Fear and Loathing on the Upper West Side

On the Upper West Side, as in rest of New York City, New York State, and the USA COVID-19 infection rates and hospital admissions are low, students are taking off their masks, you once again need reservations to eat indoors at restaurants, and visible smiles are the order of the day.

But not in my apartment building on Riverside Drive.

During the teeth of the pandemic, our co-op board issued a recommendation that masks be worn in all common areas and elevators. Now that we are amongst the greenest of the CDC’s designated green zones the board has finally gotten around to changing the rules. No longer is there a mask recommendation. Now there’s a mask mandate. What’s wrong with this picture?

According to our board chair, “We have an older demographic in the building.” But there’s no data to support that my neighbors are any older than in any other building in our neighborhood or are keener to keep their masks on. (I’m almost Medicare-eligible and nobody asked my opinion.) Then she told me, “The elevators are poorly ventilated.” But there’s no data to support that either. Poorly ventilated compared to what? How is this being measured? Is there a remediation plan?

Next came, “People aren’t comfortable.” When I asked who “people” were, she told me “People on the board.” No data. I guess sending a brief email poll on such an important issue to a building with 81 apartments was too difficult – even though we regularly get updates on our gas remediation project, recycling protocols, and the holiday party. Data? We don’t need no stinking data.

I don’t know about that “older demographic,” but I do know that in the morning the lobby is filled with kids going to school (at last!) and in summer the camp vans stop in front of our building. How are parents going to explain to their children that it’s okay to take off their masks at school where they are cheek-by-jowl with their classmates, but not in the elevator at home? We are missing an important teaching moment.

If our board wants to require or recommend masking protocols, they need to explain why. And they need to do so in a way that is supported by facts, not fear. “Facts,” as John Adams said, “are pesky things.”

If people in my building, my neighborhood, my city want to keep their masks on, they should. People should do what makes them feel safe. If residents of my building (of any demographic) want to step out of the elevator because I am not wearing a mask, I am more than happy to send the elevator right back down to the lobby. In fact, I would also be glad to step out of the elevator so they can ride alone. I would expect the same courtesy in respect to acknowledging the facts. But I’m not holding my breath.

The widely available public health data, precise, clear, and trending in a positive direction, assures us that removing our masks is safe. But not in my building. Science isn’t back on Riverside Drive. I’m embarrassed and infuriated and so are many of my neighbors. This shall not stand. Fear cannot, must not, and will not trump facts in my house. When authorities issue edicts that make no sense and disregard the data, people lose faith in those in charge and ignore them. This is a dangerous precedent for my building – and for our nation. Our building’s board should recognize the unintended (but highly predictable) results of caving in to fear over facts – they will lose their authority. The same holds true for Washington, DC.

In NYC co-ops are businesses and businesses can make their own rules. I acknowledge that but, as I have made clear to my building’s board, I will not be abiding by their mandate. It’s foolish, unscientific, and insulting. It’s a step backwards. We have all earned the right to take off our masks by dint of hard work and sacrifice. Now it is time for our reward. Masks off, Upper West Side.

Peter J. Pitts, a former FDA Associate Commissioner and member of the United States Senior Executive Service, is President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and a Visiting Professor of Medicine at the University of Paris Medical School.