Earlier this morning, New Yorkers got a bit of a shock when New York City Council member and chair of the New York City Council health committee Mark D. Levine sent out this tweet:
Soon we'll start “temporary interment”. This likely will be done by using a NYC park for burials (yes you read that right). Trenches will be dug for 10 caskets in a line.
It will be done in a dignified, orderly–and temporary–manner. But it will be tough for NYers to take. 9/
— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) April 6, 2020
Wait, what?
How will family members know who is where, so that eventually loved ones can be buried and mourned in the way the family wishes?
— Unpresidented and Socially Distant (@dialogician) April 6, 2020
That entire thread is terrifying.
— Jon Shecket (@jshecket) April 6, 2020
Oh, good, we’ve arrived at the mass graves portion of our program. So. Much. Winning.
— kenrocklepremier (@kenrockle1er) April 6, 2020
This is feeling more like a “bring out your dead” kind of pandemic, a #TrumpPandemic. It’s all on #TrumpVirus. His name will always mean death and destruction and misery
— Jordana Lipscomb@??-emic advice dispensed (@jordanalipscomb) April 6, 2020
This is the most horrific and terrifying thread I’ve ever read. I kept hoping there’s a BUT somewhere or another word to indicate it’s not true…
— ?????? ?. (@Jeremy10036) April 6, 2020
It percolated for a few hours before he decided that maybe he should “clarify”:
Recommended
This tweet has gotten a lot of attention. So I want to clarify: the is a contingency NYC is preparing for BUT if the death rate drops enough it will not be necessary. https://t.co/6wLO8qWtML
— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) April 6, 2020
Uhhh …
Hell of a two hours for NYers between these tweets! pic.twitter.com/wKmOlKT58T
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) April 6, 2020
No kidding!
That's… a big clarification. https://t.co/0hkiLNJpg7
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) April 6, 2020
This is the most amazing follow-up to a horrible tweet that I have ever seen. pic.twitter.com/TLWgDS54D7
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) April 6, 2020
It’s one for the books, for sure.
Unnecessarily alarming tweet
— Twilla Duncan (@ThinkTwilla) April 6, 2020
This tweet is completely irresponsible.
— SageRobinson (@SageRobinson) April 6, 2020
Highly irresponsible
— Kathleen (@katnandu) April 6, 2020
"This is a contingency" is not a clarification from "Soon we'll start." It has a completely different meaning.
— James Meredith (@NDTwinsfan) April 6, 2020
You need to delete the original tweet and rewrite. It's absolutely irresponsible. Your first sentence is "soon we'll start…" not "this is a contingency plan ONLY"
— bt_bk8 (@bt_bk8) April 6, 2020
Why would you send this out when it may not even have to happen? Why cause such a panic for those who have lost loved ones? ? When the time comes, THEN mention it. Don’t just say, “oh, well, this will happen if the death rate doesn’t fall soon.” You add unnecessary uncertainty.
— Chipper Chelsea ?? (@ChipperChelseaK) April 6, 2020
Dude, come on. You should delete and re-state that tweet. A lot of New Yorkers have been following you as a voice of reason in all of this. That’s irresponsible to leave up if it’s only a contingency for now.
— Sean P. (@seanpeaaa) April 6, 2020
I mean my dude I think ya gotta just delete the first tweet, I’m sorry if it messes up your thread pic.twitter.com/1iHJOmJXIR
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) April 6, 2020
This was a pretty egregious offense on Levine’s part.
Resign. Now. Seriously.
— Glenn (@SocialThinkerNM) April 6, 2020