TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he wasn’t screwing around and will drop the hammer of death upon any business that dares violate his executive orders
“The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control has suspended the liquor license of Il Portico Ristorante in Burlington City for a variety of executive order violations,” Murphy said this weekend. “The restrictions we’ve put in place are there to save lives. Grateful to the Division of ABC for their work.”
During the week, Murphy issued a stern warning that he will come down very heavy-handed against restaurants who dare to violate his new indoor dining executive order. Maybe not Nicholas’ Barrel and Roost or his other favorite spots, but others, yes.
“With the resumption today as of 6:00 a.m. of indoor dining, let this be a warning to everybody out there,” Murphy said. “The limits we have placed on capacities and the public health protocols we have put in place are not kind suggestions. They are mandated, they are required. We will not tolerate any violations and we will not be afraid to come down hard and make an example of those who think the rules don’t apply to them. We want you to welcome your customers back inside, but that must be done safely and in accordance with the rules.”
“There is nothing more that I would like, nor I suspect my colleagues to do, than to eventually expand restaurant capacities. But I cannot and we will not be able to do that if this weekend or the weeks that follow see a slew of restaurant owners and managers flagrantly violating the rules that are in place,” he said. “And again overwhelmingly, folks have been doing the right things. And for as much pain as this pandemic of six months has put on restaurant owners, on gyms, to pick two categories, the overwhelming amount of the owners and managers and proprietors have been doing the right thing. So let’s all work together for a safe return of indoor dining, and we can ensure that there will be better days ahead.”