By: Ellen Cans
Over the weekend, another alleged illegal nightclub was busted in New York City.
With alarming disdain for the pandemic and any effort at social distancing a makeshift underground bar in Rosedale, Queens was filled to the brim in the early hours of Sunday morning. As reported by the NY Post, authorities found over 164 partiers packed in a party setting, all maskless. At about 2:30 a.m., NYC sheriffs busted the “dangerously overcrowded” party. A DJ and two unlicensed security guards were charged for their roles organizing the event which allegedly violated COVID-19-related regulations, as per officials. Also, one attendee was charged with possession of marijuana, and a hatchet, of all things. The illegal hot spot was doled a fine of $15,000 for fire-code violations, illegal warehousing, and unlicensed sale of alcohol. The owner of the location was not immediately identified. The frontage for the location at 145-12 243rd St has an awning that reads only, “EVENT CENTER.”
As per the Post, authorities became suspicious when they saw big groups of people entering the rear alley on Mayda Road by 241st and 243rd streets. They also noticed people unloading alcohol. Deputies then entered the site, and were shocked to find the venue over crowded with unmasked people drinking, dancing and smoking hookahs in clear violation of the state and city’s ban on nonessential gatherings. “They were serving alcoholic beverages. Enough cases to supply 170 people. Different types of vodka,” said city Sheriff Joseph Fucito. The Sheriff added that the venue has no certificate of occupancy on file and no permission to sell alcohol. Some three dozen empty or near-empty top-brand bottles of alcohol were also found littered about the site.
As per the Post, the security guards were charged for having no valid security licenses, in addition to violating Covid-19 restriction. The DJ, Andres Cadavid, 28, was fined for organizing and promoting the nonessential mass gathering. “It’s very hard to identify who the organizers are. The three people we can identify as organizers were the two security guards and the DJ,” said Fucito.
Of late, the New York City Sheriff’s Office has been busy busting similar illegal underground gatherings, filled with young revelers who seem to be done taking the Coronavirus seriously, despite the uptick. Other recent raids for Covid-19 violations include a Staten Island bar named Mac’s Public House which had declared itself an “autonomous zone”, a swingers club in Astoria, Queens and an underground Bronx fight club.
