‘Liq law’ slap on Blas’ bud
Eatery big bopped
A politically connected Manhattan restaurateur learned the hard way how little clout he really has — when an NYPD raid uncovered dozens of potential liquor-law violations that could shut down his place for good.
La Marina co-owner Fernando Mateo (inset) became a key figure in the City Hall corruption scandal when he admitted to The Post in 2016 that he had funneled nearly $19,000 to Mayor de Blasio’s campaign in a failed scheme to score a city job for a female associate.
Testimony at last year’s bribery trial of former correction-union chief Norman Seabrook also revealed that Mateo — also a longtime cabby advocate — was among three donors who told de Blasio’s chief fund-raiser they “expect a lot of access and influence in the office.”
But on Friday, cops led a multiagency raid on the Hudson River hot spot over what NYPD Sgt. Jessica McRorie said were “numerous community complaints” over noise, parking and underage drinking.
La Marina was temporarily shuttered “critical” sanitary violations for which it was assessed 74 points, more than twice the number that get eateries slapped with the lowest-possible “C” grade, according to the Health Department.
The NYPD said it issued 13 unspecified summonses and that State Liquor Authority investigators found 64 liquor-law violations. An SLA spokesman said it was reviewing the findings and hadn’t yet scheduled a hearing.
La Marina — which reopened Wednesday — was also fined $250 by the state Workers’ Compensation Board for not posting mandatory information, officials said.
Friday’s raid followed a June 15 sting operation by the NYPD that led to the arrest of a La Marina waiter for allegedly serving booze to minors, and a July 7 incident where six patrons were taken to the hospital for what a police source said appeared to be alcohol poisoning. That same day, two cops suffered minor injuries when a La Marina patron allegedly drunkenly rammed their cruiser in an SUV.
La Marina operates on city property under a deal with the Department of Parks and Recreation, and activist Geoffey Croft of NYC Park Advocates hailed the recent crackdowns.
He called Mateo “a big de Blasio buddy who’s been pretty protected up until now.”
Mateo tied La Marina’ s troubles to “run-ins with certain people at the NYPD,” adding: “I know this is retaliation on me personally.”