In bid for comptroller, Weprin calls on city to resume indoor dining

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Queens Assemblymember David Weprin, a candidate for city comptroller, called on the city to allow restaurants to resume indoor dining. Photo via Weprin’s Office

Queens Assemblymember David Weprin, a candidate for city comptroller, called on the city to allow restaurants to resume indoor dining. Photo via Weprin’s Office

By David Brand

Queens Assemblymember David Weprin invigorated his bid for New York City Comptroller Tuesday, appearing with restaurant owners to urge the city to allow limited-capacity indoor dining throughout the five boroughs.

Weprin rallied in front of the Atlantic Diner in South Richmond Hill to highlight the impact of the indoor dining prohibition on small restaurant owners in Queens and elsewhere in the city.

“We must at this point, prioritize both a sensible economic reopening and public health,” said Weprin, who represents Richmond Hill in the Assembly. “If we want to give restaurants a fighting chance, the city must permit limited capacity indoor dining, just as the rest of the state does.”

Weprin specifically advocates for the city to allow restaurants to seat guests inside at 50 percent capacity. During his speech, he sounded a familiar note among advocates for indoor dining in Queens: restaurants just over the border in Nassau County have been allowed to host indoor guests for weeks, potentially diverting customers from Queens. 

One Little Neck restaurant owner has filed a class action lawsuit against Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in an effort to open up its dining room.

Weprin was joined by Councilmember Adrienne Adams and Queens Chamber of Commerce President Tom Grech who said indoor dining could resuscitate small businesses feeling the devastating financial impact of COVID-19.

“New York City’s restaurants add to the character of this city and allowing them to reopen indoor dining will start to restore our economy,” Adams said. 

Weprin is one of three New York City lawmakers actively running for comptroller, along with Brooklyn Councilmember Brad Lander and Bronx State Sen. Brian Benjamin. Brooklyn State Sen. Kevin Parker filed to run but has not campaigned or significantly fundraised. Manhattan Councilmember Helen Rosenthal filed to run and took in more than $160,000, but decided to drop out.

Weprin has raised $172,526 as of July 15, the third-highest total in the race. 

Lander has raised $650,142 and Benjamin has taken in $462,327, according to the most recent campaign disclosure reports.