New Restaurant Restrictions: we’re taking action

The Washington Hospitality Association is deeply concerned to learn the governor shut down restaurants for a month, just as we released new public health data demonstrating the safety of Washington restaurants. At every step, our industry has partnered with the governor’s office and public health, and the data showing that less than one percent of coronavirus cases can be traced to restaurants bears this out. To put at least 100,000 employees out of work just before the holidays is absolutely devastating. We continue to work with the governor’s office to find effective public policy solutions. Here is what we are doing:

• Formal request to the governor to reconsider
• Press coverage on our formal request to reconsider:

Washington Hospitality Association urges Inslee to reconsider indoor dining ban (Seattle Times)

• Legislative request to reconsider
• Press coverage on legislator request to reconsider:

Democratic lawmakers ask Inslee to lift ban on indoor dining (Everett Herald)

• Anthony’s TVW interview
• Additional press coverage:
  • Rantz: Gov. Inslee has no coronavirus plan to help businesses he’s killing with mandates (MyNorthwest.com)
  • Washington Hospitality Association CEO: Restaurants are ‘not the problem’ as cases spike (MyNorthwest.com)
  • Restaurant layoffs return in Washington right after second COVID-19 crackdown (KING-5)
  • As new statewide restrictions roll in, Seattle chefs and restaurateurs ask, Where’s the relief? (Seattle Eater)
  • Seattle restaurateur: WA state ignores data that doesn’t support shutdowns (MyNorthwest.com)
  • Washington restaurants say the governor’s indoor dining ban will take a financial toll (KNKX)
  • Washington restaurants brace for thousands of layoffs with statewide ban on indoor service (KUOW)

• Legislative request for support
• Letter to the governor from legislators
• Today we are launching our grassroots website that which our members, nonmembers, employees and customers can engage and tell their stories. The Government Affairs team is collecting stories to share with the Governor, lawmakers, and agency directors. How has this closure and COVID-19 impacted you, your business, your employees and your customers? Click here.

We have a long list of priorities at the state level, and we hope to share news about these items soon.