La Marina Drug Bust

A La Marina employee was arrested for selling drugs out of La Marina, the controversial Parks Department concession after a 5 month investigation by police. The politically connected establishment, whose owners include Mayor de Blasio associate Fernando Mateo, has racked up numerous violations as well as the ire of local residents.   (File photo:  Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) 

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

Add drug dealing to the long list of offenses at the Parks Department’s most infamous Parks’ property. 

A La Marina employee was busted selling drugs out of La Marina, the controversial Parks Department concession, NYC Park Advocates has learned. 

A series of controlled buys were conducted at the restaurant during a long-term investigation where large sums of cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana were purchased according to police.  

Police arrested Christian J. Mendez, 33,  of Ft. Washington Avenue in front of La Marina on Dykeman Street in upper Manhattan yesterday afternoon within the confines of the 34 Pct. 

The employee, a bar manager,  was arrested as part of an on-going undercover narcotics operation being conducted since July.

Mendez is facing 10 counts, including seven counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance.

When the suspect was arrested he was in possession of 32 ecstasy pills.   Mendez has a prior arrest for marijuana possession.

The politically connected establishment as racked up a slew of violations and the ire of local residents. 

In July La Marina was shut down after a Department of Health, The State Liquor Authority, Department of Buildings and the NYPD inspection resulted in more than 90 violations.

In July  2017 the Police Department were forced to close the concession due to severe overcrowding.  

"Frankly, I’m speechless," La Marina partner Jerald Tenenbaum said in an email.  

"Christian was with us for years, and until yesterday I would have said he was a great employee. It’s very sad."

The site has a notorious past of the Parks Department allowing rampant illegal activity.  

In December 2006, nine people were arrested for drug trafficking at the Dyckman Street Boat and Marina at the previous concession. Those indicted on narcotics charges included Jerome O’Rourke a retired police officer whose family managed the marina for many years. 

Requests for comment from the Parks Department were not returned. 

Read More:

La Marina Manager Sold Drugs Out Of Inwood Bar, Police Say
Patch - November 23, 2018 - By Brendan Krisel 

La Marina Shut Down After City Inspection Yields More than 90 Violations

The controversial Parks Department concession La Marina in upper Manhattan operated by the Manhattan River Group LLC whose owners include Mayor de Blasio associate Fernando Mateo was shut down on Friday night after an inspection. More than 90 violations were issued by the Department of Health,  The State Liquor Authority and the NYPD. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

Welcome to the Parks Department's most infamous family concession, La Marina, where area neighbors live in dread.

A place where strippers brawl, where an employee was shot in the neck and where violence and crime spills out into the surrounding residential community. 

The controversial nightclub and restaurant were ordered closed by the NYC Department of Health on Friday night after city and state officials issued more than ninety violations.

The NY State Liquor Authority, Department of Health, and NYPD converged on the politically connected hot spot after a series of troubling incidents.  

Beginning at 8pm, authorities spent approximately two and a half hours meticulously documenting numerous violations during the business inspection.   

La Marina received 74 violation points, almost triple the number needed to trigger a shut down during the Department of Health's inspection on Friday. 



A yellow Department of Health closing notice posted on the restaurant over the weekend. 



The Health Department issued 15 Health Code violations. Evidence of mice or live mice were found in  the facility's food and/or non-food areas,  filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies  were found present in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies including house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies were also found.

Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies were also found. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage were also discovered.

The NY State Liquor Authority (SLA) also issued 64 violations including finding bugs in the liquor and non-working emergency exit lights. 

The NYPD issued 13 summonses including for blocked exits including pad-locked exit gates. The police also issued violations for non working emergency lights.

The police have been involved in several recent incidents at La Marina. 

Six people were hospitalized on July 7th for an undisclosed illness inside the location - later determined to be excessive intoxication. The NYPD issued violations to the concession for over serving.  

While officers were writing the tickets a man left the club, picked up his car in the valet area and drove into two parked cars including the marked police car with two officers inside. 



