NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A Staten Island bar manager was arrested Tuesday after refusing to comply with the state’s orange zone restrictions.
Owner Keith McAlarney and his attorney showed up at the bar Wednesday morning, saying he’s not happy but he’ll follow the rules and switch to take-out only.
Mac’s Public House is located in a designated orange zone, where indoor dining is not allowed.
The sheriff’s office said it found more than a dozen people eating and drinking inside the bar Tuesday night.
General Manager Daniel Presti was taken into custody for obstructing governmental administration.
The sheriff’s office said a crowd of approximately 50 people gathered outside the bar to protest his arrest.
(Credit: New York City Sheriff’s Office)
McAlarney and his attorney were allowed back inside Wednesday, but they insisted on getting their friend in too. The sheriff said that wasn’t the instruction they were given, creating a standoff.
“I’m just trying to support my family. We’ve asked you guys to work with us, you refuse to work with us,” McAlarney said.
“They were frustrated. They’re tired of it,” his attorney Louis Gelormino added.
So are some of their patrons.
“I actually support him. I believe that people should be allowed to earn a buck with their business,” one woman said. “I think that a lot of the hype is a little bit exaggerated.”
MORE: In Response To New Restrictions, Staten Island Restaurant Declares Itself An ‘Autonomous Zone’
It’s not an exaggeration that hospitalizations have nearly doubled in the last month across the city.
“So many folks have been struggling to make ends meet and are feeling the challenges now as this second wave is bearing down on us, particularly concerned about so many of our small businesses,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.
Back on Staten Island, a neighboring business owner said if everyone follows the rules, it will help prevent another total lockdown citywide.
“Why can’t we just all be on one page?” grocery store owner Larry Tajudeen said.
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Supporters of the bar plan to show up for an even bigger rally at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the mayor and health commissioner issued a new advisory urging seniors and people with underlying conditions to stay home except for essential purposes. The voluntary lockdown excludes commuting to work or school, medical care and shopping for things like groceries.
The notice was directed at New Yorkers 65 and older, their housemates and caregivers, pregnant women and people with preexisting ailments. They’re also being asked to wear masks both indoors and outdoors and limit interactions with others.
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