BUFFALO (WBEN) - State GOP legislators are pushing to rescind the current 11 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants.
"The only science that we've been following for months now is political science, not medical science," said State Senate Minority Rob Ortt. "These resolutions would rescind two of the more ridiculous executive orders."
Earlier this week, Republican leaders introduced a concurrent resolution (J541) to end the curfew. Last week, Governor Cuomo lifted the curfew for gyms, fitness centers, casinos, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and billiard halls beginning April 5. However, he left the mandate in place for bars and restaurants, saying it would be reevaluated next month.
"Despite claims by the Democratic majority that they revoked the governor's emergency powers, there are still egregious mandates in place that have absolutely no scientific basis," Ortt said Monday. "These arbitrary rules remain in effect at the whim of one man -- our embattled Governor -- and they continue to harm our small businesses. I'm hopeful the Majority will bring our commonsense proposal to the floor and join us in providing some relief to our bars and restaurants who have been devastated by the pandemic."
Friday's press conference was held at Soliday's Restaurant in Niagara Falls, and owner Denny Soliday spoke about the struggles he and the rest of the industry continue to endure amid the pandemic.
"I employ roughly between 50 and 80 employees, given the economic environment, and those employees are comprised of single mothers, college students, high school students..." said Soliday. "They all come to work trying to earn an extra dollar to support their families - it might be the high school student trying to buy their first car; it might be a single mother trying to buy a birthday present for her child. A lot of these things have been taken away from my employees."
