Periodically, we will hear directly from some federal, state or local regulatory agencies asking us to assist with delivering a message to QSR franchisees in general, or Dunkin’ franchisees in particular, about one issue or another. Whenever possible, we try to accommodate these requests and pass along the information. Such was the case again this…
Read More »The United States Senate again failed to muster enough votes to bring a COVID relief bill worth about $500 billion to the Senate floor for consideration. By a party line vote of 51-44, the “skinny” measure for the second time in five weeks, failed to get the 60 votes required to move it forward for…
Read More »It didn’t take long for the regulatory and legislative arms of Michigan state government to restore COVID-19 restrictions in the wake of the state Supreme Court invalidating certain executive orders and emergency COVID mandates of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The good news therein however is HB6030, currently awaiting the Governor’s signature, which provides immunity for businesses…
Read More »Or is it the other way around? Either way, as they wrestle with their competing God complexes, it’s the private business owners in the Big Apple that are suffering. Just a few days after New York City restaurants were allowed to begin a (very) limited reopening process (25% indoor capacity), New York Mayor de Blasio…
Read More »Hawaii, which last month took “ban the box” policies to a whole new level when Governor David Ige signed a law limiting employer questions about criminal convictions to only the last seven years, is planning to distribute $500 gift cards to residents. Eligible residents, which will include those state residents that applied for unemployment benefits…
Read More »After the success of its initial funding round ($25.7 million distributed to 741 businesses), the state of Delaware opened up a second round of its popular DE Relief Grant program on October 1. The program, which is a joint initiative of the state and New Castle County, was funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and…
Read More »In a major rebuke of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled her executive orders extending the original declaration of a state of emergency violated the state constitution and was invalid. As backdrop, the Michigan legislature called a state of emergency back when the coronavirus pandemic first broke in March. That order expired however…
Read More »It would appear that Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio are finally prepared to let New York City open – to some extent. Wednesday, NYC restaurants were allowed to open indoor dining to 25 percent of capacity. That said, there are plenty of new regulations they must perform to comply with the city…
Read More »The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, arguably one of the most powerful committees in Congress, will host a virtual public hearing this morning (beginning at 9:00 AM) to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry. The mix of witnesses scheduled includes Melvin Rodrigue, the current chairman of the National Restaurant…
Read More »A recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that adults who tested positive for COVID-19 were twice as likely to have reported eating at a restaurant within the prior two weeks. There’s a lot more to that story, however. The study authors themselves admit to at least five significant limitations…
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