HOME / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Who is Keith McAlarney? Patrons protest after Staten Island bar owner who violated orange zone rules arrested

'I’m allowed to be inside my private property. I pay my rent. They’re saying right now I can’t serve food and I can’t serve alcohol,' said Keith McAlarney

Patrons of Staten Island bar on Wednesday, December 2, protested the arrest of a manager, who refused to comply with the state's Covid-19 guidelines though the area was in the orange zone. Hundreds of people stood shoulder to shoulder with American flags and political signs while protesting in front of the New York City Sheriff’s officers, which were guarding the front door of the bar, named, Mac’s Public House, which is owned by Keith McAlarney. McAlarney defied the rules last week, saying his business is an “autonomous zone” and marking those words on the sidewalk to try to protect himself from Covid-19 lockdown rules.

One of the protesters told CBS2, “There’s people doing heroin and defecating on the subway, and I think that spreads the virus a lot more than some people having a drink on Staten Island." “I’m allowed to be inside my private property. I pay my rent. They’re saying right now I can’t serve food and I can’t serve alcohol," McAlarney said.

Amid the pandemic, the city is allowing the restaurants in that area to serve takeout food and alcohol, and offer outdoor dining. Eating/ drinking or sitting inside the restaurant is not allowed. “I’m just trying to support my family. We’ve asked you guys to work with us. You refuse to work with us,” McAlarney said. “They were frustrated. They’re tired of it,” his attorney Louis Gelormino added. Still, some localities say it’s not fair. “I actually support him. I believe that people should be allowed to earn a buck with their business,” a woman named Carol said. “I think that a lot of the hype is a little bit exaggerated.”

The Department of Police stated that there were no arrests and no summonses were issued on Wednesday night. As CBS2 reported earlier, officers were guarding the bar door all day, making sure people did not try to eat and drink inside.

CBS2’s Cory James tweeted a video from the protest site and wrote, "“USA, USA...” Supporters showing up to protest & chant outside of Mac’s Public House in #StatenIsland. Many want to eat and drink indoors & don’t believe the establishment should have been shut down after receiving several warnings for violating orders @CBSNewYork."

One user who agreed with the owner's decision wrote, "When it is a rally for BLM, Defund the Police, Antifa, or Looting Fest 2020, then it is ok? When it is a hardworking small business owner defending his livelihood and LIBERTY for ALL OF US, then it is bad? Ok, just making sure I understand." One concerned Twitter user wrote, "How are we ever going to get over this Pandemic with this type of behavior!" While one localite wrote, "400 cases in the past 24 hours and the people here are like but we want to go to the bar that doesn't follow the rules... I hate living on this island, when this is all over I'm out of here." Slamming the use of mask, one said, "Masks are utterly useless against an endemic virus. Not one scientific paper in 30 suggests a benefit. The government is just using scare tactics."