The Sussex County Freeholders and Sussex County Chamber of Commerce have issued a statement that questions the wisdom of Governor Murphy's statewide ban on indoor dining. In June the governor set July 2nd as the day New Jersey restaurants could open for indoor dining at 25 percent capacity. Then days before restaurants were supposed to begin indoor dining. Murphy retracted his order saying to many restaurants had not been following proper social distancing rules for outdoor dining. The freeholder's statement quotes Sussex County Freeholder Joshua Hertzberg saying: "Our local restaurants have endured so much already, but to allow them to prepare and finance a reopening, only to have the rug ripped out from underneath them at the last minute is cruel." Hertzberg called for a regionalized approach to reopening saying: "I completely understand the need to make concessions for the health of the public, but there is a better way. One size does not fit all." Sussex County Chamber of Commerce President Tammie Horsfield said:"Many of our restaurant oweners shared how important it was to have at least 25 percent of indoor dining to help them survive. Unfortunately, when our governor pulled the plug on indoor dining, two days before the opening, our businesses were left literally holding the bag. I hope our restaurant owners can hang in there a little longer with the hope that they are able to open indoor dining soon."
Source: Sussex County Freeholders