July 7, 2018. According to police an intoxicated,  unlicensed Brooklyn driver left the club, picked up his car in the valet area and drove into two parked cars including a marked police car with two officers inside. The driver got out and ran and was captured by police.  

The driver got out and ran and was apprehended by police nearby. Brooklyn resident Nigel Lewis, 27, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, DWI, Reckless Driving and cited for no license according to the NYPD.  The  incident occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m. 

On June 15th a La Marina worker was arrested in an NYPD undercover sting operation and charged with serving a patron under the age of 21.

The concession is also facing several prior State Liquor Authority violations.  In 2017 La Marina was cited for being over capacity,  and not operating a year-round establishment each of which are cause for revocation, cancellation or suspension of the license.

On July 2, 2017, the licensee violated the Rules of the NY State Liquor Authority in not conforming with all applicable building codes and/or fire regulations regarding occupancy level. 

The NYPD was forced to shut down the club due to dangerous overcrowding which included overselling 2500 tickets according to the police.   One event,   Bikini Palooza was so inappropriately advertised that Parks forced a renaming to Beach Wear Affair after community complaints). 

The action resulted in large crowds spilling into the surrounding neighborhood along Dyckman St. and Broadway.   Police made several arrests for reckless operation of motorcycles and seized bikes.  NYPD also issued numerous summonses.

La Marina representatives have publicly denied the NYPD shut the concession down. 

According to the State Liquor Authority La Marina is required to apply for a seasonal license annually which they were caught violating.

On December 1, 2017 and on a continuing basis, the licensee ceased to be operated as a bona fide premises within the contemplation of the license issued for such premises, according to the SLA complaint.

One La Marina owner  said Friday's enforcement action caused the establishment to be "unfairly closed without notice." 

"No violation of the health code is ever acceptable; and we are doing all we can to reassure the Department of Health that we are and will continue to be compliant with its rules and policies,"  part owner Jerald Tenenbaum said in a statement to A Walk In The Park.  

"We plan to reopen on Wednesday with the Department's approval," he said.

The premises were re-opened this afternoon. 



Sign of the Times. 

Mr. Tenenbaum stated that it was not the kitchen but other areas of the two acre establishment that caused the business to be unfairly closed without notice. 

Community Board 12 recently voted to deny renewing La Marina's liquor license the first time since the controversial business opened in 2012.

La Marina founders Josh Rosen and Jerald Tenenbaum's response to neighborhood criticism was characterized as "everything’s great,” said an area resident who attended the April Community Board meeting and agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. 

"They said we are not going to talk about the 10pm (music) claim and we’re not going to talk about the valet park thing. They just refused to discuss it.

People really weren’t happy with the answers. What are you bringing to us,  you just come here telling us the same stories, everything is fine nothing’s your fault. They told a grand tale of its all DOT’s fault and the police fault its everyone else's fault," the resident said. 

In September La Marina owner and Mayor de Blasio associate Fernando Mateo threatened to sue the local 34th Pct. claiming that area businesses were being targeted unfairly.     

In 2016 Mateo was caught funneling $ 18,000 dollars to the de Blasio campaign  through an unemployed Brooklyn woman, a clear violation of campaign election law. 

In 2017 it was revealed that Mateo has been pressuring officials to get his niece promoted in the NYPD.

Lack of Parks Department Oversight 

La Marina has long been the subject of community complaints regarding quality-of-life violations including noise, parking according to the NYPD.

Area residents have complained since the concession's full seasonal opening in 2013 contending that La Marina has been allowed to run an illegal nightclub.  Critics say the concession routinely violates its license agreement with the city. 

Residents also bitterly complain about a "bait and switch."  

As originally presented to the public, the concession was to be a welcome family and community-friendly restaurant and grounds, with waterfront access for recreation.  Features were to include a cafe with a sailing school, kayak storage, picnic tables, open grounds and lunch service “community place to eat”  as promised.  

  
As originally presented to the public, the concession was to be a welcome family and community-friendly restaurant and grounds, with waterfront access for recreation. What the community got instead was very different. Most of the above area became a limited-access bottle-service and hookah VIP area (where a security guard was shot in 2014).

