NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The State Liquor Authority slapped nearly 40 restaurants and bars in downstate New York with violations for flouting COVID-19-related guidelines Thursday night, and 10 establishments temporarily lost their liquor licenses this past week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.
COVID-19-related hospitalizations across New York are still on the decline, but the state is seeing an uptick in infections among people in their 20s that health officials believe is linked to “bar and restaurant violations, and the congregations in front of bars and restaurants,” Cuomo said during a briefing Friday morning.
“Yesterday, (SLA officials and state police) went out… through primarily the downstate area: Manhattan, Long Island, Queens, Astoria, Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Jackson Heights, Lower East Side,” he said. “They are issuing violations to 37 establishments today, so they’re doing their job.”
“I have asked local governments repeatedly to step up and do the enforcement. That’s what they’re supposed to do, enforce the law,” he added. “They are not enforcing it aggressively enough.”
The state’s new multi-agency task force aimed at cracking down on restaurant and bar violations documented a total of 84 violations between Tuesday and Thursday, the governor said.
The SLA has also suspended the liquor licenses of 10 establishments in New York City and on Long Island, including six in Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. Cuomo
announced three of those suspensions on Tuesday.
(See below for a list of the 10 establishments that temporarily lost their licenses.)
In spite of the violations, New York state had “really good news” to report with respect to its COVID-19 numbers from Thursday, Cuomo said.
Six hundred and fifty people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday, the lowest number since March 18, he said. Of those 650 patients, 156 were in ICUs, marking the lowest number of ICU patients the state has reported since March 16.
The state reported nine new COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, Cuomo said. Of 76,507 new COVID-19 tests performed, 753 came back positive, for a positivity rate of 0.98 percent.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the nine people who passed away, but that is also very, very good news compared to where we were,” he said.
“We are proud of what New Yorkers have done. We’re now protecting our progress, right?” he added. “We just want to make sure we don’t have a second wave, or we don’t have a ricochet where the virus comes from other states, or we don’t have an increase from young people who are congregating.”
The following 10 businesses temporarily lost their liquor licenses this past week, according to Cuomo's office: - Aqua at 2241 Washington Avenue in the Bronx, on July 24, 2020: "On July 22nd, Chairman Bradley conducted a compliance check of Aqua in the Bronx and found 12 patrons consuming alcohol inside the premises — which is currently not allowed in New York City. In addition, kitchen staff and servers were observed without facial coverings and patrons were illegally smoking hookah both inside and in front of the premises."
- Cipriani Downtown at 372-376 West Broadway in Manhattan, on July 23, 2020: "Following numerous complaints, Chairman Bradley conducted a compliance check of "Cipriani Downtown" in Manhattan on July 21st. During the check, he observed 17 patrons drinking and standing around tables with no chairs in front of the business, most without facial coverings. The Chairman entered the premises and observed an employee behind the bar with no facial covering and four patrons purchasing alcoholic beverages at the bar, in direct violation of the Governor's EOs."
- Guaro's Tapas Bar Lounge at 86-01 Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights, on July 24, 2020: "During the evening of July 18th, SLA investigators observed over 20 patrons congregating in front of Guaro's Tapas Bar Lounge in Jackson Heights, Queens without facial coverings or social distancing. Shortly before midnight -- well past New York City's 11 p.m. curfew for outside service -- SLA investigators returned to find over 25 patrons in a nightclub-like atmosphere, with music blaring and patrons not wearing facial coverings or practicing social distancing. The restaurant was also using an unapproved trade name. In addition, the NYPD reports this location was found in violation of the Governor's EOs on June 26th and June 30th."
- Set L.E.S at 127 Ludlow Street in Manhattan, on July 24, 2020: "On July 23rd, Chairman Bradley conducted a compliance check of "Set L.E.S" in Manhattan, finding eight patrons drinking directly in front of the restaurant and approximately 30 patrons congregating near the premises, all without facial coverings and not practicing social distancing. The establishment was operating an obvious outdoor, self-service bar from a window -- exactly the kind of service the Executive Orders and SLA restrictions do not allow."
- Kandela at 150-03 Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens, on July 23, 2020: "On July 16th, SLA investigators responding to numerous complaints about "Kandela" in Queens conducted a compliance check, finding loud music and dancing directly in front of the business. On follow up inspections on July 17th and July 20th, SLA investigators observed a DJ playing music outside the premises, creating a nightclub-like atmosphere where patrons were clustered, in addition to a bouncer and waitstaff serving patrons without facial coverings. The conduct observed was consistent with complaints received from neighbors. The location was also observed in the past week serving well past New York City's 11 p.m. curfew for outside service."
- La Pollera Colorada II at 82-13 Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights, on July 22, 2020: "La Pollera Colorada II's non-compliance began on May 4th, when NYPD officers found patrons drinking inside the restaurant who refused to disperse. On June 17th, the SLA charged the licensee with violating the Governor's EO based on an NYPD referral that intoxicated patrons were consuming alcohol directly in front of the establishment. On June 26th, SLA investigators observed servers without facial coverings, in addition to patrons drinking and lingering in front of the business, and on July 18 -- after multiple charges and multiple warnings -- an SLA investigator observed continuing non-compliance at the location, with over 25 patrons congregating without facial coverings and without exercising social distancing."
- Brik Bar at 32-16 Steinway Street in Astoria, on July 20, 2020: "Brik Bar is one of the worst offenders on Steinway Street in Astoria, Queens, where large crowds have assembled for drinking and partying. The bar had been warned and served with SLA violations for allowing crowds to congregate and drink outside on multiple occasions in June. They were observed again in flagrant violation of the Governor's EOs this past weekend on July 16th and again on July 18th, ultimately resulting in the NYC Sheriff 's Office serving the location with a cease and desist order on outdoor service, issued by the New York City of Department of Transportation."
- Maspeth Pizza House at 55-60 60th Street in Maspeth on July 20, 2020: "Another repeat offender, Maspeth Pizza had been cited and warned on multiple occasions for serving alcohol to standing patrons who were congregating outside its location. On July 10th and 19th, SLA Investigators observed this premises continuing its unlawful service, including after the 11 p.m. curfew, with numerous patrons standing, dancing and drinking alcoholic beverages in violation of social distancing rules. Investigators also witnessed servers with no facial coverings and patrons smoking hookah, in violation of the establishment's license."
- M.I.A Made in Astoria at 27-35 21st Street in Astoria, on July 20, 2020: "In another problematic section of Astoria, M.I.A was found to be serving alcohol to dozens of patrons who were standing, drinking, and congregating — and not dining — well past the 11 p.m. NYC curfew for outside dining. M.I.A. had previously been cited and warned for earlier violations of the Governor's Executive Orders."
- Secrets Gentleman's Club at 3A Saxwood Street in Deer Park, on July 20, 2020: "On July 17th, investigators with the SLA and Suffolk County Police Department conducted an undercover inspection of Secrets Gentleman's Club in Deer Park. The detail observed employees and patrons inside the premises without facial coverings, including dancers performing while sharing the same stage pole and giving lap dances in violation of the Governor's EOs and SLA Guidelines. When the owner was confronted by an SLA investigator about the problematic conduct, he claimed it must have started without his knowledge after he had left — unaware that he had already been caught on videotape buying drinks for the undercover agents and bragging about getting away with violating the Executive Orders."
