Labor
David Chang and other chefs say now is the time to fix the restaurant industry’s long-standing inequities
Fast Company 8/7
Their “Safe and Just Reopening” plan calls for eliminating the tipped minimum wage, pooling tips, and tax relief for the restaurant business.
Frontline workers are forced to become COVID mask police. It’s stressing them out
Los Angeles Times 8/7
Several of America’s biggest brands have said they are now requiring customers to wear masks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. But in many cases, the requirements are more like requests, not mandates that will be strictly enforced.
Food Industry Policy
Trump’s order to bypass Congress on coronavirus relief faces likely legal challenges
Los Angeles Times 8/8
President Trump on Saturday said he was bypassing Congress and taking unilateral action to provide financial relief to Americans struggling during the coronavirus crisis, despite uncertainty about his legal authority to do so.
Award-Winning Chefs Urge Lawmakers to Aid Struggling Restaurants
Cheddar 8/8
When Chef Russell Jackson opened fine dining restaurant Reverence in 2019, his goal was to bring to the Harlem community the same types of amenities, luxuries, and resources found in other New York City neighborhoods. He couldn’t have imagined that within the first year of operations, he’d be fighting for the rights of his own — and his competitors’ — restaurants in the middle of a pandemic.
McDonald’s, Burger King, and other fast-food packaging contains toxic ‘forever chemicals,’ according to a new report
Business Insider 8/7
A type of toxic chemical that has been linked to cancer has been found in some packaging at fast-food giants like McDonald’s and Burger King, as well as trendy salad chains such as Sweetgreen and Cava.
Frustrated by Diners That Don’t Understand Mask Laws, SF Restaurants Hang Graphics-Heavy Signs
Eater, San Francisco 8/7
Restaurants say that the city’s latest health orders weren’t passed on to diners, so they’re taking matters into their own hands.
On the Side
These Restaurant Chains Cut Menu Items During the Pandemic
NBC, Bay Area 8/8
When the coronavirus pandemic forced restaurants to shut their dining rooms, many chains slimmed down their menus to make service smoother — and some of those changes may be permanent.
Independent restaurants are already in a perilous situation—and it’s about to get a lot worse
Fortune 8/7
Dining remains the hardest-hit industry for unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the latest figures published Friday in July’s jobs report.
Uber Eats grows its restaurant partner roster by 50%
Restaurant Dive 8/7
This quarter marked the first time Uber’s food delivery revenues outpaced its signature ride-sharing business, reflecting how the novel coronavirus crisis has been a boon for on-demand food delivery.
Some Independent Restaurants Aren’t Sure They’ll Make it to November
FSR Magazine 8/7
Six months into COVID-19 and the outlook remains dark for independent restaurants. A new survey from the James Beard Foundation released Thursday, in collaboration with the Independent Restaurant Coalition, suggests only 66 percent of independent bars and restaurants believe they can survive through October.
