Assemblyman David DiPietro (R,C,I- East Aurora) was heartened to hear the state Legislature would be voting today to remove several of the longstanding restrictions on New York's bars and restaurants. Today, both the state Legislature and governor took action repealing the mandated requirement of vendors to sell food items with alcohol purchases and provided end dates for curfews on establishments.

Members of the Minority Conference in the state Senate and Assembly have been calling for months to take action to repeal executive actions from Gov. Cuomo restricting operations in bars and restaurants. The Legislature voted today to revoke Gov. Cuomo's requirement of bars and restaurants to sell food items with alcohol purchases, a policy that has been heavily criticized by New Yorkers on all sides as arbitrary and ridiculous exercise of power.

Bars and restaurants also got a hard end date for the curfews that have severely limited their ability to stay afloat. Establishments will no longer be required to close outdoor dining areas starting May 17, and indoor areas beginning May 31. The release from the governor's office also mentions lifting numerous other restrictions on catered events and outdoor social gatherings.

“I’ve been saying for months that these restrictions were unconstitutional and ridiculous,” said DiPietro. “The governor was handed an absurd amount of power that went straight to his head and he and his cronies implemented policy based on what they could get away with, not what was best for New Yorkers.

“It goes without saying that it is beyond time for these restrictions to be removed from our bars and restaurants. These establishments have been unfairly singled out and treaded on by ignorant mandates from the egomaniac living in the governor’s mansion, and I am glad they can at least start to return to some sense of normalcy.”