Restaurant Owners Should Be Reimbursed, Republican Leaders Say

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Republican leaders are speaking out against Gov. Phil Murphy's reversal to allow restaurants to open for indoor dining — with some even demanding reimbursement for owners.

Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick said he is introducing legislation to reimburse restaurant owners for expenses they incurred preparing for the reopening of indoor dining on Thursday.

Murphy "hit pause" on Monday on indoor dining due to the spikes in other states, which he says were largely driven by the reopening of indoor dining and bars. Read More: Gov. Murphy Postpones NJ Indoor Dining Reopen Amid Coronavirus

"I am drafting legislation to reimburse restaurant owners who spend money and relied on Governor Murphy's word that they could reopen tomorrow," said Bramnick (District 21). "They deserve to be reimbursed by the government."

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Sen. Michael Doherty (District 23) said Murphy "presented a glimmer of hope for our local restaurants who have been struggling to pay bills with their dining rooms closed for more than three months. Many restaurants have barely survived to this point and they were already at great risk of going under due to the governor’s previous executive orders. By flip-flopping on his decision to allow indoor dining to resume, Governor Murphy just dashed their hopes and almost certainly ensures that many restaurants will close permanently."

Doherty went on to note that many mom-and-pop restaurants ordered large quantities of food to feed patrons for the July 4 holiday.

"Governor Murphy’s single-minded decision with no input from the legislature will only guarantee that more of our local dining establishments go out of business. He shouldn’t punish every restaurant across the state because of a few bad actors," Doherty said.

The Mayors for Main Street Alliance, which has 19 mayors from Somerset, Morris, Middlesex and Warren counties, are advocating to Murphy for the swift and safe reopening of businesses within their communities that continue to be shut down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Read More: Reopen All Nonesssential Businesses Now: 19 NJ Mayors Tell Murphy

"We need to start trusting our small businesses and residents to act in a responsible and safe way. Many of these restaurants, that have not already shuttered, are hanging on by a thread," Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench said. "Local restaurants have been buying food, increasing staff and advertising in preparation of this opening. The Governor would have been better off never announcing it at all. That's more money and yet another glimmer of hope dulled for these struggling business owners."

"We were moving forward and now we are taking a step backwards or pausing," Bernards Township Mayor James Baldassare said. "No one wants to see things not progress. We understand we must remain vigilant, but things need to move forward — especially for small businesses."

"His actions seem purely reactionary to perhaps a National view. What's more bothersome is his unilateral approach. Why is he not working with Legislature to form a more cohesive approach...," Warren Mayor Michael "Mick" Marion said. "Theses restaurant owners have spent a lot of money to prepare for this opening and I can say from Warren's perspective, all have gone above and beyond to open with social distancing as a top priority. Gov. Murphy needs to do better for New Jersey, we deserve better representation."

Moench, Baldassare and Marion are all part of the Mayors for Main Street Alliance.

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