Three more New York sheriffs said they would not enforce Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 10-person limit for Thanksgiving celebrations.
“I can’t see how devoting our resources to counting cars in citizens’ driveways or investigating how much turkey and dressing they’ve purchased is for the public good,” Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said.
Zurlo was joined by Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy and Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard in rejecting Cuomo’s calls to limit the gatherings.
“I have no plans to utilize my office’s resources or deputies to break up the great tradition of Thanksgiving dinner,” Howard said on Friday.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office also made headlines after posting a scathing rebuke of the limit on Saturday, saying the order might not “sustain a Constitutional challenge in Court.”
“With regard to the Thanksgiving Executive Order, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office will NOT be enforcing it against our County residents,” said Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino in a Facebook post. “Frankly, I am not sure it could sustain a Constitutional challenge in Court for several reasons including your house is your castle. And as a Sheriff with a law degree I couldn’t in good faith attempt to defend it Court, so I won’t.”
“We have limited resources and we have to set priorities, so obtaining a Search Warrant to enter your home to see how many Turkey or Tofu eaters are present is not a priority,” Giardino added. “We won’t be doing that. The only way to enter your residence is if we have a warrant, we are invited in or an exigent or emergency circumstance exist. We have three patrols a shift for 500 square miles, monitoring Family Dinners aren’t our priority.”
“So don’t feel a need to hide cars, cover with leaves or walk 3 blocks so your house doesn’t become a target of the Governors EO,” the statement continued.
A Cuomo adviser slammed the sheriffs’ announcements, saying that ignoring scientists’ advice on the virus “plunged” America into a “continued public health crisis.”
“Politicians acting like politicians and ignoring what the actual experts say has been fueling the spread of this virus is what plunged this country in this continued public health crisis in the first place,” senior Cuomo adviser Richard Azzopardi said in response to the announcements.
“We urge everyone to continue to be smart and act responsibly. We know this makes people unhappy, but better unhappy then sick or worse.”
Cuomo announced the 10-person limit last week, saying the fall surge needs to be paralyzed in the state.
“COVID is getting worse by the day,” Cuomo said in a tweet. “All around the country. The fall surge is here. We are taking action but we need New Yorkers to do their part. Wear a mask. Get tested. Follow all health guidelines. Take this seriously.”
