NYC lifts vaccine rule that blocked athletes from home games

By MICHELLE L. PRICE
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s mayor has exempted athletes and performers from the city’s vaccine mandate. But the decision announced by Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday does not include countless government and private workers, some of whom have lost their jobs for refusing to get vaccinated. Police and other unions are blasting the mayor for seemingly treating the wealthy and famous differently. Adams says the exemption is necessary because athletes and performers bring important money into the city. Before the change, unvaccinated Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving was barred from playing in home games, and several baseball players were expected to be blocked from taking the field.