Fed-up New York City restaurant owners and workers are planning to march on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Manhattan headquarters next week to protest what they call lethal COVID-19 restrictions on the industry.
The group is demanding that outdoor dining be extended past its current cut-off of Oct. 31, indoor dining be expanded from 25 percent to 50 percent capacity and that proposed federal legislation to give restaurants relief funds be passed.
“Restaurants will close permanently under the posed restrictions with no government aid,” said organizer Fox Lifestyle Hospitality Group, which owns such restaurants as the White Oak Tavern and Sapien Foods in NoHo, in a release.
“Winter is coming, and we do not have a comprehensive plan for independent restaurants,” the group said. “It’s been estimated that 2/3 of NYC restaurants will permanently close — that’s your neighborhood bar, favorite date spot, where you spend time with your family and friends, all gone.”
The march is planned for Monday starting at 11 a.m. in front of 330 E. 38 St. and ending about seven blocks away at Cuomo’s office at 633 Third Ave.
Dozens of restaurant-industry protesters previously marched on City Hall on Sept. 14 over COVID-19 restrictions.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that a decision on whether to allow outdoor dining to continue past Oct. 31 will be made “very soon.”
