Posted on 10/02/2020 6:08:52 AM PDT by Red Badger
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — It’s a harsh reality. The coronavirus pandemic is doing a number on local economies.
On Thursday, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a new report that shows how many restaurants and bars in the city may never recover.
On Victory Boulevard in the Castleton Corners section of Staten Island, businesses struggle and close and the just-released findings of a government audit indicate it will get worse between now and April, CBS2’s Dave Carlin reported.
From furloughs and layoffs to businesses forever closed, government COVID-19 restrictions are choking the economy of New York City, especially its bars and restaurants.
An audit by the state comptroller spells out what was feared — that the financial outlook for many is bleak. It finds up to 50% of Big Apple bars and restaurants could close permanently within the next six months.
“Now they face an unprecedented upheaval that may cause many to close forever,” DiNapoli said.
Aki Iliopoulos, owner of the Staten Island Diner, said he works seven days a week. He said he’s now able to bring some customers indoors, but not enough.
“Twenty five percent is not going to cut it. That’s 15 people in here,” Iliopoulos said, adding he normally has 60. “It’s in the negative. Every day, we’re in the negative.”
MORE: New York City May Pause Indoor Dining If Infection Rate Reaches 2%, Mayor Says
He’s hardly the only business owner in this precarious position.
“Twenty five percent was a great start. It will not sustain the business. It will not sustain the industry,” Queens Chamber of Commerce President Tom Grech said.
“It’s in my blood to just fight, fight until you have nothing else to fight about,” Iliopoulos added.
Chef Rob Libertella said his is a lifeblood industry, which contributes $27 billion in taxable sales last year.
“We will rebound. Unfortunately, some things will not,” Libertella said.
Pushing it to the brink hurts everyone.
“I’m a food service chef and I do events such as Super Bowl XLVIII, couple of World Series, but without having fans in the stands our revenue is down about 85%. This is going to have a ripple effect throughout economy,” Libertella said.
CORONAVIRUS: NY Health Dept. | NY Call 1-(888)-364-3065 | NYC Health Dept. | NYC Call 311, Text COVID to 692692 | NJ COVID-19 Info Hub | NJ Call 1-(800)-222-1222 or 211, Text NJCOVID to 898211 | CT Health Dept. | CT Call 211 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Business owners are demanding more federal funding — grants and loans — and from the city and the state even more of a relaxing of the restrictions.
“We as the leaders in government owe it to them to use this report and make sure that we are passing legislation, that we are pushing the mayor and every single elected to do their job,” Assembly member Catalina Cruz said.
Many owners said opening up indoor restaurant seating to 50% capacity, which the Gov. Andrew Cuomo has suggested could happen in about a month, would help, but even that might not be enough.
That's Optimistic, it's probably more than 50% that will close
NY city....A ghost town by 2024.....
No, it's not. It's the tyrannical response to the fake pandemic, of a disease so mild that for most people, the symptoms are so mild they don't even know they have it.
Impossible.
I was called Eeyore for saying the economic consequences of the shutdown are yet to be felt.
NYC is a leftest tumor that is metastasizing.
They are killing themselves!
How are airlines, cruises, hotels, restaurants, tourism, University town small businesses, renters, entertainers, etc doing?
Say goodbye to the tax base.
Given the mass exodus of orange plates from the state, does it even matter whether they lose half the restaurants? To borrow a term from the lefites, it’s “unsustainable.”
Does not matter if the restaurant is limited to 1% or 100%.
If office workers work from home, and nobody goes to an evening show, the restaurants will have not have those customers.
NO.
Government overreach and stupid unnecessary shut downs have done a number on the economy, and political correctness has prevented the uncomfortable truth of who is at risk from dying of the virus. Better to keep everyone terrified, paranoid, and compliant.
True. People will not go out to dinner and show if they don’t feel safe in doing so..............
Exactly so. This whole deal is to purposefully ruin the economy so they can blame Trump, to get their power back, and screw everybody else......................
All by design, Comrade. All. By. Design.
These Socialist Democrats just don’t get it. Shooting themselves right in the foot, as usual.
LIBERATE WISCONSIN! LIBERATE AMERICA!
DeBlasio thinks the more suffering he can inflict the better Biden will do. He’s wrong but the mindset is frightening.
Let the NYC dwellers (bless their hearts) hopefully survive their up and coming third world city while they make plans to “disappear” their governor and mayor.
We promise to look the other way.
Be sure to wipe all fingerprints and burn the evidence.
Surely the Maf, er, I mean the Italian Community can do something.....................
Toy can bet your last dime, when that happens crime will increase.
The criminal will leave as well. Predators don’t stay where there is no prey................
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.