Congressman Nicole Malliotakis believes the New York government, Andrew Cuomo, discriminates against the city of New York by imposing stricter restrictions on indoor dining in the city than on other parts of the state.
“The real issue here is that he treats different regions in the state differently,” Malliotakis, RN.Y., said Saturday on “Fox & Friends Weekend” from the state governor: “He discriminates against New York.”
“If you go to Long Island, you know, they have 50% capacity. If you go to other parts of the state, they work at 50%. Yet he’s closed the whole industry here in New York for now it’s two months and then he wants to open at 25% again. ‘
CUOMO: NYC INDOOR ROOM TO RESUME WITH 25% CAPACITY ON VALENTINE’S DAY
The governor announced Friday that indoor dining in New York, which was suspended on Dec. 14, could continue at 25% again if the COVID-19 infection rate stays on the current track.
“The restaurant industry is the lifeblood of New York City and the economic hardship they have endured through COVID is nothing short of tragic,” Cuomo told a news conference.
Malliotakis represents the 11th Congress District of the state, which includes Staten Island and South Brooklyn. The congresswoman on the first term told Fox & Friends Weekend that she believes the governor’s restrictions will increase matters in her district.
“What he is really doing is encouraging people to gather in their homes, where we know the spread is taking place, where there are no safety or sanitary protocols, there are no social distance or mask requirements, and the distribution will continue there, “Malliotakis said. . “And I think it’s very unfortunate, both for health and for our economy.”
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Malliotakis also questioned why the governor decided to wait until February 14 before restaurants were allowed again. “The fact that he’s making these restaurants wait another two weeks to reach just that 25% is cruel,” she said.
Cuomo said at Friday’s briefing that the two-week advanced notice “gives enough notice to restaurants to prepare for a reopening.”