License Holder, 10 P.M. Curfew for Bars, Restaurants and Liquor Stores – Effective November 13, 2020 We are writing to thank you for remaining vigilant in complying with the important COVID-related public health requirements, and to remind and reaffirm to you that pursuant to Executive Order 202.74, effective Friday, November 13, 2020, New York State…

US Senate Democratic Leader and New York Senior Senator Chuck Schumer continued his fight to get COVID-19 relief for small business owners, including restaurant owners, at a press event this week in Athens, New York. Senator Schumer highlighted the provisions of the HEROES Small Business Lifeline Act. The Act provides relief for New York’s smallest…

The question we get every day is where are we? Is the Governor going to shut us down? What restrictions are coming next? The truth is we don’t know. The Governor continues to emphasize the micro-cluster approach to imposing restrictions. Under this plan areas as small as individual neighborhoods can be designated as either yellow,…

With all 213 seats in the New York State Legislature up for grabs on Election Day all eyes were on whether the State Senate Democrats would increase their majority to at least 42 members or more, achieving a super-majority and giving them the potential to override a veto by Governor Cuomo. Three weeks after Election…

NYS Liquor Authority Chairman Vincent Bradley met with the ESRTA Board at its meeting last month in Saratoga Springs. The Chairman reported that the Authority’s resources are dedicated to COVID-19. He expressed concern that if the industry failed to comply with the public health restrictions it could cause a statewide shutdown, acknowledged the good work…

The Cortland County Chamber of Commerce presented their award for Non-Profit Organization of the Year to our Cortland County Association. The Chamber recognized County Association President (and State Association Treasurer) Tammy Timmerman and the Association for their outstanding efforts during the past year to keep local businesses aware of the ever changing rules impacting their…

New Orange Warning Zones on Staten Island and in Monroe and Onondaga Counties New Yellow Precautionary Zones in Upper Manhattan and Nassau & Suffolk Counties Zone Changes Go into Effect Wednesday for Businesses, Thursday for Schools Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced updated COVID-19 micro-cluster focus zones in New York State. Part of Staten Island’s Yellow Precautionary…

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced updated COVID-19 micro-cluster focus zones in New York State. Rockland County’s Yellow Precautionary Zone will be expanded, and parts of Orange and Westchester counties will become Yellow Precautionary Zones due to increased cases, positivity, and hospital admissions from these areas. Modifications to Current Focus Zones Rockland County – Click Here for Map The current Rockland zone will be expanded to include…

Part of Erie County Yellow Zone Changes to Orange Zone – Yellow Zone Expanded in Erie New Yellow Zone in Niagara County New Yellow Zone in the Bronx – Expanded Yellow Zone in Queens Brooklyn, Orange and Broome Zones Improve – Restrictions Relaxed   Modifications to Current Focus Zones Broome County – Yellow Zone Removed…

Effective Friday, November 13, 2020 at 10:00PM Pursuant to Executive Order 202.74, effective Friday November 13, 2020, at 10:00PM all licensed establishments with on premises privileges (e.g. restaurants, taverns, catering halls, clubs, manufacturers with tasting rooms, etc.) shall cease all on premises service of food and drink (indoors or outdoors) at or before 10:00PM, daily. …

We’re still awaiting publication of guidance from the State Liquor Authority to help explain the details of the 10 pm curfew for restaurants and bars. While not official until the guidance has been issued, we’ve gotten a few questions that we think we know what the answers to: Is the 10 pm curfew “last call”…

Governor Cuomo formally issued an Executive Order to put in place the 10 pm curfew for bars and restaurants he announced yesterday. We expect the State Liquor Authority to post guidance shortly, but in the meantime here is the key text of the Executive Order: All businesses that are licensed by the State Liquor Authority…