Like many parts of the world, New York City woke up on Monday to the scary thought of having all it's bars and restaurants close.  While financially daunting, it's a small price to pay for the health and well-being of our fellow citizens as we face the most serious pandemic of our lives.  Though these measures seem drastic, hopefully they are successful in flattening the curve and bringing this virus under control.

While we go through this recession that the virus caused, we need to call upon our local government and representatives to protect small businesses that voluntarily shut their doors to prevent the further spread of the virus, and then later mandated by officials to shut down completely.  The NYC hospitality industry hires over 300,000 individuals that all lost their job simultaneously.  While being forced to close, these businesses will have no income to pay their staff, their rent, their bills, and their taxes.  We need to make sure our government protects these jobs and small businesses.

Few businesses are more vulnerable than the restaurant business.  Can you imagine New York City without the amazing restaurants that make it such an exciting place? They are the heart and soul of this great city.  These restaurants will not survive without immediate, decisive action from the government.  

We thank you for your leadership today and believe that prioritizing the safety of our employees and our guests.  But we must call upon you today to announce a plan for our workers and small businesses.

We recommend:

• Immediately support emergency unemployment benefits to all hourly and salaried workers furloughed during this crisis
• Eliminate payroll tax immediately
• Call for rent and loan abatement for workers and businesses impacted by the closure of the restaurant industry

We have been here to serve our community through the good times, and the bad.  Now it is time to remember the restaurant workers who need our help more than ever.

Thank you.

The Restaurants Industry of NYC

For more reading about how drastic measures must be taken, read these articles:

New York Times: Frantic Few Days for Restaurants

Eater: Restaurant Bailout