.”
Jim O’Neill, the broker of record for Sticks & Bricks Realty Ltd., said Diodati took off his mask so the crowd gathered — and properly physically distanced — in front of the business could hear him.
“Not everybody was wearing masks, but we were socially distancing,” he said.
“The mayor only removed his mask to speak to the safely distanced group who came out because we had no microphone and were 15 feet from Thorold Stone Road. If you know Thorold Stone Road, it’s pretty busy (with traffic).”
O’Neill said he’s disappointed Diodati’s critics are trying to use the photo to score political points at his expense instead of focusing on the fact a business opened during the middle of a pandemic.
“We called the city ahead. We made sure we did everything by the book. I’m not best friends with Jim Diodati, (but) he came out and did an amazing job,” he said, adding Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates also attended the event.
Ray Spiteri is a St. Catharines-based reporter for the Niagara Falls Review. Reach him via email: raymond.spiteri@niagaradailies.com