With restaurant closures due to gathering COVID19 size gathering restrictions, restaurants are forced to opt to close or only sell food to go. That privilege is not available for wine sales. Restaurants, 'on-premise' can't also sell 'off-premise' - which is to say they can't sell wine from their storage to go out the door and have guests enjoy wine with their food. It is crucial for restaurants to remain operational during these new realities.

During the COVID-19 crisis, we all have a responsibility towards our communities to keep ourselves healthy and avoid situations that can spread the virus. As of March 17th, the state of Massachusetts will close all bars and restaurants in order to help us uphold that responsibility. While this is a step in the right direction regarding public health, the effects of these sweeping business closures affect the livelihood of thousands of Massachusetts residents that rely on front-of-house restaurant work or tips to make ends meet. Without a plan in place to supplement the income of these workers, and with no guarantee that unemployment benefits will provide the relief people need in a city with one of the highest costs of living in the country, we demand a moratorium on rent collection NOW. Hard-working people are going to suffer at the expense of the greater good. While we don't deny the importance of instituting these closures, we would be ashamed and heartbroken to watch our government let people who rely on restaurant work face evictions, blows to their credit, or be backed into a corner financially through no fault of their own. As a part-time waitress, I am lucky enough that I only rely on tips for supplemental income. For so many of my friends and family in the industry, however, tips are their MAIN source of income. Simply providing people with an unemployment payment or temporary paid leave at minimum wage would not be enough to cover their typical expenses. We need Boston and Massachusetts as a whole to put a moratorium on rent NOW in order to preserve the livelihood of so many hardworking people both in the restaurant industry and in other affected industries during this time of crisis.

We need to reclaim our humanity, together, right now, once and for all in the history of our species! Universalist Emergency across the planet is being applied. The USA has the means and ability to show the planet how we begin the new world - we do not need another war against each other to come together against full economic collapse or even extinction. As our world is changing, the most creative thinkers on the planet are immediately influenced by this planetary crisis. It is now a revelation what humanity must do to handle the tidal wave of events to come and forever in the future. 10 years of this should help the whole species on every continent will have its’ first chance to design the world we all wanted as children and for our children. Allowing for these horrific world conditions to resonate psychologically, is horrific but with compassion through our very tight communication-information infrastructures of 2020, the economic relationships we have now, do not require us to repeat the history of the 1930's. I personally work in the corporate trade-show ballroom audio-video industry in Manhattan, NY, USA and all my part time scheduled work has been cancelled due to COVID19 terror. However, many people in my field have helped me draft this petition. We are the solution to this confusion: COVID-19 UNIVERSAL EMERGENCY [NOW] !

A dangerous new coronavirus (COVID-19) is at its early stages of spreading in the U.S., and appears to be spreading rapidly, with new cases increasing at an exponential rate. Public health experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, agree that more than a million lives are at risk nationwide — as the virus can cause severe respiratory distress and lung failure. The oldest among us and those with chronic health conditions are most at risk, but everyone can be sickened, and people who aren't exhibiting any symptoms can carry and spread the virus. We have seen in China and are seeing now in Europe what happens when hospitals become overwhelmed -- it is a terrible scene. We must act aggressively or we will be in the same place. Forcing businesses to temporarily close may not be an easy political choice, but it is the morally clear one, in the best interest of the people of Virginia. Governor Northam and the rest of our Commonwealth’s government should heed the advice of public health experts and do all they can to #flattenthecurve at which this virus spreads. If the federal government will not take decisive action, state and local governments must. Gov. Northam, please close non-essential businesses, especially those such as bars and restaurants where large groups may congregate, to prevent unnecessary contagion and save lives. And please recognize the impacts this will have on workers and small businesses, and use the resources of the Commonwealth to ensure workers continue to get pay and that businesses forced to temporarily close are made whole.

