Take 2: NYPD vaccine mandate, Taiwan Strait

Mathias Alling, Section Editor • October 29, 2021

The Take 2 series features brief weekly updates on the state or nation’s relevant news for the community.

Police Unions: On Wednesday, a Staten Island judge rejected the NYPD’s request to halt the vaccine mandate for their officers. Previously, the NYPD relied on a “Vax Or Test” program requiring unvaccinated officers to test regularly. The mandate requires all civic employees to receive at least one dose of the vaccine by Friday or be put on unpaid leave. This mandate includes firefighters, EMS and police officers. The mandate comes from New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio.

Significance: The mandate is suspected to cause staff shortages across the city. The police department expects to lose a quarter of its officers, since only 72% are vaccinated. The mandate includes all civic employees, so the city still needs 160,000 city workers to show proof of their vaccination by Oct. 29, 5:00 p.m. This mandate, among others, are part of the nation wide debate over vaccine mandates for workers. President Joe Biden announced earlier this year that all federal contractors and employees are required to be vaccinated by Dec. 8, which led to Florida suing the Federal Government.

Taiwan Tensions: The Chinese government renewed threats to invade Taiwan after the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-Wen, revealed that the U.S. had special forces and marines in Taiwan. This revelation comes in the wake of increasing tensions between Taiwan and China, since China flew a record number of military fighter jets into Taiwanese airspace this year.

Significance: President Joe Biden vowed to stand with Asia against China. When China warned Europe not to support Taiwan, the EU and other European countries like Britain took steps to distance themselves from Beijing, with the U.K. ordering Aircraft Carrier Queen Elizabeth to patrol the south china sea, armed with F-35 Fighter Jets. The European parliament also recommended forging stronger political ties and economic ties with Taiwan. Both Taipei and Beijing are seeking stronger ties with Europe. Ambassador Wang Yi spoke on Beijing’s behalf on Wednesday, and Taiwanese Minister Joseph Wu covertly spoke in Brussels this past week.

About the Contributors

Mathias Alling, LJP Staff

Junior Mathias Alling is entering his third year on The Red Ledger as a section editor. He can often be found riding his bike at six in the morning, at school or learning more about cycling. If it has two wheels, handlebars and pedals, Alling is probably going to love it. He currently has 7,000 miles recorded in since he started riding and is currently going broke trying to buy more and more cycling computers and gear. Alling also enjoys cooking, watching TV shows and movies and spending time with his family. He is looking forward to the new school year and is ready to start writing and editing.

Hannah Gonzalez, Graphics Editor

Mama Mia, here we go again. As she takes her last ride in the TRL classroom, Hannah Gonzalez is ready to end this year with a bang. Gonzalez serves as a Co-Graphics editor for the third year in a row and this is her fourth year on staff. When she’s not making killer graphics, you can most likely find Gonzalez on the volleyball court, at FCA meetings, in school or going for a joy ride in the Jeep that she named “Beep.” Although TRL is life, Gonzalez also enjoys going for late-night ice cream runs, watching early morning sunrises, going to church every Sunday morning and going on an occasional lake trip. To add to her list of accomplishments, Gonzalez has won three state championships and is looking for a fourth. With her happy planner by her side, Gonzalez is looking forward to kicking procrastination to the curb as she conquers her final year as a high school student.