Okay, but then why doesn’t the “vastly different demographics, different density, different climates” apply to comparisons between states, if you’re claiming th

Okay, but then why doesn’t the “vastly different demographics, different density, different climates” apply to comparisons between states, if you’re claiming those comparisons “disprove the hypothesis” (let alone the fact that SF has much higher density that the others and a colder climate)? As far as cherry picking, why does me picking four cities count as cherry picking but you picking two states doesn’t? Also for the specific NYC case, a crucial difference is that when the restrictions started which was after there were many infections already (thanks in part to disagreement between the city and state early on and different legal powers of the city to effect them compared to elsewhere). I’m also not sure what neighboring states with high compliance you’re referring to for New York. Their most populous neighbor (PA) has consistently had very low compliance and fluctuating levels of restrictions.