Labor
Restaurants Put Employees First in COVID Response
QSR Magazine 3/10
Shortly after COVID-19 first started to spread in the U.S., restaurants sprang into action by supporting first responders who were tasked with fighting the virus in hospitals across the country. But as the pandemic dragged on, it became apparent that there was a whole other population of frontline workers who needed support: employees in those same restaurants.
Independent restaurants lobbied hard for targeted economic relief. Now, they’re finally getting it.
The Washington Post 3/9
On Saturday, as many Americans were enjoying a weekend, Tom Colicchio was on a Zoom call with about 30 members of the Independent Restaurant Coalition. They were watching the Senate vote on the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the $1.9 trillion package to provide economic relief for millions of businesses and individuals, including the ailing restaurant industry.
Food Industry Policy
Santa Barbara County’s home kitchen ordinance placed on hold following complaints
Santa Maria Times 3/10
An ordinance that would allow Santa Barbara County residents to serve and deliver food made in their kitchens failed to gel Tuesday after complaints from Santa Maria officials and business owners prompted the Board of Supervisors to delay its adoption and direct staff to conduct more community outreach.
Local restaurants say delivery fees make surviving during pandemic even more challenging
ABC7 Los Angeles 3/9
As restaurants struggle to stay afloat during the pandemic, one of the biggest challenges they face is food delivery fees. Some Los Angeles restaurants, who were primarily focused on in-person dining before the pandemic, say paying the fees of companies like Door Dash, Postmates and Uber Eats is taking a huge chunk of the little business they have now.
Are rogue dine-in restaurants hampering Fresno’s COVID progress? Here’s what top doctor thinks
The Fresno Bee 3/9
Fresno County’s progress toward escaping the most stringent tier of COVID-19 business restrictions has slowed in recent weeks, leaving the county lingering at the cusp of progress within California’s color-coded Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
On the Side
The Real Costs of Running a Successful Restaurant
FSR Magazine 3/10
WITH COVID-19 POTENTIALLY JUMPSTARTING NEW GROWTH, UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT TAKES IS MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER.
Oakland Prepares to Reopen Indoor Dining
Eater SF 3/9
Alameda, Solano, and Santa Cruz counties are expected to enter the red tier of the state’s color-coded reopening plan today, ABC 7 reports. This means that cities like Berkeley and Oakland can reopen indoor dining as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 10.
