• Feed Albany fed approximately 200 Easter dinners this past weekend to restaurant employees and others in need. Dominick Purnomo of dp An American Brasserie and Yono’s Restaurant in Albany, and a NYSRA Board Member, is one of the creators of Feed Albany. You can read more about their work here: https://wnyt.com/capital-region-comeback/feed-albany-laid-off-restaurant-staff-creating-meals-for-others-in-need/5696258/

• The National Restaurant Association has issued an action alert on the problems with the PPP loan program and is asking for additional funding to help the restaurant industry. To contact your Member of Congress and US Senators, Send an email to your officials.
• The National Restaurant Association has put together a new survey on the economic impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry. The last survey saw a tremendous response from NY restaurants and gave us great data that we were able to use with the press and for our advocacy efforts. Please take a few minutes to fill it out so we have updated economic impact numbers. Below is a new brief survey developed by the National Restaurant Association Research Group designed to allow us to continue to collect important data for our ongoing communications and advocacy activities regarding coronavirus. https://restaurant.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5sCkOXseJpwVFg9 
• The National Restaurant Association has launched Restaurants Act, a new industry grassroots education and engagement resource. This site is a one-stop source for critical information for restaurants, employees, customers, and industry partners.

• Today, Governor Cuomo issued a new Executive Order requiring essential employees to have masks and wear them when interacting with the public. There is no additional guidance at this time, only the language from the Executive Order that reads: For all essential businesses or entities, any employees who are present in the workplace shall be provided and shall wear face coverings when in direct contact with customers or members of the public. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings for their employees. The Executive Order takes effect on Wednesday, April 15 at 8 pm.
• Governor Cuomo held a second press conference at 2 pm this afternoon with the Governors of CT, NJ, PA, RI and DE to announce they will be forming a working group made up of each state’s Public Health Commissioner, Economic Development Leader and the Chief of Staff to each Governor to develop a plan to reopen the states.
• In that same regional spirit, the CEOs of those state restaurant associations and several others in our Northeast region met today to devise our comprehensive recommendations to each governor.  

• Today, NYSRA was joined by a number of other business industry organizations to call for a set of small business relief measures that will help our members stay afloat during this crisis. The asks included rent and landlord assistance, business interruption insurance coverage, sales tax forgiveness, and improvements to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). A letter was sent to all elected officials at the New York City, State and Federal levels, as well as a press release being issued. 

• The WNY Chapter held a Zoom call today, Bob Heil of SLA Solutions discussed SLA’s current rules and answered alcohol related questions. State Senator George Borrello gave a Legislative update and Curtze Foods spoke about food service deliveries and products.
• A new Caterers Council of NYSRA is being created and will meet via Zoom on Wednesday morning at 11 am.
• The Westchester Chapter will hold its weekly Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 2 pm
• The NYC Chapter will hold its weekly Zoom call on Friday at 1 pm.
• If you would like information on joining a Zoom call in your area or hosting one with your peers, please contact Sarah Higgins, Member Events Director [email protected].

• Melissa Fleischut did an interview about the federal stimulus package with The River, a Hudson Valley magazine.
• As a result of the press release issued by NYSRA today, Melissa was interviewed by Eater and press stories were generated by Spectrum News, Restaurant Business Online: NY Restaurant Groups Join Coalition Pushing for More Government Aid, QSR: New York City Industry Leaders Share Relief Needs, and The Real Deal: REBNY calls for government assistance for landlords