Cuomo Cites Astoria Park Crowds In Raising Social Distancing Fine

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that he is doubling the maximum fine for social distancing violations amid the coronavirus pandemic, and he cited recent overcrowding in Astoria Park as a contributing factor.

The maximum fine for breaking social distancing rules will be upgraded from $500 to $1,000 to encourage local governments to better enforce the measures, Cuomo said during a news conference Monday.

Cuomo displayed photos of Saturday crowds in Astoria Park, Manhattan's Union Square and Brooklyn's Domino Park while he explained the decision to reporters.

"Frankly, there has been a laxness on social distancing, especially over this past weekend, that is just wholly unacceptable," Cuomo said.

Cuomo isn't the only public official who's expressed concerns about overcrowding in Astoria Park since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

City Council Member Costa Constantinides, who represents Astoria, previously called for the city's parks department to boost enforcement of social distancing rules around Astoria Park's recently renovated running track.

“We saw far too many clusters of people at the Astoria Park running track last weekend when we should be exercising a safe distance from one another,” Constantinides said on March 26. "We need Parks to ensure too many people aren’t using our exercise facilities at once."

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