As New York City hospitals remain flooded by patients infected with the coronavirus, Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio is being criticized after suggesting the city will host a ticker tape parade for healthcare providers when the coronavirus pandemic has subsided.
CNN host Jake Tapper ripped the idea during his afternoon show, saying that “having a parade in New York City is one of the stupidest ideas I’ve ever heard.”
During a press briefing with reporters on Tuesday, de Blasio said he was planning to hold “the biggest, best parade” to honor the frontline health workers who have battled the disease.
“I want to guarantee you one thing, that when that day comes that I can restart the vibrant, beautiful life of this city again, the first thing we will do is have a ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes for our health care workers and our first responders,” de Blasio said.
De Blasio’s discussed the hypothetical parade only a day after bitterly announcing that major summer festivities in the city would need to be placed on hold until the coronavirus is controlled.
“This probably will not surprise you, but I am now reporting today that we will cancel city permits for June events as well. It’s not a happy announcement, but it’s one we have to make,” de Blasio said.
New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus in the United States, with more than 250,000 confirmed cases in the state.
