State Assemblymember Matt Haney is leading a statewide push that he says would make it cheaper and easier for restaurants to stay open as the industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to battle rising costs. Haney introduced Assembly Bill 1470, known as The Restaurant Recovery Act, alongside Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, D-South Los Angeles, which would remove certain state rules for grease traps, interior finishes in restrooms and bars, pass-through windows and coverings for temporary food facilities. “Our state has, unfortunately, too often had inflexible, unnecessary and outdated mandates that put burdens on our restaurants, sometimes forcing them to spend tens of thousands of dollars,” Haney said at a press conference. He said the rules led many to delay opening, close temporarily or close altogether. “That’s what we’re here to fix,” he said. The legislation would change a number of smaller state safety measures that Haney said are “only making things worse” for business owners. Current state law bans above-ground grease traps in food prep areas, requires interior finishes in restrooms and bars that are like those in food prep areas, and limits the size of pass-through windows, which allow food and drinks to be transferred from inside the restaurant to customers outside.
If Haney’s legislation had been in place before, Brittney Valles, the former owner of the now-closed Guerilla Tacos in Los Angeles, said her restaurant wouldn’t have had to shut down for months. “I think AB 1470 might’ve been tailored for Guerilla Tacos because we dealt with every single issue that it is going to save us from,” Valles said. Guerilla Tacos’ struggles — costs, lack of clarity around permitting rules, and uncertainty in operations — are those that are felt by businesses across the state, Haney said. Eddie Navarrette, executive director of the Independent Hospitality Coalition, said the legislation would solve a piece of a larger problem in the industry. “How can we make it easier to allow the resilience of restaurants to thrive?” Navarrette asked. “There is no one answer, but four of them are in AB 1470.”
How about they repeal “FastAct” that would be a start! How about they get rid of the excessive taxation? The Golden gate bridge alone collected $154,339,940.00 in the year 2024 there are at least 7 bridges in the bay area: Golden Gate, Bay Bidge, San Mateo/Hayward, San Rafael, Carquinez, Benicia and the Antioch. Look up those toll collections for 2024 but we got Fastrak construction going up like it is the end of the world. They will charging us soon to drive on the freeways period! Most other states don’t charge toll fees or to drive on the freeway in the “fast” lane. But our roads sit in disrepair and the elected officials could care less.
A politician using some logic. Refreshing to see! Too bad idiots created those initial rules/laws. They should be listening to the entire restaurant industry to hear there pain points and adjust to allow all businesses to thrive.
Can it be TRUE ? ? ? ? ?
democrat’s admitting their nanny state is,  oppressive and anti business ? ? ? ?
Isn’t it quite interesting how the democrat government blames everything on the Covid virus? Massive inflation, crushing regulations, runaway crime, mountainous tax burdens…..
and it’s all Covid’s fault.
Or “climate change”. 😄
JUST HIRE DECENT TRAINED COOKS AND CHEFS AND employees that don’t drink all the profits and get stoned in the parking lot. . Don’t try to save money by hiring anyone who applies without even training them on the menu. Understanding English helps!