STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A restaurant’s death affects not one life, but many: the chef who built the menu, the bartender who knows every regular by name, the line cooks, servers, porters and distributors who helped keep the doors open.
Yet restaurant owners are often too busy running their businesses to advocate for themselves. Their days are spent juggling staffing, food costs, customers and the countless challenges of keeping the doors open.
And that’s why this little project was created: to bring the concerns of Staten Island’s restaurant industry directly to the people seeking to represent them and to give voice to an industry that plays an outsized role in our economy and daily lives.
Requests for comment were sent to elected officials and candidates from both major parties, with follow-up outreach conducted when necessary. Every effort was made to ensure potential participants were aware of the opportunity to respond. By publication deadline, one candidate had responded. David Carr later provided comment after returning from vacation.
Food and beverage manufacturing deserves greater support in New York, say some proprietors.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
City Councilmember David Carr said restaurants are vital community institutions that deserve strong support from government.
“While there are certainly great places to eat across our city, on Staten Island, our restaurants are uniquely integral to our communities, not just as engines for our economy, but as places of culture and connection, where we share stories and friendships along with great food. That is why, as a representative of Staten Island, I am always acutely aware of how government can disparately impact these vital businesses, and how a regulation that may work for Manhattan or Brooklyn restaurants—for example, zoning laws that limit parking—can have unintended negative consequences for our borough.”
“I have always believed it is my job to push back on these one-size-fits all regulations and to actively support our restaurants in any way I can, whether by providing resources to regional BIDs, fighting to lower costs and eliminate bureaucratic red tape, or by just being a fan and doing what I can to promote our wonderful and diverse eateries.“
Casey O’Connor Manasia is a deli-bagel store owner running for New York State Assembly in District 61 and believes food businesses anchor neighborhoods.
“I’d rather see New York help create the next great bagel shop, pizzeria or food manufacturer than another cannabis dispensary, because food businesses anchor neighborhoods, create jobs and make Staten Island a destination.”
“One of the things that inspired me to run for State Assembly in the 61st District was seeing healthy mom-and-pop businesses, including S&T Bagels in West Brighton, pushed out because it became more lucrative for a landlord’s family to open a cannabis shop. I want it to be more lucrative for a creative chef, baker or food entrepreneur to set up shop and become an anchor for a neighborhood.”
“That’s why I believe the Office of Cannabis Management should be more closely aligned with, or regulated under, the same framework the State Liquor Authority has used to oversee alcohol since Prohibition. To me, these issues are connected.”
“The larger goal is making Staten Island a more attractive destination where people come to dine, stay and spend the day. I see that happening on the Brooklyn waterfront in Red Hook, which is part of my district, and I want to help make it happen here, too. An attractive, accessible North Shore waterfront creates opportunities for more restaurants, hotels and local businesses.”
“That’s a much bigger vision than a one-time tax break for a restaurant that donates food to a political fundraiser. Those are just crumbs. I want meaningful relief from rising costs, including minimum wage increases, and more support for businesses looking to expand food manufacturing in New York. More business growth means more jobs, more economic activity and ultimately more tax revenue for the state.”
Dear Staten Islanders: The restaurant on your corner is more important than you think
The conversation continues: Staten Island lawmakers respond to restaurant concerns