More Cops To Enforce Distancing In 'Bar-Heavy' Astoria, LIC

ASTORIA, QUEENS — The city will send more officers to Astoria and Long Island City to make sure the neighborhood's restaurants and bars are following social-distancing rules, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.

The western Queens neighborhoods are among nine "bar-heavy" areas across the city that will see an increased police presence to make sure restaurants and bars are only allowing takeout orders, not gatherings.

The announcement comes a week after large crowds were spotted sipping to-go drinks to the sidewalks outside Upper East Side restaurants, prompting concerns about social distancing even as eateries remain closed to dining in.

"The message is as simple as it could be — take out, don't hang out," de Blasio said Friday. "We did not want to see people try and create de facto outdoor seating or de facto parties. We'd love it, but we can't do it. It's not safe."

The other bar-heavy neighborhoods that will see a boost in enforcement measures by the NYPD and Office of the Sheriff are the Upper East Side, East Village, West Village, Lower East Side and Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan; Williamsburg in Brooklyn and City Island in The Bronx.

New York City's Office of Nightlife put out updated guidelines over the weekend for how bars and restaurants need to comply with physical distancing rules.

Under the guidelines, restaurants and bars are not allowed to put tables or chairs outside their restaurant unless they are for use by someone with a disability who is waiting to pick up an order.

They also must make sure all to-go food and drinks are carried away from the restaurant and that groups gathering inside or outside the restaurant stay six feet apart from one another as they wait for their orders.

De Blasio said Wednesday the city is still planning how and when New York City restaurants may reopen for in-person dining.

Many elected officials and advocates have called for the city to allow eateries to set up tables on the sidewalks and streets this summer.

"I think it is a very encouraging possibility to lean to the outdoors but we have a lot to figure out with social distancing, face coverings protocols and what amount of capacity you can make that would make it worthwhile," de Blasio said Wednesday.

Patch editor Anna Quinn contributed reporting.

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