4 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 7, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Little Neck eatery that hosted maskless GOP party loses liquor license
BY JACOB KAYE
jkaye@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
A Little Neck restaurant at the center
of several controversies over the past few
months had its liquor license suspended
aft er it hosted a maskless holiday party
that garnered condemnation from the
governor, mayor and a slew of others earlier
Suozzi endorses Markell for City Council seat
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
A Queens lawmaker recently endorsed
a North Shore Towers resident in the
ever-growing race for the District 23 seat
in the City Council.
On New Year’s Eve, the QNS learned
that Congressman Tom Suozzi is backing
Debra Markell, the current district
manager of Queens Community Board
2. According to Suozzi, Markell’s long
public service career and her “pragmatic
politics” make her the best leader
for District 23, which includes
the neighborhoods of Bayside Hills,
Bellerose, Douglaston, Floral Park,
Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hollis,
Hollis Hills, Holliswood, Little Neck,
New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens and
Queens Village.
Back in November when Markell
announced her City Council run, she
cited senior services programs, transportation
issues, co-op and condo owners’
rights, public education and public
safety as her top priorities if elected.
“Debra has proven capable of working
with a diverse group of people and
maintaining a pragmatic approach. I
have seen fi rsthand her commitment
and hard work to her community and
the residents of Queens. It is that same
dedication she will bring to City Hall.
Debra is the right choice on the key
issues including senior services, education
and quality of life,” said Suozzi.
Markell, a lifelong Queens resident,
served as the Queens director of the
Mayor’s Community Assistance Unit
from 1998 to 2006. Prior to her tenure
as a district manager, she was the president
of the 109th Precinct Community
Council and chair of the Flushing
Hospital advisory board.
She previously ran for City Council in
District 19.
“Tom has fought for eastern Queens
to improve our quality of life and for
that I am extremely grateful. He is able
to do in Congress what few can; cut
through politics and deliver results for
his constituents. I am ever thankful
for Congressman Suozzi’s endorsement
and hope to govern with his example in
mind,” said Markell on Suozzi, who is
serving his third Congressional term in
District 3, whichcovers eastern Queens
and the north shore of Long Island.
Suozzi is a member of the House Ways
and Means Committee, is vice chair of
the Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus
as well as the vice co-chair of the Quiet
Skies Caucus.
Seven other candidates have publicly
announced their bids for the District
23 seat, according to the Queens Daily
Eagle. Th e Democratic primary for this
race is scheduled for June.
this month.
First reported by Patch, Il Bacco
Ristorante, located at 253-24 Northern
Blvd., had its alcohol privileges suspended
by the New York State Liquor Authority
(NYSLA) on Dec. 24 aft er investigations
began into a party hosted at the eatery
that appeared to violate COVID-19
guidelines.
“Aft er video surfaced of a potential
superspreader holiday party at Il Bacco
with maskless dancing, the SLA immediately
launched an investigation,” an
SLA spokesperson told QNS Th ursday.
“During a follow-up inspection, investigators
found fl agrant violations of indoor
dining regulations and existing health
safety and Alcoholic Beverage Control
laws, while verifying the maskless party
depicted in the video did in fact occur.
Th is summary suspension should send
a strong message that we have zero tolerance
for establishments that put New
Yorkers’ health at risk.”
As part of its investigation, the SLA
found that, in addition to patrons dining
indoors and staff not wearing masks properly,
the restaurant was operating with
several safety violations, including nonworking
emergency exit lights, improperly
stored propane tanks and non-inspected
fi re extinguishers.
Th e emergency suspension will remain
in eff ect indefi nitely, the SLA said.
Th e party, thrown by the Whitestone
Republican Club, came under fi re aft er
video surfaced online of attendees,
including City Council candidate Vickie
Paladino, making their way through a
conga line without masks or social distancing.
Th e SLA confi rmed the accuracy
of the video with Il Bacco’s owner’s son
and several party attendees.
Beyond the suspension of their host’s
liquor license, the Republican club’s
party may have resulted in the spread of
COVID-19.
At least three people who attended the
Dec. 11 celebration, including one who
was recently hospitalized, have tested positive
for the virus, as reported by the
Queens Daily Eagle.
“Yes, we held a holiday party. A good
time was had by all,” the Whitestone
Republican Club wrote in a Facebook
post following the event. “But we are not
the mask police, nor are we the social distancing
police. Adults have the absolute
right to make their own decisions, and
clearly many chose to interact like normal
humans and not paranoid zombies in
hazmat suits.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo condemned
the gathering shortly aft er a video of the
event, shared by journalist Matt Binder,
circulated online.
“I saw the video — COVID conga lines
are not smart. Th at’s my offi cial position,”
Cuomo said at a Dec. 22 press call, laughing
in incredulity. “Why you would do
an unmasked conga line in the middle
of a COVID pandemic, whatever
your political persuasion, defi es logical
explanation, as far as I’m concerned.”
Il Bacco’s owner Joe Oppedisano and
his daughter, Tina Oppedisano, who
manages the restaurant, sued Cuomo
and Mayor Bill de Blasio in
August, claiming the shut down
of indoor dining in New York
City led to “irreparable
harm” to the restaurant
and the industry at
large.
Neither Il
Bacco’s ownership
nor the
Whi t e s t o n e
R e publ i c an
Club immediately
responded
to requests for comment
from QNS.
File photo
Debra Markell-Kleinert and Congressman Tom Suozzi
Photo by Dean Moses
Tina
Oppedisano,
manager of
Il Bacco and
daughter of the
restaurant’s owner.
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