Senator Daphne Jordan and Senate Republicans Unveil Plan to Reset NY's Restaurant & Hospitality Industry

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges for all New Yorkers and crippled our economy - in particular our restaurants and hospitality businesses in New York State. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers work in this industry, including many hourly and tipped wage employees, and wait staff, bartenders, and hotel workers have counted heavily toward the state’s skyrocketing unemployment numbers since the onset of the pandemic last year. State coffers have also suffered, as the hospitality industry is the number one source of sales tax revenue in New York City, and number two in the state.

“New York’s restaurant and hospitality industry is facing staggering financial challenges caused by COVID-19 and the economic closures. Our package of legislation will provide much-needed assistance to these sectors that employ tens of thousands of New Yorkers and are vital small businesses that support local communities. One of the bills featured in our package, my ‘Save Our New York State Restaurants Act,’ is bipartisan legislation that would create a 30-day sales tax exemption for food and drinks sold at restaurants and taverns to bring attention and business to our restaurants and also bring in customers that may not have otherwise planned on eating out. Restaurants and taverns need the state to step up and deliver this much-needed support and assistance now before they are forced to close their doors forever and cost our economy even more jobs,” said Senator Daphne Jordan.

“Unfortunately, our Governor does not seem to understand how important these restaurants, hotels, and their employees are to making our economy function. Using his executive authority, the Governor has put extremely damaging and burdensome restrictions on the industry without outlining any plan for how government will help reverse the damage it created.  The Senate Democrats have been a voiceless non-entity in this situation, devoid of any plan of their own or proactive initiative to help. It’s high time state government – including the State Senate – roll up our sleeves and begin to restart, rethink, and renew our commitment to restaurants and hospitality businesses to make our State thrive again,” said Senator George Borrello.

The cornerstone of the package of legislation advanced by the Senate Republicans today includes a comprehensive bill, sponsored by Senator Borrello, to provide relief to business owners and employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would: