This Fauci says, let us open up!
SI-eatery kin dish out COVID criticism
While Dr. Anthony Fauci continues to urge caution in opening up bars and restaurants in his role as national coronavirus czar, another Anthony Fauci — his Staten Island cousin — slings sauce in his popular Italian restaurant and laments what his relative has done to the dining industry.
“They shouldn’t do the lockdowns. Especially now. If you don’t abide by the rules . . . shut that area down, but don’t shut down the whole industry,” said the 84-year-old founder of La Fontana, Anthony Fauci.
His son, Joe Fauci, 57, who runs the eatery in Oakwood, echoed his dad’s concerns, while still expressing admiration for his famous relative.
“In the beginning, I thought he was fabulous, but then a few times he flip-flopped on different things. He had us all locked down at a tremendous rate,” Joe told The Post. “They should have loosened things up when it was slowing down in the summer. Everything else was loosening up except the restaurant business.”
Dr. Fauci, 79, has in the past said he was open to a nationwide lockdown to halt the spread of the deadly virus. In recent months he has said that probably won’t be necessary, but still resisted moves to get things back to normal. In September he called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to fully reopen bars and restaurants “very concerning.”
Anthony Fauci and his cousin both hailed from Brooklyn. The Faucis trace their roots to Naples and Sicily, but the Staten Island part of the clan pronounces their last name as “Faw
See,” while the famous doctor uses “Fow-Chee.”
“My father and his father were first cousins. His grandfather and my grandfather were brothers,” the Staten Island Anthony said, recalling how his younger brother would bring mail to Dr. Fauci’s family drug store in Bensonhurst. Joe and Anthony Fauci have never met their famous relative. But they had their own success. Since its opening in 1983, La Fontana has become a neighborhood staple and GOP gathering place.
Former Staten Island Congressman and GOP kingmaker Guy Molinari was a regular before his death in 2018. His daughter, former Rep. Susan Molinari, and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis also come by frequently.
Joe Fauci said despite their differing philosophies, he was still “very proud” of Dr. Fauci and that overall he was doing a “spectacular job” leading the White House coronavirus task force.
But he says the worst for restaurants is yet to come.
“Nobody is paying any expenses. But in a couple of months from now, you will see how bad it will be,” he warned.