Thousands of small businesses across the country have shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the beloved establishments of Margate City, New Jersey persevered.  Many businesses adapted to survive--coping with staff shortages, adopting outdoor seating, expanding to-go services, and providing outdoor entertainment to breathe life back into the seaside city when all seemed hopeless. After months of hardship, the streets were alive again. 

In March 2021, Margate City adopted Resolution #54-2021 allowing businesses to expand outdoor dining and consumption for the purpose of helping them restore revenue after being required to reduce business activity during the pandemic. Summer is a critical period for businesses in Margate; while the small shore town has few year-round residents, the summer season welcomes thousands of visitors and summer residents. Margate businesses take pride in serving new and returning faces every summer, and many rely on the population influx that the summer season provides. 

However, at the start of the summer season, Margate City enacted Resolution #124-2021 that would have a severe negative impact on dining and nightlife businesses. Resolution #124-2021 causes businesses to cease outdoor music after 8:00PM and halt outdoor services after 10:00PM.  After many months of worldwide suffering, people want to rejoice in celebration at their favorite Margate staples--only for these restrictions to put a damper on the return to normalcy. Many of these businesses have operated successfully without these restrictions for decades without complaint, and after being hit so hard by the pandemic, they are deserving of a lively summer season free from such unduly burdensome restrictions.  

This petition is in support of allowing Margate City businesses to operate pursuant to Resolution #54-2021 without the restrictions of Resolution #124-2021.