Gov. Hochul makes last-minute push for NY mask ban in state budget talks despite public silence on issue

Gov. Kathy Hochul has started pushing a statewide crackdown on masked protesters in her closed-door negotiations with Albany lawmakers — despite largely abandoning the issue publicly.

Sources familiar with the conversations said the governor is reviving the issue in her state budget talks with legislators.

Hochul is likely to push legislation sponsored by state Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) and state Sen. James Skoufis (D-Orange), the sources said.

“I’ve been pushing for the bill and I’ll be thrilled if we pass it in the budget or outside the budget,” Dinowitz told The Post Wednesday.

The bill would not ban masks outright, but would create an increased penalty for harassment when someone purposely hides their face while menacing or threatening violence against a group of people.

Hochul has been largely silent on banning mask-wearing in public since she first championed the idea last year as the city saw a wave of antisemitic protests and incidents in the streets and subways.

“I have said before that I support some variation on restrictions on use of masks, except for medical and religious reasons,” she told reporters when asked about bringing up the legislation in the negotiations over the budget, which is due April 1.

“Mask use in the commission of a crime are deeply troubling to me,” Hochul added. “We’re having conversations. We’ll see how it goes.”

The Dinowitz/Skoufis mask bill is backed by the NAACP and Anti-Defamation League.

But sources suggested the measure could still face resistance, especially from liberals, in the state Legislature.

“I hope they come to their senses. I have a feeling they won’t,” said Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Nassau), who sponsors a separate bill that would go further and ban all mask-wearing while loitering in public with a group of six or more people.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie hasn’t totally dismissed doing something about mask-wearing thugs, noting that people have taken advantage of the gap in the law.

The Legislature repealed a nearly century-old mask ban at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic out of concern it would run afoul of emergency public health orders.

“The First Amendment does not grant you the freedom to harass or intimidate others,” noted Assemblyman Sam Berger (D-Queens).

“It’s ironic how those who fought to tear away the masks of the KKK are now so desperate to hide their identities.”

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