Bill de Blasio goes to the YMCA in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic because it 'keeps him grounded'


The global coronavirus pandemic apparently didn't dissuade New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio from hitting the YMCA on the very same day all gyms in the state are set to close.
De Blasio on Monday was spotted at a YMCA in Brooklyn, per CNN's Andrew Kaczynski, the morning New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) told reporters that gyms would close in the evening. This is the latest step the state is taking in response to the new virus as the number of cases in New York climbs past 900.
New Yorkers walking by, according to Kaczynski, appeared stunned to see their own mayor at the gym in the middle of this pandemic, during which they've been urged by health experts to stay home, with one person commenting, "What an idiot."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Although de Blasio reportedly ignored Kaczynski's questions about his YMCA visit, his spokesperson put out a statement defending it, saying, "The YMCA has been a huge part of his and his family's life, like it has been for a lot of New Yorkers. It's clear that's about to change and before that, the mayor wanted to visit a place that keeps him grounded one last time."
Over the weekend, de Blasio was widely criticized for telling New Yorkers, despite the repeated warnings from experts to avoid crowds and not go to bars, that "if you love your neighborhood bar, go there now." Writer Matt O'Brien tweeted in response, "This is one of the worst things De Blasio could tell people. Unbelievably stupid and reckless."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Music reviews: Geese, Jeff Tweedy, and Mariah Carey
Feature “Getting Killed,” “Twilight Override,” and “Here for It All”
-
Waiting for Godot
Feature Hudson Theatre, New York City
-
FIRE is catching as people want to leave the traditional workforce
In the spotlight Many are taking steps to leave the workforce sooner than usual
-
FDA OKs generic abortion pill, riling the right
Speed Read The drug in question is a generic version of mifepristone, used to carry out two-thirds of US abortions
-
RFK Jr. vaccine panel advises restricting MMRV shot
Speed Read The committee voted to restrict access to a childhood vaccine against chickenpox
-
Texas declares end to measles outbreak
Speed Read The vaccine-preventable disease is still spreading in neighboring states, Mexico and Canada
-
RFK Jr. shuts down mRNA vaccine funding at agency
Speed Read The decision canceled or modified 22 projects, primarily for work on vaccines and therapeutics for respiratory viruses
-
Measles cases surge to 33-year high
Speed Read The infection was declared eliminated from the US in 2000 but has seen a resurgence amid vaccine hesitancy
-
Kennedy's vaccine panel signals skepticism, change
Speed Read RFK Jr.'s new vaccine advisory board intends to make changes to the decades-old US immunization system
-
Kennedy ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory panel
speed read Health Secretary RFK Jr. is a longtime anti-vaccine activist who has criticized the panel of experts
-
RFK Jr. scraps Covid shots for pregnant women, kids
Speed Read The Health Secretary announced a policy change without informing CDC officials