24 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 7, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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NYC sheriff ’s offi cers busted an illegal New Year’s party at the Maspeth Bar/Lounge on 58th Street on Jan. 1, 2021.
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS
BOB BRENNAN
ZACHARY GEWELB
NIRMAL SINGH
JACOB KAYE
ANGELICA ACEVEDO, JENNA BAGCAL, KATRINA MEDOFF,
CARLOTTA MOHAMED, BILL PARRY
CLIFF KASDEN, SAMANTHA SOHMER, ELIZABETH ALONI
DEBORAH CUSICK
CELESTE ALAMIN
MARIA VALENCIA
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS
Schneps Media, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361
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Photo courtesy of NYC Sheriff ’s Offi ce
Story: De Blasio appoints Middle Village’s Edward
Grayson DSNY Commissioner
Summary: Edward Grayson, a Middle Village
resident, was appointed Commissioner of the
Department of Sanitation by Mayor Bill de Blasio on
New Year’s Eve.
Reach: 2,900 (as of 1/4/21)
editorial
Shame on us
As we begin the new year, we
all must look at ourselves in the
mirror and decide how we want
2021 to go.
Last year was fi lled with tragedy
due to COVID-19, but there
was hope that we are ending the
fi ght with the disease as Queens
hospitals — and hospitals around
the city — began administering a
vaccine to healthcare workers.
We have to be patient, but we
will all have access to the vaccine
at some point this year, and we
should all take it so we can fi nally
put this disease behind us and
move on.
Until then, it is up to us to
remain vigilant and do everything
we can to stop the disease
from spreading. Th at means
wearing masks, thoroughly
washing our hands and practicing
social distancing. Following
these simple rules can help save
lives, yet we have seen in Queens
and beyond that people still do
not want to take them seriously.
In our borough, the
Whitestone Republican Club
came under fi re aft er a video
surfaced online of attendees,
including City Council candidate
Vickie Paladino, making
their way through a conga line
without masks or social distancing
during a holiday party at Il
Bacco in Little Neck.
Th e State Liquor Authority
confirmed the accuracy of
the video and took action. Il
Bacco, the Little Neck restaurant
that hosted the party, had
its liquor license revoked for
breaking COVID-19 protocols,
and making matters worse, the
Republican club’s party may have
resulted in the spread of COVID-
19, with at least three attendees
testing positive, according
to reports.
Th e holiday party garnered
condemnation from the governor,
mayor and a slew of others
earlier this month.
As if that wasn’t bad enough,
the New York City Sheriff ’s
Offi ce busted an illegal New
Year’s party at a Maspeth bar
that attracted hundreds of people.
Four individuals were arrested
at the illegal rave for various
violations of health and safety
codes, as well as emergency
orders related to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Th e location also lacked a
proper license to serve and store
liquor, as well as an obstructed
egress and various other health
code violations, according to the
sheriff ’s offi ce. Th e owner faces
fi nes of up to $15,000.
We cannot continue acting this
way. We understand that it’s been
a long fi ght. But if we want to
avoid a similar scene as last year,
when the city essentially shut
down for a time, we must be
responsible.
If you must go out with
friends and family, be smart
about it. Wear masks. Practice
social distancing. We are so
close to the end of this pandemic.
Th ere is no reason to
prolong it by making irresponsible
decisions.
So many businesses and restaurants
have been lost. Many
more are barely hanging on.
It’s up to us to help get through
this. Be smart and be safe. If we
can do that, we will beat this
pandemic and can focus on our
borough’s recovery.
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