Six Los Angeles area NAACP branches, the Los Angeles Urban League, Brotherhood Crusade, National Action Network and other long-time civil rights leaders announced their staunch opposition to the Costly Restaurant Ordinance proposed by the L.A. City Council.
The groups joined the Protect LA Restaurants coalition, stressing their concerns that the ordinance would threaten the viability of minority-owned small businesses, lead to more employee layoffs and reduced worker hours, and further increase food prices for LA families.
“This ordinance unjustifiably targets minority-owned restaurants – once again – by imposing costly burdens that no other industry is forced to abide by,” said Darrell Goode, Area Director, NAACP Southwest Area.
“Owning a local restaurant has long served as a viable pathway to economic empowerment for people of color. This ordinance would punish these traditionally marginalized communities who worked hard to beat the odds and achieve small business ownership. The LA City Council should investigate and reject this discriminatory ordinance.”
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“Since April, I’ve had to raise my prices and cut worker hours to make ends meet,” said Rob Kirksey, Local Wingstop Franchise Restaurant Owner, Los Angeles. “If additional cost mandates are piled on to my local restaurants, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stay in business. I hope Councilmembers realize that they’re putting minority-owned small businesses like mine at risk if they pass this ordinance.”
Los Angeles is home to more than 1,500 quick-service restaurants. Nearly 60% of California’s local restaurants are owned by people of color, and approximately 70% of franchisees only own one restaurant. Owning a local restaurant has long helped people of color build successful small businesses and close the wealth gap. The LA ordinance would significantly hurt the very community it purports to help.
Director Goode added, “We’ve heard serious concerns from minority small business owners, citing that this ordinance would be the final straw that forces many of them to close their doors for good. We cannot allow one of the strongholds of Black business ownership to be attacked in this fashion.”
“Many local restaurant owners first started as crew members and worked their way up to management, then eventually invested their life’s savings into buying a local restaurant,” said Charisse Bremond Weaver, president & CEO, Brotherhood Crusade.
“Recently imposed mandates singling out local restaurant owners have already limited employee hours and have resulted in staff reductions.”
California just established a statewide Fast Food Council specifically charged with developing minimum standards for training, worker protections, and health and safety standards for fast food workers. Passing the potentially conflicting city ordinance would further strain local restaurants before the Fast Food Council has the chance to function as intended.
“California already has the most robust worker protections in the country, including in the very areas this ordinance seeks to address,” added Weaver. “If the LA City Council passes this unnecessary and costly ordinance, they will be imposing significant barriers to business ownership opportunities that will have damaging effects across the community. That’s why the LA City Council must oppose this ordinance.”
The Costly Restaurant Ordinance was referred to the Travel, Travel and Tourism Committee, but has not yet been set for a hearing.
