SEE INSIDE: GUIDE TO QUEENS | GET THE LATEST NEWS EVERY DAY AT QNS.COM
March 13-19, 2020 Your Neighborhood — Your News®
75 cents
THE NEWSPAPER OF FLUSHING, AUBURNDALE, KEW GARDENS HILLS & FRESH MEADOWS
‘NO MORE LAVOO’
Elected offi cials join residents to demand closure of Oakland Gardens cafe
Vol. 29 No. 11 40 total pages
BY BENJAMIN MANDILE
Community members and
elected officials in Oakland Gardens
gathered Friday outside
of outside of Lavoo Cafe, shouting
“no more Lavoo,” demanding
the closure of the smoke
lounge, which has seen several
incidents of violence, including
a brawl on Feb. 29.
“With a number of incidents
at Lavoo Cafe in recent months,
most notably last weekend, it
is imperative we take a serious
look at whether or not this
establishment should have the
right to operate in Queens with
a liquor license,” said Assemblyman
David Weprin.
QNS reported that the establishment
has been the scene of
numerous shootings and slashings
over the last three months.
Most recently, officers
from the 111th Precinct were
called to Lavoo after 2 a.m., on
Feb. 29, following reports of “a
large group fighting” and shots
fired. Employees at the establishment
said that a fight had
broken out inside but security
had pushed the men out onto the
street, police said.
Two men ages 25 and 26 suffered
gunshot wounds to the
thigh and groin, respectively.
They were transported to Long
Island Jewish Hospital and
North Shore Hospital. Police
also reported that three men,
ages 27, 34 and 46, were slashed
in their faces and were transported
to Jamaica Hospital. All
of the victims remain in stable
condition.
Police said that several males
struck a sixth man, 29, in the
face, resulting in bruises to his
nose, eyes and forehead. There
have been no arrests made at
this time and the investigation
is ongoing.
Weprin said elected officials
and community leaders are
united against Lavoo and that
the community would do everything
they can within their
power to shut down the cafe.
Eileen Miller, chair of Community
Board 11, said that the
board will work closely with the
NY Liquor Authority to have
Lavoo Cafe’s license removed
and the establishment shuttered.
The establishment at 224-13
Union Tpke. in Oakland Gardens
is being reviewed by the
Community Board 11 Public
Safety Committee this month
who will examine the terms
of its liquor license, according
to Joseph Marziliano, district
manager of Community
Board 11.
Community members and
the elected officials do not believe
that the lounge coincides
with their community values.
“We need a business that will
be symbiotic with the neighborhood
and not put children and
families in harm’s way,” said
state Senator John Liu. “Lavoo
needs to go.”
Residents have started a
Change.org petition that has
garnered more than 1,300 signers
as of Wednesday afternoon,
March 11.
Additional reporting by
Jenna Bagcal.
Community members and elected officials gathered in Oakland Gardens to demand the closure of
Lavoo Cafe. Photos by Dean Moses
CUOMO DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY
• Two test positive for coronavirus in Queens Page 3
• Governor touts sanitizer made by state’s incarcerated people Page 3
• Far Rockaway charter school, St. John’s close campuses Page 4
• Attacks against Asian Americans increase amid outbreak Page 6
/QNS.COM
/Change.org
