While Governor Andrew Cuomo is calling on local governments to enforce the law, leaders in the Capital Region are reminding people, particularly students, about wearing a mask and social distancing. All of this comes after a July 4 party on Hudson Avenue resulted in a cluster of coronavirus cases.

Mayor Kathy Sheehan says photos from the party show hundreds of young people not wearing masks and not social distancing, and Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins says no one called it in.

What You Need To Know


  • Capital Region leaders pleading for more mask wearing, social distancing among youth

  • Twenty-two cases traced back to July 4 party on Hudson Avenue in Albany

  • Albany Police chief asking community members to call in illegal gatherings they see

“I’m asking for members of the community, if they see gatherings that are clearly in violation of the executive order, to give the police department a call,” Hawkins said Monday.

Hawkins says right now, this is about awareness and education. Police first ask for voluntary compliance, including reducing the number of people at the party, staying six feet apart, and putting on a mask.

“We haven’t had to issue any violations for this sort of thing, and people tend to get it, so that tells me a couple of things: Either people are ignoring what the requirements are and waiting for the police to come break it up, or they don’t know,” the chief said.

Hawkins says while most people comply, the APD does have the option to issue appearance tickets or other violations, which may come with a fine attached. The other issue at hand: Students are heading back to schools like the University at Albany, the College of Saint Rose, and Hudson Valley Community College in a few short weeks, and will likely sign a responsibility agreement. Even if you live off campus, you’ll be expected to follow the rules.

UAlbany officials tell Spectrum News they’ll receive a log from APD each week looking for off-campus students who are violating the same rules which students on campus must follow.

“The few who don’t can and will face serious consequences under our code of conduct,” said Dr. Michael Christakis, UAlbany’s vice president for student affairs.

Each of those schools surveyed its students about whether they wanted to return to campus this fall — and students wanted to come back.

“We know our students long for a return to normal campus life — we do, too — but that will never be possible if we allow ourselves to get careless,” Christakis said.

While officials are using this party as an example — and Mayor Sheehan says hopefully, an aberration — they say this message about social distancing and properly wearing a mask is for every person in the city.