What they got instead they say is a nightmare. The city allowed a high-end restaurant and nightclub/concert venue to open. 

The contract prohibits concerts and requires public access.  Nonetheless, these became primary uses along with the restaurant, and hours and capacity were extended by Parks without public notification. 

City ordinance typically prevents amplified music in parks after 10:00pm.  Their concession contract (Section 10.18) also prohibits any amplified music after 10 pm.  And the music is most certainly amplified. 

The City has also been accused of allowing the operation of an illegal operated valet parking concession on parks property and on adjacent city streets.  

The  large valet operation extends west past the Parks Department property including up to Staff Street, using No Standing and regular street parking spaces. 

The 2009 concession contracts for the Marina and for the Cafe do not include the valet areas in either of their premises.  The City has been unable to provide the license agreement containing the valet parking concession,   or any proof that the concession was competitively bid or approved by Franchise Concession Review Committee,   or that any agreement exists with DOT authorizing this activity. Clear violations of city law.


A large illegal parking operation has been allowed to operate not only on city owned parkland but also on city streets. 


The illegal valet operation has extended on Dyckman St. up to Staff Street, several blocks east from La Marina. 


The DPR has “gifted” the parks department land to La Marina for parking according to several city sources.  

La Marina also uses the public greenway bike path as another entrance to the beach and concert venue which people line up on.  This illegal use of public parkland is also not in the contract. The entry, and the concert venue itself, does not appear on the site plans approved by the Public Design Commission in 2011.

Several requests seeking comment from the Parks Department went unanswered.

A 2017 Comptroller Audit found the owners underreported its gross receipts from the Restaurant by at least $488,874.

Critics also contend that vast amounts of NYPD resources are directed to the private business,  man-power that could be better utilized and equitably distributed elsewhere. 


The Police are regularly assigned to La Marina to address multiple quality-of-life issues. 

"We find the volume of DOH violations scary with La Marina's 2000+ person occupancy the public health has been put at risk,“ said Nancy Preston, Moving Forward Unidos member, a group that has been advocating for oversight on the NYC Parks concession since 2013.

"We thank the agencies for investigating and taking action.   We hope La Marina will correct all the violations.    

La Marina should be restored to what the community was originally promised, a small, family friendly restaurant, snack bar and boat marina," she said.      

Saturday night closed.

Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

Department of Health Violations

La Marina received 74 violation points, almost triple the number needed to trigger a shut down during the Department of Health's inspection on Friday. 

It takes three consecutive inspections of 28+ points to be closed.  0 to 13 points is an A, 14 to 27 points is a B, anything more than 27 is a C.  

Violations recorded in the following area (s), a Notice of Violation issued and establishment ordered closed by the Department of Health at the re-inspection conducted on 07/13/2018.

"Critical" violations are displayed in red.

Violation points: 74

Sanitary Violations
1) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
2) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
3) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
4) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
5) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
6) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
7) Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
8) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
9) Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.

They had 31 points and three criticals on their prior inspection in June:

Violations recorded in the following area (s) and a Notice of Violation issued at the initial operational cycle inspection conducted on 06/05/2018.

"Critical" violations are displayed in red.

Violation points: 31

Sanitary Violations

1) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.

2) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.

3) Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.

4) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.

5) Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.

6) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

Read More:

Man Shot In The Neck At La Marina

A Walk In The Park - July 14, 2014 

Revenue, Play Continue To Drop At Trump's Ferry Point Golf Course - Rates Raised For NYC Residents

"You literally can't even get on the course it's so packed” - Eric Trump

Trump's ten million dollar clubhouse under construction earlier this year. Donald Trump’s two sons arrived by a Trump branded helicopter and presided over the opening of the Clubhouse banquet facility ribbon cutting ceremony.  At least one son however had some veracity issues.  

"You literally can't even get on the course it's so packed,"  Eric Trump, EVP of the Trump Organization stated. He also inaccurately claimed that revenue for all Trump courses were up last year and also claimed that the building was finished well ahead of schedule. He also Tweeted that the clubhouse would create,  “countless jobs.”   

