Nassau County Exec Defied Statewide Mask Mandates, Citing 'Home Rule.' Can He Do That?

The Brian Lehrer Show | Jan 7, 2022

This week newly-elected Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman halted mask enforcement for indoor venues, and referred to “home rule” as a justification for defying Governor Hochul’s statewide mask mandate. Richard Briffault, Professor of Law at Columbia Law School, talks about the concept of home rule in the state constitution, and why certain local issues must be decided by the state legislature -- plus, comments on the competing maps submitted by the state's first independent redistricting commission and where that process goes from here.

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