NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York City restaurants on Tuesday filed another suit against the city, asking a judge to do away with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s ban on indoor dining.
The New York City Hospitality Alliance says the ban on indoor dining in the five boroughs only is doing more harm than good.
The suit, which is filed by the Greater New York Merchant’s Alliance and the Seaport House Restaurant in lower Manhattan, is now trying to make the case that closing indoor dining just leads to more indoor gatherings and more spread elsewhere.
“It's a devastating situation,” says Andrew Rigie, head of the Hospitality Alliance.
He says restaurant owners were hoping to get some help in the coronavirus relief package signed by President Donald Trump after being passed by Congress. But, Rigie says the funding that was included was a “Band-Aid on a canon wound.”
“Hopefully, at least the (Paycheck Protection Program) can be a bridge for some businesses, but many just can't hang on any longer,” Rigie said.
The head of the New York City Hospitality Alliance also wants the state to step up and strengthen its ban on commercial evictions.
“Landlords are still finding ways to maneuver around it by issuing default and termination letters and using other practices that cost restaurants and other small businesses thousands of dollars to help defend,” Rigie explained.
Rigie is hoping Congress can pass the Restaurant’s Act under the incoming Biden administration.
“We only have the Paycheck Protection Program which we hope is at least a bridge to get as many restaurants as possible through the dark winter months into the Biden administration working hopefully to get the Restaurant's Act enacted,” he said.
The act would create a $120 billion restaurant relief fund.
It was passed in the House but left out of negotiations in the Senate.