Last week, Gov. Cuomo
announced that closing times for restaurants and bars will be extended from 11 p.m. to midnight statewide beginning today.
It's a minor win for restaurant and bar owners who have been calling on elected officials to lift the state's pandemic curfew for months and seen only incremental change.
"It's great news," says one south Brooklyn bar owner, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely. "No curfew would obviously be better, but we do have to watch out for 'Cinderella Covid' which only comes out at midnight."
As Thrillist pointed out: "Subways are still out of service from 2 to 4 a.m., too, which could pose a challenge for hospitality workers trying to get home once the new curfew goes into effect."
And the reaction from Andrew Rigie, the executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance:
In February, Cuomo moved the closing time from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Also, the governor said that spectators will be allowed at horse and auto races at 20 percent capacity, beginning on Thursday... which is also the opening day for
the spring season at Belmont.
Image by WindAwake