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TIMESLEDGER | Q 12 NS.COM | JULY 23-JULY 29, 2021
A HEINOUS ATTACK
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Show your support for our culinary scene by participating in New York Restaurant Week. Photo by Dean Moses
More than 16 months ago, the New York City
restaurant industry suffered a massive
economic blow due to crowding restrictions
implemented during the COVID-19
pandemic.
The worst of the pandemic is (hopefully) behind
us, and many of those restrictions have gone
by the wayside. Diners are once again enjoying
fine meals both inside and outside eateries across
the five boroughs, but as any restaurateur can
tell you, the road to recovery is a marathon, not
a sprint.
Most of the eateries that survived the pandemic
fell far behind on their rents. But those were
the lucky ones; thousands of restaurants did not
survive at all. That included some of the finest
establishments in the city, owned by high-profile
chefs such as Tom Collichio, who said on July
15 that he owed $1.2 million in back rent at one
establishment that closed.
Collichio appeared with New York Senator
Kirsten Gillibrand at a press conference in which
they called for additional economic relief — to the
tune of $60 billion nationwide — to help independently
owned restaurants get back on their feet.
The American Rescue Plan, enacted in April,
provided $28 billion in federal aid to restaurant
owners across the U.S., but according to Gillibrand,
the demand quickly exhausted the supply
of funding. She said the additional $60 billion in
relief proposed would “provide direct aid to the
restaurant owners Congress initially intended to
assist and help these vital businesses keep their
doors open.”
New York City’s restaurants can use all the
help they can get. The pandemic was especially
difficult in our city, which prides itself on its culinary
scene. The Independent Restaurant Coalition
estimates that 31.6 percent of the jobs lost in
New York were from the leisure and hospitality industry
— that accounts for hundreds of thousands
of New Yorkers and their livelihoods.
The health of the New York economy is greatly
dependent upon small businesses. Congress must
not only see fit to provide additional aid to restaurants,
but we as New Yorkers must also step
up to the plate and continue supporting our local
eateries.
New York Restaurant Week, which began on
July 19, is an ample opportunity to show your support
for our culinary scene but also enjoy great
meals at discounts. Visit nycgo.com/restaurantweek
to find a participating eatery, and spend
some of your cash with them.
An act of vandalism took place in Forest Hills,
where two religious statues were destroyed
at Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic
Church early Saturday morning, July 17.
As a Catholic and as Grand Knight of St. Anastasia
Knights of Columbus Council #5911 in Douglaston,
I am appalled and greatly saddened at this
attack at Our Lady of Mercy.
This was reportedly the second attempt to vandalize
these statues, which are now completely destroyed.
A woman was captured on video perpetuating
this heinous act against those who worship at Our
Lady of Mercy. The statues were 84 years old and
were of the Blessed Mother and of St. Therese the
Little Flower.
Father Frank Schwarz, pastor of Our Lady of
Mercy said, “I pray that this recent rash of attacks
against Catholic churches and all houses of worship
will end, and religious tolerance may become
more part of our society.”
Well, I totally agree, and I pray to God that will
come to pass. This type of hatred must end soon.
I also hope the person who committed this act is
captured soon before more churches face the same
act of vandalism.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.,
Bellerose
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