Assemblyman Angelo Morinello (R,C,I,Ref-Niagara Falls) joined the Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) and members of the Assembly Minority Conference for a press conference requesting justification for the governor’s arbitrary extension of Executive Order 202.101 requiring restaurants and bars to close their doors earlier than similar establishments.

Currently, establishments such as billiard halls, casinos, movie theaters, fitness centers and bowling alleys have had their curfews lifted and may remain open as long as they choose. The legislators are requesting written justification for the extension and the reasoning for why restaurants and bars must close at the recently extended midnight curfew.

“We have been told consistently that the reopening of New York would be based upon science,” said Morinello. “While the number of vaccinated New Yorkers continues to rise, the number of small businesses fighting for survival is dropping. Transparency in government, especially in regard to this administration as of late, is fundamental, and New Yorkers and the Legislature deserve the reasoning and justification behind extending an Executive Order that is directly hurting our small businesses. We cannot kick the can down the road in hopes that our small businesses survive another month, because many cannot.”