If Hochul extends the mask mandate, the court battle could take months

Questions are swirling around the mask mandate, and any changes Governor Kathy Hochul could make Wednesday.

Ahead of a mask mandate announcement at 11:15 Wednesday, Hochul met with teachers, superintendents and parents today asking their input on keeping schools COVID-safe.

The governor said keeping schools open is her top priority.

Some lawmakers are hoping she’ll nix the school mask mandate. Congressman Lee Zeldin (R – District 1) is a contender for the governor’s office. He issued the following statement:

“Even when the rest of her fellow blue state control freaks roll back their statewide mask mandates, Kathy Hochul’s ego and lust for power and control is just too strong. These kids are wearing cloth masks that the CDC recommends against wearing and, quite frankly, if Hochul suggests an N-95 on these kids next then she is just a sociopath. COVID numbers are plummeting, from a variant for the most part causing much milder reactions, especially in children. Our children have suffered enough and they always have been at the lowest risk by far of experiencing a serious reaction due to COVID. It’s clear that the only way Kathy Hochul is going to give up her emperor’s control is when we fire her at the ballot box on November 8th.”

NewsChannel 13’s Rachel Tiede spoke to a lawyer today about the legal battle the mandate is going through.

A Nassau judge struck down the mandate recently, but the governor’s team appealed, meaning the mandate is still in place.

Leslie Silva, a partner at Tully Rinckey, said the litigation process could take months.

“If she wants to extend it, she will be able to do that because it’s not official yet,” Silva said.

She added if she decides to cancel the mandate Wednesday, that could nix the court battle altogether.

NewsChannel 13 will be monitoring the news conference Wednesday at 11:15 and bring you live updates on air and online.