Letters

Congressman Lee Zeldin, a relentless promoter of the “Big Lie” that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, has proven that spreading falsehoods is a habit with him.

In a January 31 email blast criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul’s statewide mask mandate, he falsely wrote that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is “now recommending AGAINST the wearing of cloth masks.” Zeldin clearly wants his readers to believe that the CDC is against the wearing of all masks, and that mask mandates are unnecessary.

In fact, the CDC’s guidance says that while most masks offer some protection, respirator masks are more effective than cloth masks, and it recommends that if one wears a cloth mask, a respirator mask should be worn underneath it. Reference to the CDC website will confirm this.

The truth is that the CDC strongly recommends the wearing of masks in public indoor spaces, so Zeldin misrepresents the truth.

Hochul has made it clear that her goal is to protect New Yorkers. Zeldin doesn’t mind endangering our health by spreading misinformation about CDC recommendations to falsely criticize his potential electoral opponent.

William A. Simon

Sagaponack