Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I-Ballston) joined Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt and members of both conferences in urging for the 11 p.m. curfew on restaurants and bars to be lifted.

Gov. Cuomo has announced that beginning on April 5, 2021, the curfew will be lifted for casinos, pool halls, bowling alleys and gyms. As restaurants and bars continue to have the burden of the curfew, the Minority Conferences are calling on their counterparts in the Majority to pass a resolution to remove the curfew to help these establishments begin their recovery.

“Science doesn’t follow the policies the governor is enacting. How can you be safe to stay at a casino past 11 p.m., but not a restaurant or bar?” said Walsh. “By prolonging the curfew to restaurants and bars, we are only continuing to hurt their potential recovery. Many establishments are barely staying afloat, and the removal of the curfew would provide much needed relief and allow them to begin on the road to economic recovery.

“I’m proud to stand with the Senate and Assembly Minority Conferences in urging our counterparts in the Majority to take action and pass a resolution to provide much needed relief to restaurants and bars across New York state.”

The Conferences have also introduced a concurrent resolution to address the requirement that a “substantial” food item is ordered for a patron to consume an alcoholic beverage. This policy continues to be upheld throughout the state, despite strong opposition from restaurant and bar owners and their customers.