SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ – Businesses across the Jersey Shore are already hurting and with so many restrictions being placed on restaurants to provide outdoor dining, the $75 fee being imposed by Governor Phil Murphy is nothing short of kicking small business owners while they’re down. Under Murphy’s Law, the next phase in reopening New Jersey begins June 15th. Restaurants will be able to provide outdoor dining and those with liquor licenses can serve liquor outdoors, but Murphy wants his cut of the pie. A special permit from the Division of Alcohol and Beverage Control is going to cost businesses that have been closed since mid-March another $75. This is just nickel and diming businesses. The state workers processing these fees just got a $9 billion bailout from Murphy, but these business owners are getting raked through coals at every turn.
For three months, these business owners have been paying rent, many paying their employees and losing millions of dollars statewide, if not billions. Governor Murphy, they did their job. As you have said yourself, most remained closed. They complied with your ridiculous plan that apparently has no end in sight and now as they’re getting ready to start making a little bit of money again, you’re shaking them down for spare change. It’s similar to how you’re shaking down all of New Jersey with your Coronavirus toll hike.
These businesses might even be hit with another fee by their local municipality. Murph, give New Jersey business owners a break, will ya?
In Trenton, New Jersey Senator Jimmy Holzapfel and Assemblymen Gregory McGuckin have also penned a letter to the Governor on this very subject.
Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash.
https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2020/05/24/mcguckin-15000-fine-for-violating-murchy/
