FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 2021
CONTACT: Peter Giunta, 347.621.8031
The following statement is from Assemblymember Michael Reilly (R-Staten Island) on today’s announcement from Governor Andrew Cuomo that New York City restaurants can resume indoor dining beginning on February 14th at 25% capacity:
“While I am sure that most New Yorkers would agree that this is welcome news, the bottom line is that, for any restaurant owner, and even their staff, this is simply not enough. Governor Cuomo spent a considerable portion of his press conference speaking about love and marriage, but forcing restaurants to wait an additional two weeks before they can begin to operate at this next level of reduced capacity is just plain heartless. As I said earlier this week, I believe that restaurants should be allowed to resume indoor dining with at least 50% capacity, and, based on the transmission data that has been shared with us by Governor Cuomo, there is no reason we can’t resume indoor dining sooner than February 14th, perhaps even this weekend. I urge the Governor to go back to the drawing board and figure out a plan that works – because this does not go far enough to help our city’s struggling restaurant industry.”