CURRENT ISSUES

  • Organized the Los Angeles independent restaurant community to advocate for a more considerate outdoor dining ordinance that works for the people whom it serves.

    In December of 2022, LA City Planning released a draft ordinance that would have been expensive, impractical, and unachievable. It was at this time that we highlighted significant red tape that needed to be cut. We distributed our demands and showed up at every community meeting until those demands were met.

    In December 2023, after a final scare of parking requirements imposed to permit outdoor dining areas, we rallied one final time with the help of business associations, community leaders, and independent restaurants to secure one of the most business-friendly ordinances the city of Los Angeles has ever signed into law.

  • Advocated in collaboration with many other community associations for AB 1217 and its predecessor, AB 61, ensuring state-level support for continuing emergency order outdoor dining programs and leniency on outdoor food preparation areas until March 2026.

  • Served as a major contributor to the City of Los Angeles Economic Workforce Development Department Task Force on a series of low-cost to no-cost ways to help the hospitality industry recover from COVID-19.

  • Fought to shape a more accessible ‘over the counter’ Restaurant Beverage Program (RBP) in the City of Los Angeles, saving operators tens of thousands of dollars when applying for alcohol permits.

  • In early 2022, it was brought to our attention that recipients from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund or Restaurants Act (a federal grant program to help the restaurant community recover from the impacts of COVID) would have a California state tax imposed, causing up to 20% of the grant money to go back to the state. Through our member-based network, we organized messaging to key state legislative officials about this potential travesty for small businesses. Through our work and collaboration with other organizations, we were able to adjust the state tax law in our favor, saving several millions of dollars for California restaurants that received these grants.

  • Advocated for SB 314, for shared alcohol consumption areas, by creating more flexibility in how businesses can serve alcohol, where they can serve, and how they can share spaces with other businesses.

  • Removed restrictions on gender-specific restroom requirements in Los Angeles County.

  • Worked with State Senator Weiner’s office under SB 793 to create a new full line liquor license for entertainment venues supporting arts and culture in California without having to build a restaurant.

  • In 2021, we helped to create and secure the city of LA emergency planning ordinance removing parking requirements for new businesses within existing buildings. These city-wide benefits continue to exist today.

  • Provided guidance on new important policies like AB 2097 and how they relate to restaurant development.