The 20,000-sq. ft. clubhouse is expected to bring significant revenue to the struggling course.

Bronx 

By Geoffrey Croft

Revenue and play have dropped precipitously at the Trump Ferry Point golf course since opening just three years ago. 

The public played thousands of fewer rounds of golf for the second year in a row at the tax-payer built course while the Mayor Bloomberg-era gift to Donald Trump facility raised prices on local residents, already the most expensive public course in the city by multitudes.  

Tax payers are also required to pay Trump’s water and sewage bill which grew to $ 1.3 million dollars.

Total revenue has fallen 17 % since first opening three years ago despite continuing to raise rates according to financial documents obtained by NYC Park Advocates.     

The tax-payer built luxury course grossed $ 6,681.256 in its third year of of operation in Trump's sweetheart deal with the City of New York compared to $8,072, 529 in its inaugural year, a decrease of $ 1,391.273 dollars.

The public played 5,070 fewer rounds of golf -  23, 221 last year compared to 28, 291 the first year.  Revenue from greens fees dropped from $ 3.8 million the first year to $ 3.1 million the third year, also a more than 17 percent decrease.

Trump raised fees for New York City residents,  jumping ten dollars for the 2018 season on weekends and eight  dollars during the week. Residents are now required to pay $ 185 a round on weekends and $ 154 during the week, more than 4 and 3 times respectfully what other municipal courses in the city charge.  

Less than 19 percent of NYC residents voted for Trump during the presidential election.    

Trump lowered fees for non-residents a few dollars. Out-of-towners pay a staggering $ 224 on weekends and $ 197 during the week, more than 5 times what other city courses charge.    

Seniors continue to avoid the course like the plague.  Play fell from 1,706  rounds the first year to 1300 rounds last year,  generating only $  94, 388 in greens fees.  

On average seniors usually make up nearly 40% of the golf demographics according to the National Golf Foundation statistics.  

This year seniors still have to cough up a whopping $ 95 dollars for a round compared to the city-wide rate of $ 26 dollars. Trump's “discounted” rates for seniors is not available on weekends and holidays.  Seniors who don't live in NYC get bilked even further - they are required to pay $ 128 a round, an eight dollar decrease from last year.    Trump was forced to slash senior prices in 2017 after the disastrous first two years.

Trump’s original contract stipulated that seniors would pay $55 dollars. 

Juniors are required to pay $  60 dollars - almost 8 times more than at other city courses, and $ 93 for non-residents more than 10 times greater than the $ 7.75 fee other city courses charge.  Junior play grossed less than 5,000 dollars from just 149 rounds of golf.   During the 3rd quarter only 8 juniors played bringing in a total of $ 272 dollars.

For the current 2018 season Trump lowered the Junior rate for non-residents by ten dollars to $ 83 dollars.

Military rates are $ 95 dollars a round. Only 90 people played, grossing $ 5,850 in greens fees. 

Donald Trump’s original contract  listed $100 for a round of golf (Monday-Thursday), and  $125 on weekends and holidays.  He was also allowed to charge non-residents $25 more on weekends without the approval of Parks or the city.  

Since then the de Blasio administration has allowed the sky-high green fees to dramatically increase even further. 

Under a sweetheart deal the Trump organization is not required to pay the city anything the first 4 years. 

Trump’s sweetheart deal doesn’t end there: The de blasio administration gifted Trump’s 

water and sewer charges to the public which the taxpayers are now responsible for. Trump was reimbursed $1.1 million dollars for fiscal year ending June 30, 2016 and $ 1.3 million for 2017, an increase of $ 200,000 from the previous year according to the City’s Department of Environmental Protection.  

