Mayor de Blasio cancels all major NYC events including the Feast of San Gennaro for the summer EXCEPT for Black Lives Matter protests

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has canceled all large events requiring a city permit through the end of September in an effort to stave off a surge in coronavirus cases. 

De Blasio announced the cancellations - which will affect dozens of treasured events including the West Indian Day Parade and the Feast of San Gennaro - on Thursday, explaining that the city wants to prioritize open spaces for regular public use.  

The mayor gave an exception to the Black Lives Matters protests that have become a mainstay on New York City streets over the past six weeks, insisting the 'historic' demonstrations must be respected. 

'As New York has begun its reopening process, accessible open spaces are more important than ever,' de Blasio said. 

'While it pains me to call off some of the city's beloved events, our focus now must be the prioritization of city space for public use and the continuation of social distancing.'

The announcement was met with mixed reactions on social media as many residents acknowledged the need to prevent crowds from spreading coronavirus while sharing sadness that their favorite events wouldn't go on. 

A few critics spoke out to condemn de Blasio's decision to exclude protests from the ban, saying that if they're allowed to continue other events should be able to as well. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio canceled all events requiring a city events permit through September 30 on Thursday. 'While it pains me to call off some of the city's beloved events, our focus now must be the prioritization of city space for public use and the continuation of social distancing,' he said 

Among the events canceled was the famed Feast of San Gennaro (pictured in 2019), which draws a million people to the Little Italy neighborhood of Lower Manhattan each year

The West Indian Day Parade (pictured in 2019) has also been canceled this year. Ahead of de Blasio's announcement the parade organizers said they were still coming to a decision as to whether it would be held as planned on September 7

De Blasio gave an exception to the Black Lives Matters protests that have become a mainstay on New York City streets over the past six weeks, insisting the 'historic' demonstrations must be respected. The mayor is seen painting a Black Lives Matter mural on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower on Thursday morning

The cancellations came as residents flocked to reopened Coney Island on Thursday - in a sign that the city hit hardest by coronavirus in its early months is finally seeing some normality

Through September 30, the city will not issue a permit for any event spanning more than a one-block radius or that interferes with the Open Streets or Open Restaurants program.

The ban also includes stage/video events that require amplification, street fairs, and events in parks that may unreasonably diminish public use. 

The city plans to refund or defer fees paid in connection with a denied permit.

Events that do not intrude in Open Streets or Open Restaurant areas and will take up less than one city block can still apply for a permit.

The organizers of the Feast of San Gennaro - a two-week festival that draws thousands of people to the Little Italy neighborhood in Lower Manhattan - announced the event's cancellation on Facebook Thursday night. 

'Dear members, vendors, friends and supporters of our great Feast of San Gennaro NYC,' the statement began. 

'It is with great sadness that we inform you of the postponement of our great feast. Only twice since 1926, has our great feast been cancelled, once during the attack on our nation in 2001 and now during this pandemic. 

'In these most trying times, we as the board of directors with the direction of the city of New York feel that it is in the best interest and safety of our great participants to  postpone the 94th Annual Feast of San Gennaro.' 

Several commenters expressed heartbreak over the move, but acknowledged that it was necessary given the ongoing pandemic. 

'Every year I look forward to eating at the feast,' one person wrote. 'It's sad but understandable that it's canceled this year.'

But a few commenters shared frustration with de Blasio's order, saying it was unfair to cancel the Feast but not Black Lives Matter protests.

'Maybe you should change the name to BLM feast, that would be ok with DeBlasio, since he banned all other gatherings,' a man griped.

The West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) has yet to officially cancel its parade scheduled for September 7, but will now be unable to obtain a permit for it under de Blasio's new restrictions. 

WIADCA issued a statement ahead of de Blasio's announcement saying its leaders were still in the process of deciding whether the parade - which draws over three million people to Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway each Labor Day weekend - would go on this year.  

The organizers said at the time that they were eager to hold the event but understood that the pandemic could render it unsafe.  

A number of the city's most anticipated events had already been cancelled earlier in the summer, including the 50th Annual NYC Pride Parade last month. 

Hundreds of revelers flouted city restrictions and staged their own socially-distanced street parties on the day the parade was supposed to be held. 

The Big Apple entered Phase 3 of its reopening plan on Monday, allowing personal care services and more outdoor spaces up to open after being closed for months. 

Residents flocked to the seaside neighborhood of Coney Island on Thursday - in a sign that the state hit hardest by the coronavirus in its early months is finally seeing some normality again. 

Dozens of visitors were seen soaking up the sun on the beach while keeping a safe distance from others with many wearing masks. 

Some opted to queue up at the iconic Nathan's Hotdogs stand after public beaches reopened for swimming on July 1. 

