De Blasio says he doesn't 'believe in shut downs' after shutting down New York last New Year's Eve

After shutting down New York City since March 13, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio said to NBC on Thursday "Look, I don't believe in shut downs."

"Given that New York is yet again the epicenter, given that some local officials are calling for you to cancel the in-person event altogether, why not scale back that event even further?" Kristen Welker asked de Blasio.

"Look, I don't believe in shut downs. We have to fight out way through Covid. And the way to do it is vaccination. We have the strongest vaccine mandates in the country, and now 91 percent of all New York City adults have had at least one dose of the vaccine, so shut downs are not the answer. The answer is get people vaccinated." Despite the high vaccination rates and drastic mandates for all New Yorkers ages 5-years-old and up, the city is facing record Covid case counts.

This event is vaccination only. It's going to be outdoors, vaccination only, mask required, socially distanced. But we want to show that we're moving forward, and we want to show the world that New York City is fighting our way through this, and it's really important to not give up in the face of this," de Blasio said.

Last year, the mayor told New Yorkers to stay home for New Year's Eve, which is perhaps the holiday most iconically associated with New York City. After telling everyone to stay home and watch the Time Square ball drop via their television sets, de Blasio showed up in Times Square with his wife and danced in the empty square.

De Blasio and wife Chirlane McCray danced to Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" as the camera pans to show the near empty square. Then de Blasio posted this on social media.

A very drunk Andy Cohen blasted de Blasio live on CNN. Taking a drink and passing it to Anderson Cooper, he said "I'm glad I brought two bottles of this," as Cooper wretched due, presumably, to the strength of the liquor.

"That's how I felt when I saw Mayor de Blasio dancing just now," Cohen said. "I just don't need to see that at the beginning of 2021! Do something with this city! Honestly, get it together!"

New Yorkers were infuriated by the mayor who believed in shut downs for everyone but himself and his wife. Protests have been ramping up in the city that never sleeps as those who do not want to get vaccinated, and those who do not want those who are unvaccinated to be shut out of public life, demand the city be open to everyone.