Letter to the Hon. Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City - Rose to Mayor: Set Youth Sports Leagues Up for Success in Reopening

Letter

Dear Mayor de Blasio,
Youth sports organizations and teams are just beginning to recover after recent
state-issued guidance on restarting their operations. As New York City prepares to enter Phase 3
on July 6, I urge you and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to support our
youth leagues and families as teams begin playing again by proactively reaching out to teams to
ensure that permits are in order, and that leagues and organizations are aware and able to comply
with the new guidance in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Little League and youth sports are the cultural bedrock of Staten Island and South
Brooklyn. As we continue to bend the curve in New York City, the families in my district are
thrilled that their kids can get out and play again. We should not take this major step for
granted--what states like Florida and Arizona have taught us is that we must remain vigilant,
especially when it comes to our youngest and most vulnerable populations. While the Governor's
"Interim Guidance for Sports and Recreation During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency"
laid out commonsense guidelines, our leagues and youth sports organizations must comply with
a range of duties including screening, testing, tracking, tracing, ensuring that PPE, hygiene, and
disinfectant standards are met, along with other requirements. We want to set up our youth sports
teams for success, not failure. I respectfully request that the New York City Department of Parks
and Recreation make sure that teams with current and past permits are prepared to begin playing
again, and have access to the resources they need to ensure player safety. The Parks Department
has these contacts, and can work with other departments in your administration to play a role in
further protecting our city and children.
Our government exists to support the people--it's as simple as that. If City Hall takes this
extra step ahead of July 6, our parents and youth sports teams will be more prepared to comply
with guidelines, and our children will be better equipped to actually get their summer and
childhoods back. The days leading up to Phase 3 are critical, and we can show the rest of the
country that we can get our kids back on the field responsibly. I look forward to hearing from
you on this important request.

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