Mac’s Public House still on hook for criminal summonses, despite letters from court initially stating otherwise
Updated Dec 31, 2020;
Facebook Share
Fines and criminal summonses totaling more than $40,000 were issued when the Grant City establishment refused to shut down in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, as owner Danny Presti and his business parter, Keith McAlarney, declared the pub an “autonomous zone.”
One of the Dec. 22 notifications stating the summonses had been dismissed was addressed to Presti, and stated in part:
“The New York City’s Sheriff’s Office has failed to file a legally acceptable accusatory instrument with this court. There is no need for you to return to court on the summons number referenced above.”
Mac’s Public House lawyer slams Sheriff’s officers as ‘ill-trained’; Sheriff defends actions
Updated Dec 19, 2020;
Posted Dec 19, 2020
Sheriff s officers stand outside Mac s Public House in Grant City on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/Irene Spezzamonte)
Facebook Share
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. One of the lawyers representing Mac’s Public House in Grant City in its standoff with officials over coronavirus restrictions slammed the Sheriff’s Office as “a force of ill-trained, undisciplined and inexperienced officers” that is the “antithesis of the NYPD.”
“The current situation with the New York City Sheriff is extremely dangerous for both the Sheriff officers and the public,” criminal defense lawyer Mark Fonte wrote in a letter to the Advance/SILive.com. “The Sheriff’s Office should be led by a professional from the NYPD. Allow the NYPD to institute a training program for the Sheriff’s department.”
South Beach restaurant among lead plaintiffs in class-action lawsuit for Cuomo, de Blasio shutdown orders
Updated Dec 15, 2020;
Posted Dec 15, 2020
Franco Ortega of Italianissimo stands with a sign that reads Open Indoor Dining at a press conference championing the reboot of full service in restaurants. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
Facebook Share
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Italianissimo restaurant owner Franco Ortega is one of the lead plaintiffs in a class-action, federal lawsuit brought on behalf of New York businesses. The legal move targets Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio for the financial harm caused by their COVID-19 shutdown orders, mandated by the Executive Order 202.6.
Doc admits pill-sex scheme; parole officer accused of faking visits: S.I. crime stories this week
Updated Dec 12, 2020;
VIDEO OF BAR OWNER, SHERIFF INCIDENT
Video released Monday by the defense team for Staten Island bar owner Danny Presti shows the moment he struck a deputy sheriff with his Jeep after running from authorities.
In a statement released with the video, defense attorney Mark Fonte said it “clearly shows my client running for his life from unidentified individuals dressed in dark clothing.”
“The Sheriff officers broke every proper procedure for effectuating an arrest . if the Sheriff’s Office is to continue in their new role as law enforcement, I urge the city to provide them with proper training.”