Chainsmokers Long Island concert organizers fined for social distancing violations; over 2,000 showed up

The organizers of The Chainsmokers' Hamptons concert are facing a $20,000 fine following the packed summer show, Gov. Andrew Cuomo says.

News 12 Staff

Oct 15, 2020, 11:20 AM

Updated 1,517 days ago

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The organizers of The Chainsmokers' Hamptons concert are facing a $20,000 fine following the packed summer show, Gov. Andrew Cuomo says.
In the Know Experience was slapped with the fine, with Cuomo calling the Water Mill event an "egregious violation of the critical public health measures we have had in place since the beginning of the pandemic."
The Town of Southampton is also not allowed to approve permits for group gatherings without state approval.
"They are going to have a sanction placed where they cannot approve permits for group gatherings without first receiving state approval," says Cuomo.
As News 12 has reported, the state was looking into the charity drive-in concert in Water Mill back in July. Thousands attended, with some appearing to ignore so-called "safe zones" around their vehicles and social distancing guidelines.
The opening act of the concert was Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman's band. He says he thinks they did everything "by the book," but adds that the town had already been referring all special events to the state.
"In terms of these drive-in events, there wasn't a certain amount of people it had to be under. It had to meet certain guidelines, which we believe it did," says Schneiderman. "Until I see what the state found, it's very hard to comment on it. Clarity would be helpful."
Schneiderman says the town did its own investigation into the promoter and found that it was in violation toward the end of the concert when social distancing and mask wearing were apparently not being enforced. He says the town did issue the promoter a summons.