State Liquor Authority investigators revoked The Ferris Wheel’s state liquor license on Aug. 27 for severely violating multiple COVID-19 regulations.
The bar is owned by town of Oswego Highway Superintendent Robert Malone Jr., who declined to comment on the revoked liquor license. The bar just had its liquor license issued on July 8.
The SLA stated that it had received multiple complaints, all commenting on the same thing: the overcrowded bar was not maintaining social distancing. On Aug. 17, SLA investigators saw at least 15 people lined up outside the bar, and that number quickly rose to 25 people. No masks were worn nor was social distancing being enforced by the bar.
Inside the building, however, was much worse. On the second floor of the bar, the SLA claimed that 40 to 50 people were dancing and drinking with no masks and no social distancing. There was also no food being served in the bar with the alcohol, which is another violation of the COVID-19 regulations put in place by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“Establishments, especially bars, should all be following the rules and guidelines set forth by the state,” Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow said. “We know that investigators are regularly going through our community, and we work in full cooperation with them, to ensure social distancing compliance. To ignore the guidelines set forth by the state is disrespectful and ignorant to the rest of our community who have already sacrificed so much, and I encourage and appreciate businesses who follow the guidelines and help protect Oswego residents from COVID-19.”
Cuomo had a message to the bars and restaurants around the state that are failing to uphold COVID-19 regulations and said, “We will not tolerate you putting yourselves, your customers, your employees, your neighbors and our reopening at risk.”
The statewide total of liquor licenses revoked during the COVID-19 pandemic is now over 165. All of which have lost their liquor licenses due to egregious violations of pandemic-related executive orders from Cuomo. Businesses that have been found violating COVID-19 regulations can face fines up to $10,000 per violation. In the case of an “egregious” violation, they can face immediate suspension of their liquor license.
Cuomo also stated in the press release, “New Yorkers’ hard work is paying off, with the state maintaining an infection rate of less than 1% over three weeks straight – but we must remain vigilant and continue to follow guidelines that got us here or risk backsliding,” Cuomo added. “Compliance in higher-risk industries like bars and restaurants has been key to achieving this progress, and as today’s suspensions show, the state will hold bad actors who put public health in danger accountable.”
Kylie Annable | The Oswegonian
