• Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Valcour Brewing Company (Plattsburgh) has crafted and delivered more than 500 meals to frontline workers and first responders in their area. This effort is funded through a GoFundMe page which collects donations from the community. Read more here: https://www.suncommunitynews.com/articles/the-sun/serving-the-frontline/

• The National Restaurant Association has crafted an industry "Blueprint for Recovery", which proposes the creation of a $240B Restaurant and Foodservice Industry Recovery Fund. The document is comprehensive in scope, containing additional initiatives that would allow us to weather this storm. Click to download their letter to congressional leaders, an infographic of the survey results, the text of the "Blueprint," and a one-page summary.

• Governor Cuomo today outlined additional guidelines for the phased plan to reopen New York on a regional basis. Each region of the state - Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mid-Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, New York City, North Country, Long Island, Southern Tier and Western New York - must follow these guidelines as part of the re-opening plan. Reopening Plan Guidlelines here:  https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/amid-ongoing-covid-19-pandemic-governor-cuomo-outlines-additional-guidelines-phased-plan-re.

• The idea of NYC restaurants taking advantage of more outdoor space for seating when they eventually reopen was called "interesting" by Mayor de Blasio at his Monday press conference. Though there are no concrete plans for this yet, it has been suggested as one way to ease the burden of operating under social distancing. 
• Tomorrow, City Council will hold a hearing on a number of proposals, many related to third party delivery platforms. If you would like to watch the hearing live, you can do so through the City Council website: Click here to watch live streamed hearings. 

• Calls – NYSRA will be hosting the following Zoom calls this week. Here are the links to register:
• Caterers Council Meeting | Wednesday 11 a.m. - Register Here
• Westchester Region Operators Meeting | Wednesday 2 p.m. - Register Here
• Rochester Operators Meeting | Thursday 10 a.m. - Register Here
• Greater Capital Region Operators Meeting | Thursday 1 p.m. - Register Here
• NYC Restaurant Operators Meeting | Friday 1 p.m. - Register Here
• Webinars
• Thursday, 4/30 at 2:00 p.m.: PPP Loan Program | What Restaurants Need to Know Register here.

• Melissa Fleischut was interviewed by the NY Post, CBS-2 NY and Batavian today. 
• She also spoke with NBC 4 New York: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/nyc-restaurants-may-change-how-they-look-operate-once-allowed-to-open/2392504/