New York City Council OKs Restaurant Surcharge During Pandemic

  • 📰 WSJ
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 55 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 25%
  • Publisher: 63%

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News,United States Headlines

New York City restaurants would be able to charge customers a 10% Covid-19 relief fee under legislation approved Wednesday by the City Council

Small restaurants will have option to charge customers 10% fee to offset financial hardship brought on by coronavirus.

The move would temporarily end a ban on restaurant surcharges in the city that has lasted more than four decades. The new fee is intended to ease some of the financial hardship city restaurants have faced since March because of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns meant to curb the spread of virus.

The city now only allows pickup and outdoor dining at restaurants. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said earlier this month that restaurants could resume. But many restaurant owners say they will struggle to make ends meet without full indoor dining. Council Member Joseph Borelli, a Republican from Staten Island who introduced the “COVID-19 Recovery Charge” law, said the fee would “give restaurants the freedom they need to increase revenue to help cover rapidly rising labor and compliance costs and keep them in business.”

Mr. Borelli has been pushing for a permanent version of the measure for years because of increasing labor costs. However, the pandemic has provided the opportunity to test the surcharge for a limited time, said Council Member Keith Powers, a Manhattan Democrat.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

No way this will work.

Why are New York businesses being forced to charge a COVID-19 relief tax, when it’s the government’s fault for allowing this virus to continue without American citizens knowing? And now you want to penalize businesses which are forced penalize citizens who are broke? Ridiculous!

Tax difference to biz owner between 10% 'fee' & raising entrée price 10%? Sounds like airline ticket for $79 that REALLY costs $112 with 'fees'. Or the fee for hotel room safe. Ask for room w/o a safe. 'We have none'.

AIT TenYearNote

A price increase will not help business.

I eat out often and I really understand the situation restaurants are facing but why does it get passed off to me especially when I am eating in the street. Tax 8.75% Tip 20% credit card fee 3.95% now surcharge 10%. Times are tough for me also deduct 10% from tip.

don’t hold your breath waiting for customers

Great business idea to gain loyalty and customers

Not feeling for this

Your hard earned dollar in nyc just lost more value. Open the restaurants and we won’t need surcharges!! This is what it means to cut your nose to spite your face. Nyc council jerkoffs. nycgov NYCMayor ZagatNYC NYGovCuomo

🤦‍♂️

Vote Red to fix this.

Classic Democrat move. 😂😂😂

Wtf?!!!

That should help people suffering reduced incomes

Higher fees mean reduce consumption

Hahaha. Taxe, surcharges, the nyc way. It will be fun watching it turn into Baltimore

Then.. wouldn't the customers just stop going to restaurant? or less?

lol

Thank god, because prices have been way to cheap in NYC anyways. Especially with the economy booming and everybody having high paying jobs it makes sense to raise costs 👍

Just like a communist state. “Comrade, we will decide what the charge will be.” VoteRedToSaveAmerica

Do you think 🤔 that’s gonna paybfor 4 month late rent in NYC ? Knowing thAt every restaurant in Manhattan pays at least 8k monthly rent at a minimum and up to 25k

Why would a financial newspaper not question the absurdity of this?. A restaurant can easily just increase its menu prices 10 percent.

Well, since when does NYC legislate restaurant prices anyway? If a store has to charge more for items because of less traffic, does the city have the authority to deny it? Answer, no. It's none of the government's damned business.

Restaurants have already raised prices in other places. I understand it is a matter if survival and higher food priced but wonder the impact.

Does anyone still live there?

Sorry who will go to restaurants in NYC? - offices are closed - wealthy residents left So restaurants will compete like crazy for the few people. GetReal

Why do they need government to do that?

This.... Ain't it.. Wow this is bad legislation

Do they understand how economics work? Couldn't this mean LESS revenue?

Why does government always feel the need to get between customers and companies. Companies can charge whatever price they feel they can get and customers can chose whether to pay.

This will make some people stay away.

They are thinking of every way possible to kill NYC.

Great! Gives the idiots who are against science and wearing masks a reason to stay home!

How does this make sense RobertIrvine?

It looks like hurting people hurt people. As if it’s not enough to give them support with the little money we have, they want more.

