Of Cough This Is True

May 8, 2006 — Establishments in Queens – particularly the nightspots of Astoria – are the biggest violators blowing smoke at the city’s 3-year-old smoking ban, The Post has learned.
Over the past year, the city Health Department issued 601 violations citywide to “smoke-easies” for permitting smoking during spot inspections, data show.

Of that total, 232 were issued to businesses in Queens, compared to 158 in Manhattan, 126 in Brooklyn, 73 in The Bronx and 12 in Staten Island.

The Bloomberg administration said the crackdown is working because in the previous year, inspectors issued 1,000 violations to smoke havens citywide.

That means the illicit smoking plummeted 40 percent.

“Compliance with smoke-free workplace laws was high to begin with, and it has increased to more than 99 percent,” said Health Department spokesman Andrew Tucker.

But not in Astoria.

Incredibly, nine of the city’s 12 worst violators were watering holes and eateries in Astoria that cater to smoke-happy Greek, Slavic and other European ethnics and Middle Easterners.

Penalties range from $200 for a first offense to a maximum of $2,000 and possible license revocation for repeat offenders. But a Post probe found the violations had not stopped the Astoria bars from letting patrons puff.

At two Astoria bars just blocks apart on Broadway, which serve mainly to Croatian immigrants, even the barmaids puffed away.

Health inspectors slapped Cafe Scorpio with a total of 11 violations – tops in the city – during separate inspections. Seven infractions were for failing to inform patrons not to smoke and four were for providing ashtrays.

Cafe Scorpio was a smokers’ paradise during a Post visit last week, with 13 of the 15 people present smoking. The sleek, dimly lit bar was lined up with packs of cigarettes and cigarette lighters. People also smoked at lounge tables or while playing billiards, watching ballgames or viewing the Croatian news channel.

Defying the smoking ban was so accepted that the barmaid even lit up behind the bar – despite two signs conspicuously posted above the cash register that read “No Smoking” and “Smoke Free.”

Scorpio also handed out small juice bottles – for smokers to deposit their ashes.

When a reporter walked in, two young boys were playing at the pool table. Smokers were all around them.

Scorpio manager Denis Lisica put up his hands in disgust when confronted by The Post and insisted he’s in a no-win situation.

“My clientele are all smokers. It’s a European crowd,” said Lisica, during an interview in which a patron handed him a pack of cigarettes.

Lisica said the controversy will continue – unless the city either allows certain bars to become legal smoking establishments or blitzes individual smokers with steep fines for breaking the law. Currently, the merchant pays the fines.

The smoking ban also was ignored two blocks away at Cafe Valentino, where inspectors previously issued seven violations.

“Do you need an ashtray?” the barmaid asked a Post reporter who stood at the bar.

Most people at the bar or sitting in lounge chairs smoked. Shortly thereafter, the barmaid lit up her own cigarette.

A Post reporter and photographer went to Valentino a second time, acting as a couple from out of town. Asked whether smoking was allowed, the bartender said yes and handed over a cup filled halfway with water for the ashes.

“Everyone’s tired. They want to relax. It’s Friday,” a barmaid said the following day, after the Post reporter identified himself.