A Philadelphia chef used his large Instagram platform to chastise Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney (D) dining in Maryland, where COVID-19 restrictions are less stringent than they are in the City of Brotherly Love.
“Glad you’re enjoying indoor dining with no social distancing or mask wearing in Maryland tonight while restaurants here in Philly close, suffer and fight for every nickel just to survive,” Marc Vetri said, tagging Kenney in the post. “I guess all your press briefings and your narrative of unsafe indoor dining don’t apply to you. Thank you for clearing it all up for us tonight.”
The photo depicts Kenney in an unspecified Maryland restaurant.
Vetri has more than 80,000 followers on the platform he used to shame Philadelphia’s mayor, who has mandated even stricter COVID-19 impositions beginning Jan. 3.
Those seeking to dine indoors in Philadelphia must now show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, and harsher rules are forthcoming.
“After Jan. 17, 2022, patrons in Philly must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination (card or photo of card) to dine and drink indoors,” according to the city’s website.
Some indoor establishments, like hotels and retail stores, only require masks.
Kenney’s office did not return a comment request.
The National Restaurant Association provides data on the state of the restaurant industry, which has suffered since the beginning of the pandemic due to lockdowns and other restrictions.
Six months into the pandemic – in Sept. of 2020 – 100,000 restaurants had already closed, according to that organization.
As of mid-April in 2021, that number was down to 90,000, but still represented nearly one in six restaurants.
Not only that, but profits for the restaurants that remained open decreased drastically.
“For the vast majority of restaurant operators, profitability is down from pre-pandemic levels and costs are up. Additionally, 65% of restaurant operators say their total sales volume in March 2021 was lower than it was in the absence of COVID-19,” the report said.
– – –
Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Marc Vetri” by Marc Vetri. Background Photo “Jim Kenney” by Marc Vetri.
