Communication from Public

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Communication from Public

Name: Jared Heinke

Date Submitted: 08/18/2020 11:02 AM

Council File No: 20-0002-S114

Comments for Public Posting: Independent restaurants define and sustain our local communities.

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Communication from Public

Name: Javier Espinoza

Comments for Public Posting: I, Javier Espinoza, am writing this formal statement in support for

one of the most important pieces of federal restaurant COVID-19 recovery legislation (council file #20-0002-S114), the

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Communication from Public

Name: Jon Baer

Date Submitted: 08/18/2020 02:52 PM

Comments for Public Posting: I'm a General Contractor that works on mostly tenant

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Communication from Public

Name:

Comments for Public Posting: Independent restaurants are the lifeblood of communities. They

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Communication from Public

Name: Eddie Navarrette

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Independent Hospitality Coalition

independenthospitaIity.org [email protected] @cahospitaIitycoaIition August 18, 2020

RE: Support for LA City Council File 20-0002-S114 & the RESTAURANTS Act of 2020, HR 7197.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our coalition was formed to provide a collective voice for California hospitality workers. The Independent Hospitality Coalition represents just over 400 independently-owned restaurants in Los Angeles County and as we navigate our industry’s survival through the dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic fallout, we have been in conversation with many of our city council members and we appreciate the continued support and collaboration many of you have shown us. We are once again turning to you to show your support for the Los Angeles restaurant community.

We are writing today to express our support for the RESTAURANTS Act of 2020 HR 7197, and the LA City Council File 20-0002-S114, a resolution in support of this federal legislation. HR 7197 would be a lifeline that would help independent restaurants deal with the long-term structural challenges facing our industry and secure the employment of 11 million workers across 500,000 small businesses, as well as the five million more jobs up and down their supply chains.

As expressed in the resolution, the city of Los Angeles is home to close to 8,000 restaurants that paid close to $10 million in taxes for the year 2019. Our industry is a vital part of the economic and cultural fabric of this city and we are calling for your support in moving this resolution forward to a vote so that the city of Los Angeles can send a clear message of support for this legislation to our federal government.

Sincerely,

Eddie Navarrette Founding Member

Independent Hospitality Coalition

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Communication from Public

Name: Matt Duggan

Comments for Public Posting: Please support the RESTAURANTS ACT HR 7197 ! This fund is

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Communication from Public

Name: Jannis Rubinstein

Comments for Public Posting: I urge the city council to support the Restaurants Act. Not only is

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Co-Sponsor the RESTAURANTS Act of 2020 (S. 4012/H.R. 7197)

On June 18, Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR 3) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA 1) introduced the RESTAURANTS Act. This bipartisan, bicameral proposal would support hard-hit independent restaurants through a new $120 billion Revitalization Fund. This lifeline would help independent restaurants deal with the long-term structural challenges facing the industry because of COVID-19 and secure the employment of 11 million workers across 500,000 small businesses, as well as the five million more jobs up and down their supply chains.

Independent Restaurants Are Uniquely Impacted by COVID-19

● Social distancing measures mandate reduced seating and, therefore, reduced revenue for restaurants.

● Restaurants were among the first businesses to close their doors at the outset of the pandemic and will be among the last to fully reopen.

● Reopening is completely subject to regional unpredictability, creating immense uncertainty for restaurants and their suppliers as they plan for the months ahead.

● Unlike other businesses, the shared spaces and close contact of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses will make the public hesitate to dine out during a health crisis.

Impact of the RESTAURANTS Act

● Protect the 11 million Americans directly employed by independent restaurants, as well as the five million workers in their supply chains whose industries depend on the

survival of small restaurants.

● Generate up to $271 billion to the economy, more than double the amount of the proposed grants.

● Ensure the 85% of independent restaurants at risk of closing can stay open.

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● Reduce national unemployment rate by an estimated 2.4 percentage points, a result of saving the industry that has been hit hardest by job losses from the outset of this

pandemic.

● Support vital tourism industries in states across the country. Independent restaurants

anchor development, neighborhoods, and communities and drive travel and tourism in every Congressional district and state.

○ Travelers spent $279 billion on food services, more than double the amount spent on either recreation or retail

○ Independent restaurants support local farms and ranches in all 50 States. The farm-to-table and other direct-to-consumer markets have generated over $12 billion in income for small producers.

● Continue to generate significant amounts of tax revenue for states. States will save up to $30.7 billion in unemployment benefits alone.

How the RESTAURANTS Act Works

● Establishes a $120 billion revitalization fund in the Department of the Treasury to fund grants to small and independent restaurants.

● Uses projected revenue differences between 2019 and 2020 to create grants. Any restaurant that is at or above 2019 revenue levels is not eligible.

● Ensures grants must be used for the costs of running a restaurant (e.g. wages, supplies, rent, mortgage, benefit) and includes any construction costs associated with the

pandemic.

● Prevents double dipping with other short-term government aid for coronavirus stabilization and converts any unused funds into low-interest, long-term loans.

Congress is laser-focused on reviving the American economy not only quickly, but equitably and efficiently. By lifting up independent bars and restaurants, we will bring back jobs and opportunity for Americans of all stripes — and in all parts of the country.

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Communication from Public

Name: Dana Slatkin

Comments for Public Posting: I am writing in support of the RESTAURANTS ACT legislation.

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Communication from Public

Name: Lindsay LeGates

Comments for Public Posting: I support restaurant employment and small businesses in Los

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Communication from Public

Name: Don

Comments for Public Posting: Please help LA restaurants. Without efforts like this, the city will

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Communication from Public

Name: Jon Chema

Comments for Public Posting: We need to pass restaurant relief due to Covid-19. Our local small

businesses have been the hardest hit and desperately need support during these trying times. They are too important to our

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Communication from Public

Name: Kim Parker

Comments for Public Posting: I am writing to support the Restaurants ACT HR 7197. This

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Communication from Public

Name:

Comments for Public Posting: Larger chain and corporate backed restaurants had the

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Communication from Public

Name: Lindsay Lyons

Comments for Public Posting: Please support local family owned restaurants and the jobs they

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Communication from Public

Name: Eric Needleman

Comments for Public Posting: I’m in support of this vital relief bill. It will provide employment

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Communication from Public

Name: Meghan Armstrong

Comments for Public Posting: Small, independently owned and operated

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Communication from Public

Name: Danica K

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Communication from Public

Name: Sharon Ronen

Comments for Public Posting: Please support saving restaurants! They are the lifeblood of our