New Yorkers returned to Coney Island to enjoy some socially-distanced sun on Thursday 

Iconic Nathan's Hotdogs was a popular spot for New Yorkers who flocked to Coney Island

Residents swam in the sea on the hot summer's day in Coney Island, New York City

Visitors wore masks as they strolled down the boardwalk in Coney Island in the warm summer weather

One man wearing a protective face mask looks out towards the ocean as visitors enjoy the sunshine in Coney Island

One couple were seen enjoying their time in Coney Island. Beaches in NYC were able to reopen for swimming on July 1

People were spaced out on the beach to ensure social distancing measures were obeyed in Coney Island

As of Thursday New York City has recorded nearly 215,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 18,637 confirmed deaths and 4,610 probable deaths. 

By canceling large events through the end of September the city hopes to avoid experiencing a surge in cases that many other parts of the US have seen after hastily rolling back lockdown restrictions. 

'This is a historic moment of change. We have to respect that but also say to people the kinds of gatherings we're used to, the parades, the fairs — we just can't have that while we're focusing on health right now,' de Blasio told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Thursday night.  

The mayor explained that the exception was made for Black Lives Matter protests because the demonstrators' calls for social justice and racial equality were too important to silence.  

'If you're just talking about health, we would always say: "Hey folks you know stay home if you can,"' he said. 

'But we understand this moment in history people are talking about the need for historic changes.' 

De Blasio also noted that more than a month of protests has not caused a spike in COVID-19 cases, despite previous fears that it would.

Speaking to CNN's Wolf Blitzer Thursday night, de Blasio explained why Black Lives Matter protests will be allowed to continue under the events ban

Earlier, in another act of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the NYC Mayor descended upon Fifth Avenue with a group of volunteers to paint a large mural of the movement's namesake on the road in front of Trump Tower

Protests in the name of Black Lives Matter have occurred consistently in New York since the police killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day. 

Despite thousands taking to the streets night after night, the rate of coronavirus infections has remained the same throughout the unrest.

A study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research in late June found no evidence of coronavirus cases increasing in 315 cities in the weeks after the protests first began.

Researchers concluded that protests may have been offset by an increase in social distancing among those who decided not to march.

'While it is almost certain that the protests caused a decrease in social distancing behavior among protest attendees, we demonstrate that effect of the protests on the social distancing behavior of the entire population residing in counties with large urban protests was positive,' the report said.

The City Hall-enacted shutdown of large gatherings will however extend to annual parades, such as the the West Indian American Day Carnival in Brooklyn on Labor Day weekend, and the Dominican Day Parade in midtown Manhattan.

De Blasio's administration will also deny all permits for events in parks it believes will 'unreasonably diminish public use' as well as street fairs and events than span more than one block or for gatherings that require a sound system.

Earlier, in another act of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the NYC Mayor descended upon Fifth Avenue with a group of volunteers to paint a large mural of the movement's namesake on the road in front of Trump Tower. 

An organization leader of the group Warriors uses a megaphone to address the crowds during a protest outside of City Hall on July 1

Protests in the name of Black Lives Matter have occurred consistently in New York since the police killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day

The mayor announced the city would paint 'Black Lives Matter' on streets at locations around the city following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May. Department of Transportation workers and activists began work at the site at around 10am Thursday morning

De Blasio was pictured filling in the letter 'L' on the installation earlier this morning, tweeting: 'Our city isn't just painting the words on Fifth Avenue. We're committed to the meaning of the message.' He was joined by NYC's first lady Chirlane McCray, and Rev. Al Sharpton.

But upon his arrival at 11:30am, it appeared not all in attendance were happy to meet the mayor's acquaintance. A chant of 'douchebag de Blasio' broke out among a small contingent of the crowd as he crossed the road, the New York Post reported.

'This is such an important moment for our city,' an undeterred de Blasio told volunteers, who chanted, 'Black lives matter!' with their paint rollers suspended in the air. 'We are making a statement today of what we value in New York City'.

De Blasio left around 20 minutes later. The mayor had last week temporarily called off the mural just feet from Trump's former home a day after engaging in a Twitter spat with the president. Trump branded the painting it a 'symbol of hate' and demanded the money for its creation be spent on the NYPD instead.

The mayor announced the city would paint 'Black Lives Matter' on streets at locations around the city following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May. Department of Transportation workers and activists began work at the site at around 10am Thursday morning.

Speaking Thursday De Blasio said: 'When I announced that we would be doing this here, President Trump said that we would be denigrating the luxury of Fifth Avenue. Let me tell you, we are not denigrating anything. We are liberating Fifth Avenue.

'Let's show Donald Trump what he does not understand. Let's paint it right in front of his building for him.'