Chinanews.com, April 1. According to foreign media reports, the California restaurant industry lobby group wrote to Governor Gavin Newsom that the current restrictions imposed by California due to the epidemic may lead to the permanent closure of up to 30,000 restaurants. They Urge the state government to help companies in trouble by delaying tax payments and raising the state's minimum wage.
On March 16, local time, a customer wearing a mask waited for a meal at a restaurant in Millbrae, San Francisco Bay Area. This restaurant started to implement "contactless meal taking" from that day. Customers order online and pick up food at the store. The restaurant can also provide meal delivery service. Photo by Liu Guanguan of China News Agency
According to a report from the California Restaurant Association (CRA) in a letter to Governor Newson, measures taken to protect public health caused restaurants to provide only takeaway services, which "have almost destroyed our entire industry."
The letter also said that even with the US government's $ 2.2 trillion economic rescue plan, as many as 30% of California's 90,000 restaurants could close without additional government help.
The letter proposes that the California government postpone plans to raise state minimum wages; delay the delivery of property taxes; delay sales and wage taxes; cancel health and licensing fees for one year; and require natural gas and other utility companies to continue to provide services, even if not payment.
Steve Smith of the California Labor Confederation stated in an email that "workers in the catering and retail industries are on the front lines of this crisis, providing basic necessities for those in need," and "now not talking about depriving workers of Xin Hard-earned wages. "
On March 30, Newson agreed to extend the deadline for small business tax returns and payments, allowing restaurants and other companies to postpone many fees until July.