Rights for Restaurants Rally planned Monday

By Christine Haines

chaines@yourmvi.com

With Christmas around the corner, Rod Ambrogi of Fallowfield Township couldn’t envision laying off his 40 employees to comply with the governor’s latest directive regarding restaurants and bars.

Ambrogi, owner of Al’s Cafe in Bethel Park and founder of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Restaurant and Tavern Association, instead contacted his state Representative, Bud Cook, R-West Pike Run Township, to ask for support from lawmakers to make Gov. Tom Wolf understand what is happening to the restaurant industry.

“What we’re facing with the restaurant industry being closed for three weeks and who knows how long after that, he’s going to force us out of business,” Ambrogi said. “We’ve got employees that we’re concerned about. How are they supposed to get unemployment before the holidays?”

Ambrogi spoke with one waitress who told him she receives $83 a week in unemployment benefits.

“It’s nothing you can survive on,” he said. “There were numerous waitresses we supported with meals. I gave away 1,000 meals to the community throughout the pandemic. Thank goodness we have the support and volunteers to be able to do that.”

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