Despite Covid-19 restrictions, a Staten Island Bar opened a day after it was shut down, and the owners declared it an ‘autonomous zone.
’
The authorities shut the bar last week and arrested one of the owners for opening the bar despite government instructions. According to the bar’s co-owner, the bar was reponed at 8:30 pm on Friday, December 4. He also said they practiced the SOPs, and the tables were arranged at a distance of six feet. He further declared that around a hundred people were inside the bar on Friday night.
Lou Gelormino, Mac’s Public House’s co-owner, said the purpose of reopening is to stand with fellow restaurant businesses and to register the protest against lockdown rules for restaurant owners.
He said no one from the sheriff’s office had visited the restaurant after reopening, but he hopes they will revisit soon. Hundred of other businesses had rendered their support to Gelormino, and they are saying they will also oppose the pandemic policies.
The public was also annoyed with the decision to shut the restaurants. The enraged crowd chanted, “Cuomo sucks!” when the cops entered to close the bar and arrest Presti.
Gelormino said the owners had not yet paid any summonses, which the authorities issued on Tuesday. He said that they are ready to sit and talk to the officials and agree on some flexible policies, but unfortunately, they are unwilling to cooperate.
Many influencers and political leaders, including Congress-woman-elect Nicole Malliotakis, have shown their support to the bar owners.
Authorities said the bar is located in an area where the coronavirus cases are increasing continuously, and thus it should not entertain the customers indoors. The owners refused to accept the statement and declared the bar an autonomous zone.
Cuomo had imposed a strict policy of closing all the bars and restaurants after 10 pm, and those who are not following the instructions are likely to be charged with thousands of dollars.