Governor Cuomo’s office is investigating a Hamptons concert by The Chainsmokers where fans allegedly failed to meet social distancing guidelines and the State Health Commissioner, who is demanding answers, has criticized.
The Water Mill charity show on Saturday had car parking spots supposedly costing up to $ 25,000 per pop, and featured a performance by DJ duo The Chainsmokers, as well as opening acts including the City Supervisor band from Southampton Jay Schneiderman and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon (aka DJ D-Sol). The event was intended to have “safe zones” for cars with up to six people. But viral posts on social media seemed to show groups of fans leaving their cars and gathering in front of the stage without masks.
On Monday, State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker sent a letter to Schneiderman seen by Page Six saying: “I am very disturbed by reports of the drive-in concert held in your city last weekend. , which apparently involved thousands of people very close by, outside their vehicles, a VIP area where there was no pretense of a vehicle, and generally did not adhere to the social distancing orientation. “
The letter further infuriated: “I don’t know how the city of Southampton could have issued a permit for such an event, how they believed it was legal and not an obvious threat to public health.”
Zucker demanded responses within 24 hours from Schneiderman regarding the event’s permits, security, and “What city officials were at the concert and why was it allowed to continue when it became clear that the rapes were rampant?” He added: “Please note that all responses to these questions are a submission to a state department conducting an investigation, and any submission will be considered an affidavit.”
Organizers of the program so far have publicly said that the event followed CDC guidelines.
Schneiderman told us that his office will have answered questions by Tuesday at the end of the day, and “This was a charity event … I’m just as upset as anyone else.” He said his office is also investigating, and that the permits issued did not include a VIP area, but only car parking spaces and small areas for people around him.
Meanwhile, sources also told Page Six that there was a wild party at a private house in Amagansett for about 200 after the concert. Witnesses said there was a long line outside the party and told us: “The Chainsmokers were there and people were dying to get in. The line was crazy [with] accumulations of people. Apparently the police showed up three times. “But a source told us about The Chainsmokers at the party:” They went to a friend’s house after about 10 minutes outside. “
Another source said that during the show, “there was definitely a section of people in front of the cars that did not adhere to the social distancing.” But you could really be safe there if you were smart and mature enough to do it. You could get out of your car and then have your place [of space] and I have no contact. I think the intentions were good, but there is no way you can control those children who feel immortal. “
Organizers of the event, In The Know Experiences and Invisible Noise, told us in a statement: “The Safe & Sound concert fundraising event followed the guidelines created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and made the Best efforts to ensure New York’s social distancing patterns were properly maintained throughout the event. “
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