Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I-Ballston), Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) and members of the Assembly Minority Conference wrote a letter to Speaker Heastie seeking the official documents from Gov. Cuomo and Department of Health Commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, related to the extension of the 11 p.m. curfew on restaurants and bars in New York state.

Executive Order 202.101, adopted on April 6, extended all prior orders that were not superseded, modified or otherwise expired until May 6 – including the directive implementing an 11 p.m. curfew on the state’s bars and restaurants. Curfews for venues such as pool halls, bowling alleys, casinos and fitness centers were lifted, yet restaurants and bars remain handcuffed by the curfew.

“Many restaurants and bars across our state are small business owners who have struggled to stay afloat throughout the mandated lockdowns during the pandemic. While measures to curb the spread were necessary at the onset of the pandemic, this arbitrary mandate forced upon restaurants and bars while other entertainment venues have the curfew lifted is illogical,” said Walsh. “Extending the hours of operation for these restaurants and bars could mean accommodating one or two more tables a day and while that may not seem significant, those additional tables could make or break a struggling business.”

“It’s vital that we receive the reasoning behind the continued curfew from Gov. Cuomo and Dr. Zucker immediately.”