As stir-crazy New Yorkers continue to patronize outdoor restaurants and bars across the city, public officials are faced with a dilemma. In theory, there are responsible ways for people to enjoy food and drinks served by cash-starved businesses in a pandemic, by maintaining social distance, wearing a mask, and cracking down on establishments that don't abide by the rules. But in practice, one cannot wear a mask and eat and drink at the same time, and enforcement either boils down to using the NYPD to physically enforce the rules, or threatening to take away the livelihoods of those same cash-starved businesses. Add lots of alcohol and record heat, and the result is the videos coming out of Astoria's Steinway Street over the past couple of nights.
"We've been going to Astoria the past two or three weeks. Every day has gotten crazier," said Marcus, a 30-year-old from Bed-Stuy. "I said last Saturday was pretty crazy, 'Oh it can't get any crazier than this.' Sunday was even crazier."
Marcus said that word of the fun on Steinway Street spread quickly on Instagram, as "every day, more people were posting it on their stories."
"All the restaurants have built up their own private decks, that's what's made it different," he said. "It's been a nice atmosphere, a nice vibe, nobody's thinking about COVID. They're getting drinks, they're getting food, everyone's outside. It's really nice! The scene's outdone the risk factor."
Marcus, who works in IT for a hospital and asked that we only use his first name, admitted that "nobody is wearing masks" at the parties, but said he believes he's taking a calculated risk. He got tested for the virus several days ago, and restaurants are strictly enforcing the mask rule when patrons use the bathroom. But asking people to stand six feet apart at an outside bar was "not practical."
Late on Friday night, Marcus said the NYPD arrived and "tried to enforce social distancing, but there were too many people."
NYPD spokesperson Detective Sophia Mason said that police responded to a 311 call for a "traffic condition" on Steinway street between 25th and 28th Street at 12:39 a.m. on Saturday morning, and "observed a large crowd in addition to the traffic condition."
"Officers issued multiple verbal orders for the crowd to disperse. The crowd cleared out without incident," Detective Mason said, adding that 20 parking summonses were issued for double-parked cars and bus stop violations. "Precinct personnel have been instructed to monitor activity in the area and conduct appropriate enforcement if any crimes or violations are observed."
Emily Maretsky, a public school teacher who lives on Steinway Street, confirmed that it has been like a "circus" for weeks.
"We live on a loud street, we deal with it regularly, I've never complained before, but the last three weeks it's gotten worse and worse," she said. "I really think it's because it wasn't enforced earlier. Steinway's become the party street of Queens."
Maretsky singled out the bar Brik Astoria, for blasting music long past the 10 p.m. cutoff and encouraging patrons to stay later. She said one of her neighbors who lives near Brik got a decibel reader and measured over 100 dB in their apartment.
"Other businesses follow the rules. That's all we want to see, is businesses being respectful neighbors."
A person who answered the phone at Brik said no one was available to comment.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has touted his restaurant plan as a success and a sign that "better times are ahead." Earlier this week, de Blasio was asked what the exact guidelines were for New Yorkers eating and drinking outdoors. The mayor's senior advisor for public health, Dr. Jay Varma, responded.
"Our default recommendation always is that it's going to be safer for everybody to be wearing a face covering as much as they can whether indoors or outdoors when they're around other people. But of course, we also have to accept the reality. If you're drinking, if you're eating food, you simply can't be wearing a face covering," Dr. Varma said. "If you're with friends or people you don't normally socialize with, we're trying to keep those gatherings as small as possible."
On Saturday afternoon, Mayor de Blasio called the gatherings in Queens "unacceptable."
This is unacceptable.
New Yorkers have made too many sacrifices to fight COVID-19. We can’t let up now.
We’ll be out in Astoria and across the city tonight to make sure restaurants are doing their part to keep their diners and their workers safe. https://t.co/L6dV9UTWP8
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) July 18, 2020
Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has repeatedly lectured New York City residents for failing to adhere to the pandemic rules for eating and drinking, unveiled a "three-strike" policy this week for businesses that fail to comply.
But it's still not clear how he will enforce these rules, and as a recent story in Politico showed, it's also not clear that New York City is enforcing the rules any worse than other municipalities across the state.
The Governor's Office did not immediately return a request for comment.
William Crowley, a spokesperson from the State Liquor Authority, said that while the agency does not comment on active investigations, "we are aware of these reports and will take all action necessary to protect New Yorkers during this public health emergency."
"The main responsibility for enforcing social distancing lies with the local government — in this case New York City — and they must ensure activity like this that risks transmission of COVID-19 are not allowed to take place," Crowley wrote in an email.
Asked what he would say to Governor Cuomo if he was scolded for his behavior, Marcus replied, "The frustration's built up to the point of, what do you want us to do?" he said. "I would say, how long do you expect us to stay inside, honestly?"
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July 19, 2020 at 01:12AM
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Videos: Astoria's Steinway Street Has Become "The Party Street Of Queens" - Gothamist
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