De Blasio has no plans to open indoor
dining as restaurants continue to starve
BY MARK HALLUM
While restaurants continue to
struggle amid the backdrop of a global
pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio said
Friday there may not be relief in sight
for those in need of indoor business
out of fears of a possible resurgence of
COVID-19 citing precedent abroad.
As de Blasio has given in to outside
pressure to allow gyms to open up Sept.
2 — provided they meet state guidelines
— the mayor says he will not
consider allowing restaurants to seat
anywhere other than on sidewalks and
curb space for the foreseeable future.
“Indoor dining, there’s not a plan
right now,” de Blasio said in his Aug.
21 interview with Brian Lehrer on
WNYC radio. “There’s not a context
for indoor dining. We’re never saying
it’s impossible. But we do not, based on
what we’ve seen around the world, we
do not have a plan for reopening indoor
dining in the near term. And in fact,
the example that Dr. Jay Varma, my senior
health adviser, gave to the media
this week, Hong Kong started to have
a resurgence directly related to indoor
dining and bars and have to close them
down. We know what an unfortunate
nexus they’ve been for resurgences.”
But the NYC Hospitality Alliance
says business owners are facing a
perfect storm and some form of relief
needs to be taken into consideration.
Andrew Rigie, executive director of
the NYC Hospitality Alliance, called
on the mayor to provide a clear guidebook
as to how or when restaurants
PREVENT THE SPREAD
OF COVID-19 IN NYC!
TAKE THESE STEPS:
Stay home if sick
Only leave for essential
medical care and testing
or other essential errands.
Keep physical distance
Stay at least 6 feet away
from other people.
6 ft
TIMESLEDGER | 4 QNS.COM | AUG. 28-SEPT. 3, 2020
and their patrons will be able to party
like its 2019 all over again.
“These small businesses are facing
the worst combination of crises in our
lifetime, and it’s absolutely critical to
their survival that government provide
a clear plan on how and when they will
be able to reopen their restaurants and
rehire employees. In the meantime, we
need to get these restaurant owners
rent relief,” Rigie said Sunday.
Bars and restaurants face another
challenge: the iron hand of the State
Liquor Authority, under orders from
Governor Andrew Cuomo and city
Sheriff’s office issuing violations and
permit revocations to businesses operating
out of compliance with COVID-19
restrictions.
“Since Aug. 11, 31 establishments
in my district have experienced harassment
and threats by undercover
agents, members of a task force, the
State Sheriffs, and the Departments
of Transportation and Environmental
Protection,” state Senator Jessica
Ramos said of the enforcement
in her northwest Queens district at
an Aug. 19 press conference in Harlem.
“What’s worse is many of these
businesses are majority-owned by the
same working-class immigrant communities
that have been the hardest
hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Much of the zero tolerance enforcement
implemented by Cuomo
comes from public outcry that some of
streets in the city are becoming party
zones that disregard mask and social
distancing policies.
Outdoor dining on Mott Street on Aug. 12. Photo by Mark Hallum
Wear a face covering
You can be contagious without
symptoms. Protect those around
you by wearing a face covering.
Keep your hands clean
Wash your hands often with soap
and water or use hand sanitizer if
soap and water are not available.
If you are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, you should still stay home as much as possible. Those at increased
risk are adults age 50 or older (adults 65 and older are at the highest risk), and those who have other health conditions.
Get tested: There are COVID-19 testing sites in all five boroughs.
To find a site, visit nyc.gov/covidtest or call 311.
For the latest information, visit nyc.gov/coronavirus.
Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Oxiris Barbot, MD
Commissioner
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