The two times I've eaten in a restaurant since February--on the patio, I'm not dumb enough to eat inside--I've paid the waiter a MASSIVE voluntary 'Covid fee.' Extra fees for Covid cleaning/low occupancy: I don't mind paying that. Restaurants are in a gut-wrenching position.

WTF

smarter idea is a 10% property tax reduction. customers tend not to like surcharges and fees.

Cuomo slowly killing NYC

This could negatively affect the servers and bartender's tips. If you expect ppl to tip 15%-20% + and a 10% surcharge it's not going to help tips at all I don't think.

What? Restaurants can charge whatever prices they want.

great, the business deserves it.

What? Why do restaurants need permission to charge a fee? Surely I could put '20% kitchen cleaning fee' on my menu if I wanted to... as long as I tell the customer before they order.

So a price increase without having to call it a price increase. Next thing you know you'll be getting a regional sports fee added to your bill.

EBITDAC

Oh freaking joy🤬

-' Media release First Time a Canadian Crowd Chants 'Trump! Trump! Trump!' .

Worthless. People won’t go if it is too expensive. When will liberals learn the laws of supply and demand.

I’ll stay home. They already charge $25 for a plate of pasta. I’m not paying an additional 10%.

katie_honan “I think most New Yorkers would be open to paying just a little bit more right now to make sure that their favorite neighborhood spot stays open through the pandemic,” why not just raise prices then, rather than hiding it in a surcharge?

What about the nail salons, spa employees, etc? Restaurants have been able to do carry out. Some of these other industries can’t translate. Help for them?

Tipping about 50% anyway so that is fine. Doing anything and everything to save the city's business.

10% of 0 is a zero.

Wow! It’s pandemic and there’s extra fees. Better cook at home

Who would live in NYC anymore? Shakedown artists!

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 98. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

New York City Mayor Announces A Furlough Week As City Faces ShortfallFaulting the federal and state governments for not doing more to ease the financial burden on cities like his, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says he and other staff will take an unpaid furlough week. BilldeBlasio WOW! the prick gets mad!! Ohoooo! Deblasio stood by and refused to stop the looting and rioting.. He released the looters from jail And now wants the country to rebuild his mess. No wonder taxpayers are fleeing NYC in droves A competent Mayor not driving out citizens and corporations would prevent the financial burden in the first place. He wants a bailout from from the federal government after destroying NY City. What a child.
Source: NPR - 🏆 96. / 63 Read more »

Days Before School Reopens, New York City Revises Some Remote-Learning RulesIn a last-minute switch the night before Wednesday’s online orientation for New York City students, education officials dropped requirements that most children get real-time instruction from teachers online on days when they are learning from home. Earn $10,000+ working from home without sending money to anyone through forex trading Type INFO or INBOX ME Where we are, we’re doing remote learning bc We are back in the red for spreading. It’s not perfect but us parents, teachers and the kiddos are getting it! Y’all can do it!
Source: WSJ - 🏆 98. / 63 Read more »

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Staff to Take One-Week FurloughsNew York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that he and his staff will take one-week furloughs, saving the city about $1 million as it faces a budget crunch and considers laying off 22,000 government workers One year would work much better let them go bankrupt, mitchduck__________ He and his staff make 1 million a week! It must be nice! 🤑
Source: WSJ - 🏆 98. / 63 Read more »

New York City Opens Own Coronavirus Testing Lab To Increase EfficiencyI'm a reporter at Forbes and the author of What Next?: Your Five-Year Plan for Life After College published by the Simon & Schuster imprint Adams Media. I have a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. ElanaLyn All the BEST NY✨✨ ElanaLyn Hello amazing famz checkout this lovely jam it’s lit and nice feel the vibe don’t miss out love y’all 🔥❤️🙏🏿
Source: Forbes - 🏆 394. / 53 Read more »

These Designers Are Making Their New York Fashion Week Debuts in the Middle of a Pandemic'Having the opportunity to show our collection during New York Fashion Week as a CFDA -selected designer is a dream come true for us.'
Source: Fashionista_com - 🏆 474. / 51 Read more »

Here's Who's Showing During New York Fashion WeekThe vast majority of brands on both calendars have, predictably, opted to present their latest digitally:
Source: Fashionista_com - 🏆 474. / 51 Read more »