Monmouth Restaurants ‘Suffered’ Without Indoor Dining: Freeholder

MONMOUTH COUNTY – From Toms River to Scotch Plains, officials across New Jersey have pleaded with Gov. Phil Murphy in recent weeks to reopen indoor dining in the Garden State – an initiative that was planned to begin in July but has since been "indefinitely postponed". The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders are not an exception to the growing number of governing bodies making their indoor dining opinions known, with Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone calling the reopening wait “incredibly unfair” in July.

Related: Freeholder Director To Murphy: 'Please' Reopen Indoor Dining

In a statement released Tuesday, Arnone pleaded with the governor yet again to open indoor dining – or, at the very least, put together a plan to determine when indoor dining can begin. Arnone also seeks for the same to be done for gyms as well as “any other industry that has yet to reopen due to the State’s shutdown orders.”

Gov. Murphy announced on Aug. 26 that gyms will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity, and customers have to wear masks, starting on Sept. 1 However, the governor has still remained mum about indoor dining. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Gyms To Reopen In Coronavirus Crisis: Here's When

“Our restaurant industry has suffered for nearly fifteen weeks with no solid plan on when they can resume welcoming patrons inside. While outdoor dining has helped, it does not bring in nearly enough revenue for our restaurants to survive much longer. Not to mention, no one is going to want to dine outdoors come colder weather. This current operation is not self-sustaining.”

The Freeholder Director also pointed out the widespread social distancing precautions taken by many Monmouth County residents, as well as the flattening new case averages, which currently stand at about 40 or less new positive cases reported daily.

“We quarantined so we didn’t overwhelm the hospital system. We flattened the curve. We’ve acted responsibly and our numbers prove as much. It’s time the State joins Monmouth County in having faith in our restaurant industry and allows them to reopen with the proper policies in place,” said the Freeholder Director.

“We’ve witnessed several other industries that require close contact reopen without incident, it’s time to give the same chance to our restaurants.”

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