Mayor LaToya Cantrell today announced that, effective 5 p.m. tonight, restaurants in Orleans Parish may resume serving alcoholic beverages through drive-thru, takeout and curbside pickup options between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.
 
Read the revised guidelines here.
 
The announcement was another in a series of actions that Mayor Cantrell has taken as the City continued in its easing of Phase 2 restrictions. On Monday, the City announced that the area playgrounds would reopen effective immediately and that high school athletics would be allowed to resume play in early October. Contact practices for football were allowed to help the schools prepare for the resumption of play.

The City will continue to monitor the number of cases as the schools move to in-person instruction in order to prepare for the next steps in the safe, phased reopening of New Orleans.
 
Visit NOLA Ready for more information about COVID-19 here; text COVIDNOLA to 888-777 to receive alerts.

The New Orleans Restaurateur told key Congressional subcommittee industry landscape is stark without federal aid
 
National Restaurant Association Board Chair, New Orleans independent restaurant operator Melvin Rodrigue, today testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, on the stark landscape for the industry and he urged Congress to take action to help restaurants and their employees before it adjourns until November.
 
“Restaurant owners are making business decisions for October based on the actions you take today. I implore you—please take action before leaving town for the elections,” he testified. “If Congress adjourns without extending the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or providing other enhanced relief, more restaurants will close, more employees will lose their jobs and the pandemic economic crisis will deepen.”
 
He highlighted that restaurants have suffered more losses in dollars and jobs than any other industry. “What restaurants and their employees need is targeted help for the nation’s second-largest private sector employer,” he added.
 
Rodrigue reiterated the Association’s call for Congress to consider short-term assistance like the authorization of a second round of the PPP, with greater flexibility for both operating expenses and payroll outlays. Additionally, he encouraged the Subcommittee to consider long-term tools from the Association’s Blueprint for Restaurant Revival, including:
 

• Passing the Senate version of the RESTAURANTS Act, which takes a balanced approach to support independent and locally owned franchise restaurants
• Ensuring that business expenses paid from PPP proceeds are tax deductible
• Enacting a refundable tax credit to cover investments in equipment and safety programs, and to set up social distancing in facilities amid a crippling economic climate
• Enhancing the Employee Retention Tax Credit

 
“Restaurants and our employees have a personal connection with customers. In some towns, it’s a small chain; in some towns, it’s a beloved local restaurant. But every one of you, and every American, has a place that is their favorite. Regardless of the name on the door, restaurants are community cornerstones that provide a ladder of opportunity for employees,” Rodrigue said.
 
Click here to read his full testimony. Click here to read the Association’s Blueprint for Restaurant Revival.

Celebrate October 5-11, 2020, with brunch, lunch, dinner & take-away menu items
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 The Louisiana Restaurant Association’s Greater New Orleans Chapter, in partnership with New Orleans & Company, is excited to announce its tenth annual Restaurant Week New Orleans will be held October 5-11, 2020. A special thanks to our 2020 Restaurant Week New Orleans presenting sponsor, TABASCO® brand, who has supported the event for the last three years.
 
During this weeklong celebration of New Orleans cuisine, participating restaurants in the New Orleans metro area will offer special pre-fixe menus including a two-course lunch for $25 or less and a three-course dinner or brunch for $45 or less. Many establishments are fully embracing the takeout trend and offering a to-go option as part of this year’s promotion.
 
We are pleased to present Restaurant Week New Orleans as our first promotional program since COVID began. The favorable positive case data in Orleans and Jefferson parishes’ paved the way for this popular event’s return. Restaurant Week New Orleans is designed to celebrate the area’s diverse and award-winning dining options, with more than 40 restaurants registered to participate to date. “Our restaurants have embraced the reopening guidelines as they focus on best practices in social distancing and sanitation to provide a safe environment for our guests and team members. Our world renowned cuisine remains the star of the show,” said LRA President and CEO Stan Harris. 
 
Participating restaurants range from fine-dining establishments to neighborhood favorites. Discover new places or try something new at a trusty staple.  
 
The LRA projects the event will inject a sales boost into an industry that has struggled with closures and restrictions during the pandemic. 
 
For a complete listing of participating restaurants and to browse their menus, visit www.restaurantweekneworleans.com. Diners can make reservations through the website or restaurant directly. Don’t forget to share your Restaurant Week New Orleans experiences on social media using the hashtag, #RestaurantWeekNOLA.
 
There is no charge for LRA-member restaurants to participate. Please contact Ellyn Davis at edavis@lra.org or (504) 303-4660 to register.  

State lawmakers issued a proclamation yesterday, September 21, calling itself into a special legislative session for 30 days starting Monday, September 28. The proclamation includes 70 items including the Budget Stabilization Fund and the Unemployment Trust

Read the full proclamation HERE.