Numerous Manhattan businesses lose
liquor permits over COVID-19 violations
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
New York state cracked
down on another 22 New
York City businesses
who broke Governor Andrew
Cuomo’s executive orders on
social distancing and banning
indoor consumption of alcohol at
bars and restaurants during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
On Sept. 18, the governor
announced the latest wave of liquor
license suspensions against
businesses caught ignoring the
orders — putting their workers
and customers at risk of potential
exposure to COVID-19. Eighteen
of the 22 offenders in the fi ve boroughs
were located in Manhattan
and Queens.
“While it is clear the increased
enforcement by our task force
has made an impact, we cannot
let ourselves become complacent
or allow those coming from other
states to import indifference for
these critical public health rules,”
Cuomo said. “This action should
serve as a reminder to the small
number of establishments who
openly fl out the rules that they
are putting all New Yorkers
at risk, and they will be held
accountable.”
Each business received an
emergency summary suspension
order for their liquor license,
which remain in effect indefi -
nitely. Following a hearing by the
SLA, the license holders could
face immediate revocation of their
liquor permit and fi nes of up to
$10,000 per violation.
To date, 201 businesses across
New York state have had their liquor
licenses suspended following
inspections by the joint task force
and its law enforcement partners.
One notable offender apparently
broke the governor’s
orders on social distancing and
mask-wearing a second time this
summer, and wound up paying
the price.
Taqueria Diana, at 524 9th
Ave. in the Garment District,
lost their liquor license on Sept. 4,
People drink outside a bar during the reopening phase following
the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the
East Village neighborhood of New York City, New York, U.S.,
June 13, 2020.
two days after inspectors visited
the site and found fi ve patrons
drinking inside and not practicing
social distancing. Both the
bartender and a kitchen employee
were also not wearing masks at
the time.
On July 28, investigators had
visited Taqueria Diana and found
PHOTO BY REUTERS/CAITLIN OCHS
two patrons inside the premises.
Other businesses in Manhattan
that had their liquor licenses
suspended include the following:
• Karvouna Mezze, 241 Bowery,
Lower East Side — On Aug.
28, investigators found a guitar
player and singer playing there
without facial coverings, and 20
patrons drinking, dancing and
violating social distancing.
• Black Emperor Bar, 197 2nd
Ave., East Village — On Aug. 31,
investigators spotted three patrons
sitting and drinking inside.
• The Skinny Bar Lounge, 174
Orchard St., Lower East Side —
On Sept. 4, inspectors found 20
unmasked patrons standing in
front of the premises and drinking
without eating food; another
seven patrons were doing the
same approximately 50 feet from
the establishment, in violation of
liquor regulations.
• Sushiva, 615 9th St., East
Village — On Sept. 4, inspectors
spotted six patrons drinking and
eating inside the establishment.
• Kochi, 652 10th Ave., Hell’s
Kitchen — On Sept. 7, inspectors
spotted 20 patrons drinking
and ignoring social distancing
measures outside the establishment,
most of whom lacked face
coverings. Another 30 patrons
were found drinking inside the
premises.
East Village rally seeks to reopen city’s comedy clubs
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
Laughter might be the best
medicine, but the many
comedy clubs in New York
City that dispense it have been
shut down for months throughout
the COVID-19 pandemic.
The clubs have been closed to
the public since March, when the
fi rst major capacity restrictions
took effect as the virus took hold
of New York. But as other venues
have reopened at limited capacity
— including gyms and bowling alleys
— the comedy venues remain
shuttered.
Club owners, performers and
workers are all stumped about
the continued closure — and at
a Tuesday rally outside the New
York Comedy Club in the East
Village, they called on Governor
Andrew Cuomo to give them
answers, and a way forward.
Calling themselves the New
York Comedy Coalition, the
consortium launched the #Save-
NYComedy campaign and touted
a detailed plan they recently presented
to Cuomo’s offi cials, outlining
various measures they
believe will allow them to safely
reopen at partial capacity. Members
of the coalition also talked
about the struggles they continue
to endure as the microphones and
clubs remain silent.
Emilio Sabon, owner of New
York Comedy Club, reported
the many fi nancial struggles he
and other comedy club owners,
staff members and comedians
themselves have faced since the
clubs shut down in March.
Most workers are on unemployment
insurance at the present
time, according to Sabon. He’s
helped comedians who frequented
the stage fi nd other means
of employment themselves. The
club’s bank account is depleted,
and Sabon says he’s doing his best
trying to “stretch out whatever
loans we received.”
“How can we pay our staff
when we’re not allowed to be
open?” he said.
Queens state Senator Michael Gianaris speaks at a press
conference in the East Village on Sept. 22, 2020 calling on
Governor Andrew Cuomo to allow comedy clubs to partially
reopen.
The coalition’s plans to reopen
comedy clubs would permit
indoor venues to open at 25%
of their maximum occupancy to
patrons with food and beverage
service. Any venue that does not
offer food or drink would be able
to open up to 50% listed capacity.
PHOTO VIA TWITTER/@SENGIANARIS
Outdoor comedy venues will
be able to have as many available
seats as possible within the
allotted area, provided tables are
situated six feet apart from each
other.
All guests, indoor and outdoor,
would be separated by at least six
feet from each other. Patrons
won’t be allowed to mill about
the venue in large groups.
The venues will urge visitors
to buy tickets in advanced online,
and will maintain socially
distanced lines outside the venue
to get in. The performance spaces
will also allot additional time between
shows for proper cleaning
and disinfection.
All stage performers will be
required to provide at least 10
feet of space between themselves
or their audiences, or six feet if
a plexiglass barrier is erected
between the stage and audience.
When reached for comment,
Richard Azzopardi, senior advisor
to the governor, said the
following: “If there is any time
when a laugh is needed, it’s
now. We’ve been talking to the
industry and other stakeholders
and it’s our hope we’ll be able
to put together guidance where
these performances can resume
in a way that also keeps New
Yorkers safe.”
10 Sept. 24, 2020 Schneps Media