Governor Cuomo,

We write this on behalf of the undersigned New York City bars and restaurants. The COVID19 pandemic has been hard on everyone, and our industry has been hit hard and has faced enormous obstacles. We have been expected to adapt to new and seemingly constantly changing rules regarding outdoor dining, types of heating lamps, snow removal, and food service despite a sizable decrease in sales and limited support from the government.

Many small businesses are unable to sustain the losses. Eater is keeping a list of restaurants that have closed in 2020, now in excess of 1000. These are the small businesses that drive New York City, and we cannot survive in the current climate.

https://ny.eater.com/2020/12/4/21687875/nyc-restaurant-closures-december-2020

On the city level, the NYC DOH has demonstrated an understanding of the difficulties faced by bars and restaurants and has shown flexibility: suspending fines and letter grades, opting to help business comply with COVID regulations rather than penalize already struggling businesses. The SBA is holding town halls with representatives from FDNY and NYPD to clarify certain regulations and field questions about outdoor dining.

On the state level, we've seen far less understanding or flexibility. The SLA has imposed harsh penalties and suspended liquor licenses. Executive orders are issued, seemingly with little or no consultation from the legislature or small business owners, and certainly without appropriate recognition of the particular hardships and barriers faced by our industry.

We demand the creation of an advisory board to determine the best course of actions for future executive orders. We urge you to consult with the legislature to create laws that properly balance public health and the needs and significant role of small businesses in our communities. If we are required to change the structure and operation of our businesses, there must be adequate compensation to offset the costs we are all incurring. There is an eviction moratorium for residential renters, but no relief for small commercial renters (which most of us are). We need rent relief, and, for those of us who are property owners, mortgage and property tax relief, for the months of the pandemic. Action must also be taken to alleviate the harm caused by the widespread suspension of our licenses, including automatic renewal of our licenses without fees, as the cost to renew is often expensive due to additional legal fees.

We know you care about local businesses, but you must act based on a real understanding of how dire the current situation is. Without indoor dining this winter, many more small businesses will close their doors permanently. We need an immediate and comprehensive plan to save this industry before it is too late.