Mayor Bloomberg / Speaker Quinn Stand Behind Small Business Owners in NYC

Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Quinn and NYSRA speak out against mandatory leave bill

NEW YORK, NY (10/14/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Restaurant Association today reacted to the announcement by NYC Council Speaker Quinn that she is opposing the pending Paid Sick Leave bill, joining Mayor Bloomberg's announced opposition last week.

The restaurant industry supports the right of workers to take time off for legitimate illness without fearing job loss. Both the Speaker and Mayor Bloomberg recognized the City Council bill went far beyond protecting sick employees from retaliatory firings. "We are grateful to both Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn who recognize that in the worst economic climate since The Great Depression, it is not the time to place new financial burdens on small businesses," said Andrew Rigie, Director of Operations of the New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA).

"As a small business owner in Sheepshead Bay for 28 years, my wife and I are proud to offer my employees benefits (such as paid days off) but our family business cannot survive if this is passed," said Vinnie Mazzone owner of Chicken Masters restaurant.

"As a restaurateur in NYC for the past 46 years, I cannot possibly sustain this new mandate without hurting my employees. Reduction of hours and layoffs would surely result and this is definitely not a policy that advocates for the backbone of my business," said Mike O'Neal, owner of the 79th Street Boat Basin restaurant.

"We will continue to work with the business community, Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn to ensure that workers can stay home when they or a loved one is sick, without any employer retribution. This is the wrong bill, with the wrong approach at the wrong time, however. If you want to move forward, then reconsider the implications of this bill and find another way to protect employees wrongfully fired," Robert Bookman, Legislative Counsel, New York State Restaurant Association.

Mayor Bloomberg made it clear that having government micro-manage the way independent businesses are run flies in the face of everything that allows the creativity of entrepreneurship to thrive in this City.

About: NYSRA:

The New York State Restaurant Association, founded in 1935, is the leading business association for the restaurant and hospitality industry in New York State. Comprised of more than 56,000 restaurants, bars, clubs, New York restaurants represent more than 628,000 employees and sales of approximately $27 billion - making it the cornerstone of the economy, career opportunities and community involvement. Along with the New York State Restaurant Association and New York State Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, NYSRA and its chapters work to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing hospitality industry. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.nysra.org/