Highly Contentious Mask Ban Passes In Nassau County Legislature

MINEOLA, NY — A mask ban passed in the Nassau County Legislature. The vote on Monday evening was along party lines 12-0 (with 7 abstentions), as all Republicans supported the measure.

Following the legislature's vote, the Republican county executive Bruce Blakeman said:

"Unless someone has a medical condition or a religious imperative, people should not be allowed to cover their face in a manner that hides their identity when in public."

The Democrats, led by Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton tried to get emergency legislation passed.

One main difference, the Republican version was approved, "Infringes on individual freedoms by broadly prohibiting mask use in public places, even if no crime was being committed," DeRiggi-Whitton said.

The emergency bill would have only targeted "those who used masks during criminal activities, thus not infringing on the general public's right to wear masks for legitimate reasons."

At the height of the vote, one woman was arrested for an outburst in the chamber.

Maria Campanelli, 26, of Centereach, was asked to leave when she became disorderly, police said. Officers attempted to arrest her and she got noncompliant, deliberately causing an officer to trip injuring his knees and wrist, police said.

Campanelli was charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest, police said.

The mask ban is "blatantly illegal, controversial, and flawed legislation, which will be overturned by the courts and will cost taxpayers significant amounts of money," DeRiggi-Whitton said.