Malden Council President Takes Heat For Throwing Birthday Party

MALDEN, MA – Malden City Council President Jadeane Sica-Bernbaum issued an apology Friday after a large gathering for her daughter's 21st birthday was broken up by police earlier in the week.

Police told WHDH there were 50 people and a DJ in the parking lot of a bowling alley on Route 99, prompting drivers to call 911. Gov. Charlie Baker has prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Were there some people closer than 6 feet together?" Sica-Bernbaum wrote on Facebook Friday. "Sure, people who lived together most likely. I won't proclaim it was the most perfect execution of the social distancing guidelines."

Sica-Bernbaum said the DJ was a family friend, and they met in the Mixx 360 lot with the permission of the owner. The gathering was intended to be just family and friends meeting for 30 minutes to an hour, she said.

Police did not ticket or fine anyone, opting instead to explain proper social distancing guidelines and ask the crowd to leave, WHDH reported. Sica-Bernbaum wrote on Facebook that she was trying to do something special for her daughter's birthday.

"Jadeane Sica the mother is going to keep trying to be the best mother she can be and do so respecting the role we all play in beating down this awful virus," she said. "Jadeane Sica the City Councilor apologizes if that sent a bad message."