New York City attorney Daniela Jampel was fired after pressing Mayor Eric Adams about his decision not to “unmask our toddlers.”
The city’s Law Department terminated Jampel from her job after she attended a press conference Monday in which she told Adams he had reneged on his promises to drop masking policies for children.
“Three weeks ago, you told parents to trust you, that you would unmask our toddlers,” Jampel said after being called upon by Adams while taking questions from the press. “Ten days ago, you stood right here, and you said that the masks would come off April 4. That has not happened. You reneged on your promise, and not only did you renege on your promise, you had your lawyers race to court on Friday night to overturn.”
As someone tried to interrupt Jampel, Adams allowed her to continue but told her to “turn on your phone, so you can get my answer correctly.”
Jampel then noted that nearby regions are not requiring masks for children ages 2 to 4 and asked when Adams would do the same.
“We’re going to pivot and shift as COVID is pivoting and shifting,” Adams said, acknowledging that he did predict the elimination of masks on toddlers but that an uptick in cases could change that. “There’s a new variant. The numbers are increasing. We are going to move at the right pace, and that’s the role I must do.”
Adams has been challenged multiple times on his decision to continue masking mandates for children. On Sunday, as he arrived at the Barrymore Theatre in New York City, Adams was met by parents who yelled, “Unmask our toddlers!”
Jampel, who is listed as a founding member of local activist group Keep NYC Schools Open on her Twitter profile, has been outspoken against New York City’s handling of school closures and mask mandates amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Thank you all for your support,” Jampel tweeted Monday night. “It’s been a circus for the past few hours but I am hearing and seeing all of your supportive texts & DMs. The fight continues.”
Jampel has not responded to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
Thank you all for your support. It’s been a circus for the past few hours but I am hearing and seeing all of your supportive texts & DMs. The fight continues.
— Daniela Jampel (@daniela127) April 5, 2022
Before attending the press conference, Jampel tweeted a series of photos of young children wearing masks, saying they are “carrying the burden no one else is required to.”
We are now entering the fifth week of @NYCMayor @NYCHealthCommr‘s Toddler Mask Mandate, in which toddlers & only toddlers have to wear masks at daycare & preschool.
Please thank these brave pandemic warriors, carrying the burden no one else is required to.#unmaskourtoddlers pic.twitter.com/SijMku9v5u
— Daniela Jampel (@daniela127) April 4, 2022
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A New York City Law Department spokesperson told Fox News that Jampel was terminated for actions that include “her decision to lie to City Hall staff and state she was a journalist at a press conference,” which demonstrated “a disturbing lack of judgment and integrity.”
Jampel said she attended the press conference as a private citizen but refused to comment further on her termination, telling the New York Post she had retained counsel and will not “litigate in the press.”
