Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Frustration over continued executive orders issued by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo continues and reaction was quick when the governor's office served up an extension of an order impacting restaurants.
WBEN has confirmed through a statement from the governor's office that indeed restaurants must still require a food order to go along with any order for alcohol.
Takeout and delivery of alcohol can also continue.
Greg Duell of Duff's at Eastern Hills Mall says it shows state government is in disarray.
"Our government officials should be making business easier, not harder. We're checking the governor's website, we're checking with the SLA, doing everything we can to review the guidelines to make sure we do things right," says Duell. "We find out when you find out. It seems like they're flying by the seat of their pants."
Duell says it's crazy New York is debating whether to allow beer orders without food while baseball stadiums in Texas are holding 30,000 people.
One other aspect of the order allows for takeout and delivery of takeout to continue. "It hasn't and it's had no effect on our business at all. Honestly, I don't know if it's helped any other businesses," says Duell.
Restaurant owner Mike Shatzel says that part of the order helped early on. "It didn't hurt in the beginning when we were allowed to have makeshift bars and serve outside, but since we were allowed to welcome people indoors, it hasn't made a difference," adds Shatzel.
Duell says this was his biggest fear. "New York is way behind the eight ball. It's frustrating for my staff and my managers, who do a great job, and it's frustrating most of all for my customers," notes Duell. "We're hospitable by nature, and it's hard to be hospitable when we're forcing what I think everyone agrees with are unnecessary rules and restrictions."
State Senator George Borrello says the extension proves to him one thing. "It's very clear now that the whole idea the governor's executive authority was taken away was a sham and a lie," says Borrello. "33 days ago when we debated this bill, Senator Mike Gianaris, says this bill was unscientific and will go away, and now it's been extended until May 6th, and quite frankly will continue as long as the governor wishes." Borrello says had the legislature done nothing, the executive orders would have expired at the end of April.
Borrello says it's frustrating because the hospitality industry has been the most harmed by the executive orders. "Here we are with restaurants not being able to make ends meet, not knowing if they're going to survive. 40 percent of the restaurants won't be coming back according to the New York State Restaurant Association," adds Borrello.
Borrello says now is the time to send the message to lawmakers to take action. "Reach out to all your elected officials and tell them I was told the governor's authority was taken away, how is this happening? They need to be on record they are allowing for this job stealing, economy killing, arbitrary rule to continue under the rule of the one party government we have in New York," advises Borrello.
