'Clueless' De Blasio says there's 'no reason' for businesses to board up their windows despite the NYPD union calling chaos 'inevitable' as the entire country braces for election fallout
Mayor Bill de Blasio was dubbed 'clueless' on Tuesday after claiming there was 'no reason' for businesses to board up their windows across New York City as tensions boiled over on the precipice of the election.
De Blasio said at his press conference on Monday that there was 'no particular' reason for store owners to board up their fronts.
'Based on what we are seeing, there’s not a particular reason to do that. It’s up to each store owner, obviously,' he said.
On Tuesday, he reiterated his comments: 'Every store owner has to make their own decision.
'We do not have a specific threat... we are not giving guidance to do that but we certainly understand.'
De Blasio said at his press conference on Monday that there was 'no particular' reason for store owners to board up their fronts
Workers board up windows on a building in downtown Denver Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, as a precautionary measure amid worries about the potential for demonstrations and violent responses to the general election. (Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via AP)
Workers board up a store ahead of election results during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manhattan
He was slammed as 'wrong' and 'clueless' by critics including the Sergeants Benevolent Association, the largest NYPD union, which said chaos was 'inevitable'.
New York store owners lost hundreds of thousands of dollars of inventory in the summer when protests over the killing of George Floyd descended into violence and looting.
The scenario became so out of hand that de Blasio enforced an 8pm curfew across the city.
Many said he was too slow and too lenient in his response to the chaos.
The NYPD has been describing for weeks how it is planning for potential unrest after Tuesday's election.
Almost every store in Manhattan has boarded up its windows out of fear of being targeted and some businesses are closing for the rest of the week.
Responding to de Blasio's comments on Twitter, the SBA tweeted: 'Once again he got it wrong.
'Everyone knows with DeBlasio as Mayor of NYC ...unrest, chaos and anarchy is inevitable. Why? Because he allows it.'
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said on Tuesday morning: 'The police officers are going to be out in force.
'They're going to have zero tolerance for it. Zero tolerance. I can't be any more clear than that.'
Armed NYPD cops outside Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue on Tuesday morning. There is an increased police presence across the country
The Sergeants Benevolent Association, the largest NYPD union, tweeted in response to de Blasio on Tuesday, calling him 'wrong'
Others asked if the mayor lives in an 'alternative universe' for his out-of-touch
Every major city in America is preparing for some form of unrest after a year of unprecedented violence and unrest.
National Guard troops are patrolling the streets of Philadelphia and Chicago, including Target parking lots, ahead of Tuesday's election that is expected to trigger violence in major cities across the country.
Troops reported to Philadelphia on Monday night, arriving in armored trucks, a day before Americans went to the polls to decide on who will be the next President. It comes after weeks of unrest in Philadelphia over the police shooting of black man Walter Wallace Jr.
Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker asked National Guard troops in his state to go to Chicago in anticipation of riots and looting.
CHICAGO: Armored tanks arrive in downtown Chicago on Monday after Gov. JB Pritzker mobilized the National Guard ahead of anticipated unrest
PHILADELPHIA: In Philadelphia, National Guardsmen were seen manning a Target which had been boarded up
Troops arriving in Chicago on Monday night ahead of Tuesday's election
A National Guard spokesman said the troops have not yet been given any specific directions.
'Obviously, people can see Illinois National Guard trucks and troops moving.
'This is to be ready to respond if needed, but we have not been given any missions. We, along with most other Illinoisans and Americans, hope we are not needed,' Barb Wilson, the spokesman, said.
Across America, businesses are closing early and some plan to stay closed for the rest of the week for fear of unrest.
While the polls are open today until midnight, the number of mail-in votes this year due to COVID-19 means a result could take longer to reach.
Some states, like Pennsylvania, are allowing votes to be counted for three days after the election, so long as they have been post-stamped from November 3.
L.A: The word "Vote" is spray painted on plywood of a boarded-up store on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Los Angeles