NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio scolds Jewish community after they cut locks to local playground

Mayor de Blasio initially locked the playground to prevent further spreading of the coronavirus, although he was allowing protests to go on throughout the city and participating in them. The community eventually came together to open the gates, and de Blasio responded.

"We're not going to allow people to take the law into their own hands,” said de Blasio. “Until the order is given that playgrounds are open, people need to stay off the playgrounds. It’s not appropriate to take their own actions… we’re doing this so that we can get to phase two and beyond.”

Confrontation around the cutting of the locks occurred in the neighbourhood when local residents had varying opinions on the decision.

Mayor de Blasio ended his answer noting, "I know it's not easy but people have to understand, there's a reason for these rules—it's to help us move forward."