On November 29th, I posted an article about a Staten Island pub owner who declared his pub an autonomous zone and gave out free beer in an effort to stay open. Yesterday The Epoch Times posted an update on that situation.
The article reports:
A New York pub that declared itself an “autonomous zone” last week in a bid to stay open amid lockdown restrictions, was shut down by authorities on Tuesday and its owner arrested, according to reports.
New York City Sheriff’s Department deputies took Mac’s Public House co-owner Danny Presti into custody after he refused to leave the establishment, according to ABC7. An attorney cited by the outlet said Presti would face charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct.
Leticia Remauro, a candidate for Staten Island borough president, denounced Presti’s arrest.
“This is atrocious, this man was arrested for trying to earn a living and pay his taxes. That is insanity,” Remauro said, according to the outlet.
A livestream from inside the pub, posted on the Mac’s Public House Facebook page, showed a calm scene as about a half dozen law enforcement agents milled about, some filling out paperwork. Outside, a number of sheriff’s deputies stood by while a group of onlookers had gathered, according to a video posted on social media, with the narrator decrying the shutdowns of small businesses and calling for a protest on Wednesday.
Following a spike in cases of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced tighter curbs last week, with part of Staten Island, where Mac’s Public House is located, designated a medium-risk orange zone. The new restrictions, which include the closure of many businesses deemed nonessential and limiting restaurants to outdoor dining and takeout, went into effect on Nov. 25.
This is unacceptable. The government should not have the power to shut down someone’s business. The coronavirus is a problem, but people can make their own decisions about their actions. This is the same Governor who demanded that nursing homes admit people who had the coronavirus. How is this constitutional?