A Democratic congressional candidate’s food businesses in New York have received more than 80 health code violations in the last three and a half years, the New York Daily News reports.
Aaron Woolf, the Democratic nominee in New York’s 21st congressional district, owns Urban Rustic and The Lodge in Brooklyn. The dozens of violations committed by the food outlets appear to be at odds with their mission of fostering a "healthy diet and community":
Records show that since 2011, Urban Rustic has been cited for 50 health code violations, including eight citations for "evidence of mice or live mice present in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas" or for failure to keep the facility vermin-proof.
It was also cited four times for "filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated flies in food or other areas."
The Lodge, a bar, restaurant, and general store with a faux Alpine theme, racked up 33 violations, including a June 14 citation for "evidence of rats or live rats present the facility's food and/or non-food areas."
Nine of the violations were for evidence of mice or failure to vermin-proof, and it also received a citation in December 2012 for "live roaches" on the premises.
Woolf campaign manager Stuart Rosenberg said that, "with every small business, there are issues you have to grapple with."
Woolf is facing off in the fall against Elise Stefanik, a small businesswoman and former economic and domestic policy staffer in the George W. Bush administration. The race is rated a "toss up" by Real Clear Politics.