DC Council and Mayor Bowser,
 
We are writing as a group of restaurant owners and employees who make Washington D.C. one of the most unique and vibrant dining destinations in the country. Over the last week we have collectively served thousands of the city’s residents who have shown up in droves to support our efforts. We are so thankful for the good will that has been shown to each of us by the city’s residents, even when we were putting ourselves, our employees and the families of our employees at tremendous personal risk.
 
Few workers in Washington, D.C. are more vulnerable than these employees and few businesses are more vulnerable to the mandated closings than ours. Can you imagine, our city, often touted as having the most exciting and growing restaurant scene in the country, losing the very institutions that put us on the map? To be honest, we will not survive this closure without immediate and decisive action from the government.
 
We thank you all for your leadership the past few days, taking action to make Washington, D.C. safer for all who work and play here. We join in your belief that prioritizing the safety of our employees and guests is imperative in these trying times. But we must call upon you today to announce immediately what you plan to do for our workers and for our small businesses. Fear of the future is high and forced closings mean many employees have lost their incomes.
 
Our recommendations:
 
·     Immediately support emergency unemployment benefits to all hourly and salaried workers furloughed during this crisis
·     Eliminate payroll tax immediately
·     Call for rent and loan abatement for workers and employers impacted by the mandated closure
·     Postpone/eliminate collection of sales tax
·     Postpone/eliminate collection of property tax
 
DC Council and Mayor, we are counting on your continued leadership in these difficult times and demand swift action to help combat the hardships that are going to reverberate through D.C.’s small business community for years to come. We elected you and believe you will continue to act bravely. Show us what those people with both power and means intend to do for people who have none.
 
 
Sincerely,
D.C. Restaurant Community