As a concerned New Yorker, I've witnessed the tip percentage for service workers skyrocket to an unsustainable level. It's not uncommon to see suggested tips of 25% or more on our bills, and this trend is only increasing. This practice is not only detrimental to the integrity of restaurant businesses but also shifts the responsibility from employers to customers.

In most industries, it's the employer's duty to pay their employees adequately. However, in our city's bustling food and beverage industry, this burden has been unfairly placed on us - the customers. 

According to data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), tipped workers are twice as likely as non-tipped workers to experience poverty. This statistic highlights that relying heavily on tips leads to an exacerbated gap between rich and poor.

It’s time we address this issue head-on by establishing a maximum limit on tip percentages in New York City restaurants. Not only will this protect consumers from excessive tipping practices but it will also encourage businesses owners take more responsibility for their employees' wages.

Please join me in calling upon our local government officials and restaurant industry leaders to set a reasonable cap on tip percentages - because fair pay should be an employer’s responsibility, not an optional extra paid by consumers. Sign this petition today!