Seniors  -  $  94, 388   1300 rounds played

Juniors  -  $ 4,915         149 rounds played

Military  -  $ 6,380           90 rounds played

Total Rounds Played  23,221

Total Gross Revenue   - Total:  $  6,681.256

Greens Fees  -  Total:  $  3,118.406

(Click on graph to enlarge)

Read More:

Revenue, Play Drops At Trump's Ferry Point Golf Course

A Walk In The Park - June 1, 2017 - By Geoffrey Croft

http://awalkintheparknyc.blogspot.com/2017/06/revenue-play-drops-at-trumps-ferry.html

Rare Bird Sighting Creates A Stir in Central Park

A rarely seen Kirtland's Warbler in Central Park has been attracting throngs of onlookers. (Photo by Timberdoole)  

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

The excitement was palpable. 

A rare creature weighing less than an ounce has been creating quite a scene in Central Park, NYC Park Advocates has learned. 

A Kirtland's Warbler, a colorful songbird has attracted thousands of onlookers over the last few days on the Upper Westside just north the park's W. 90th street entrance. Throngs of people have stopped to gaze at the tiny bird visiting our city high up in the trees.

This is reportedly the first time this species had been seen in Central Park and approximately the 4th time it has been seen in New York State.

Lengthy reports of the bird's activities are being updated regularly on various birding social media sites. 

On Friday night large crowds swelled to block much of the park's drive as passerby's joined birding enthusiasts to try and spot the elusive bird.

By Saturday the songbird had spread its wings a bit and ventured a few trees away with a gallery of onlookers in tow.

On Friday night crowds gathered to observe the rare bird high up in the tree.  (Photo: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) click on image to enlarge.

It was reportedly observed singing Saturday morning several birders posted on the American Birding Association website. 

One observer wrote, "Huge Mob present” and warned the public not to play recordings in the vicinity an effort not to disturb it. 

"PLEASE DO NOT play any recordings of this bird, or others, in the vicinity of this warbler, as many (probably many hundreds) will be wanting to have a chance to observe, visually and aurally this rare species with no disturbance to the bird itself and also no unneeded disturbance to the aural landscape within hearing (i.e. within some hundreds of feet) of this & adjacent birds,” Tom Fiore wrote. 

“Let's all self-police in this & other obvious respects, in order that order & commonsense is maintained for & by a gathering of birders & others with interest that is sure to grow to very large size,” he said. 

Kirtland's Warbler in flight Photo By Stephen Rogers.   

Kirtland's Warbler spends part of the year in northern and central Michigan and migrates in the winter to the Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos Islands. The bird is named after Jared P. Kirtland, an Ohio doctor and amateur naturalist.

The Federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed taking the songbird off the federal endangered list, which would drop its legal protections as their numbers have recovered. 

"It’s an extremely rare bird for NYC although just short of a national rarity, as the breeding population has rebounded after conservation efforts,” birder Phil Jeffrey told A Walk In The Park. 

Jeffrey who's been birding for more than forty years and twenty of those in Central Park, said the bird has a reputation of being rarely seen on migration and may fly directly to the Bahamas.

"It’s in the once-per-Century level for the park and I would suspect few records in NY State, That’s what generates the attention," he said.  

"Many other park “rare” warblers have much larger populations, are more-or-less annual but in very low numbers. Kirkland’s is off the scale by comparison."

(Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) click on images to enlarge.

By Saturday the songbird had spread its wings and ventured a few trees away with a gallery of onlookers in tow.


Too much excitement for one young passerby.

"We didn’t expect it here,"  said Matthieu Benoit, 33 a molecular biophysics researcher originally from Normandy, France. 

In the States for almost 5 years, he said he’s been birding since he was eight years old.  On Saturday Benoit was paying his second visit in two days armed with an enormous camouflaged camera lens to catch the elusive bird. 

"It's extremely rare. It's the first time its seen in migration in New York City. To see it you have to go to Michigan or to the Bahamas, and it's not that easy to see it there."  

He said he found out about the sighting through email and twitter alerts from the birding community.  

 "It was a really good find," he said. 

One on-looker was overheard saying he had a dream about the bird last night.

It is unknown how long the tiny visitor will stick around but most agreed it would not be long.  

Matthieu Benoit, 33, (center- blue jacket) "It was a really good find," he said.  

On Saturday onlookers gathered on the bride path to watch the activity.