A dangerous new coronavirus (COVID-19) is at its early stages of spreading in the U.S., and appears to be spreading rapidly, with new cases increasing at an exponential rate. The California Department of Public Health has established that the virus is present and spreading within California. Public health experts agree that more than a million lives are at risk nationwide — as the virus can cause severe respiratory distress and lung failure. The oldest among us and those with chronic health conditions are most at risk, but everyone can be sickened, and people who aren't exhibiting any symptoms can carry and spread the virus. We have seen in China and are seeing now in Europe what happens when hospitals become overwhelmed -- it is a terrible scene. We must act aggressively or we will be in the same place. Forcing businesses to temporarily close may not be an easy political choice, but it is the morally clear one, in the best interest of the people of California. Governor Gavin Newsom and the California government should heed the advice of public health experts and do all they can to #flattenthecurve at which this virus spreads. If the federal government will not take decisive action, state and local governments must. Governor Newsom, please close non-essential businesses, especially those such as bars and restaurants where large groups may congregate, to prevent unnecessary contagion and save lives. And please recognize the impacts this will have on workers and small businesses, and use the resources of California to ensure workers continue to get pay and that businesses forced to temporarily close are made whole. There is no reason we can't both act to prevent public health while also taking care of the workers and local businesses being asked to sacrifice so we can do so.

Americans need to be more aggressive in their approach to halting the spread of the novel coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said today, Sunday March 15th. Specifically, he said he would support a 14-day national shutdown here in the United States. President Trump and the Coronavirus Task Force should adhere to this recommendation and initiate said shutdown immediately. Yesterday, March 14, 2020, Italy confirmed 398 deaths from COVID--19 in just one day. The U.S. death toll rose to 62, and the total number of confirmed cases surging to more than 3,200. More than 6,000 people have died around the world. The United States is weeks behind many other countries in mitigating the spread of this novel, deadly virus -- including Senegal which has prepared for COVID--19 since February and is reportedly able to test its citizens within a 4hr turnaround and South Korea which is able to test 15,000 citizens a day. We are behind the curve in protecting ourselves. A national shutdown is what is now needed. As evidenced by massive weekend turnout to bars in Nashville, Tennessee and New York City, New York, Americans will not, at scale, take social distancing seriously until mandated to do so. We need a 14-day national shutdown now.

Doctors in clinics cannot test for Covid-19 with personal protective equipment (PPE) even if the test kits arrive one day. We cannot see sick patients without N95 masks. Some offices are shutting down and only doing telehealth because they don’t have PPE. This should be the priority.

A dangerous new coronavirus (COVID-19) is at its early stages of spreading in the U.S., and appears to be spreading rapidly, with new cases increasing at an exponential rate. The DC Department of Health has established that the virus is present and spreading within Washington. Public health experts agree that more than a million lives are at risk nationwide — as the virus can cause severe respiratory distress and lung failure. The oldest among us and those with chronic health conditions are most at risk, but everyone can be sickened, and people who aren't exhibiting any symptoms can carry and spread the virus. We have seen in China and are seeing now in Europe what happens when hospitals become overwhelmed -- it is a terrible scene. We must act aggressively or we will be in the same place. Forcing businesses to temporarily close may not be an easy political choice, but it is the morally clear one, in the best interest of the people of Washington. Mayor Bowser and the DC government should heed the advice of public health experts and do all they can to #flattenthecurve at which this virus spreads. If the federal government will not take decisive action, state and local governments must. Mayor Bowser, please close non-essential businesses, especially those such as bars and restaurants where large groups may congregate, to prevent unnecessary contagion and save lives. And please recognize the impacts this will have on workers and small businesses, and use the resources of the District to ensure workers continue to get pay and that businesses forced to temporarily close are made whole. This is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, with a strong tax base and progressive council. There is no reason we can't both act to prevent public health while also taking care of the workers and local businesses being asked to sacrifice so we can do so.

Shelter matters during a disaster. As the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, and public health experts around the world plead with people to stay home during the pandemic, sheltering in safe housing empowers us to save lives by slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Social distancing preserves precious hospital and public safety resources, but it also means hardworking families are suffering lost wages and layoffs. If you do not act to stop evictions and foreclosures, some of our neighbors’ ability to stay in their homes will be in jeopardy. Their loss puts every one of us at risk. That’s why, in previous times of great crisis, lawmakers have moved quickly to stop evictions and foreclosures. Ending them will also preserve judicial and law enforcement resources for the vital work of keeping us all safe. So please: join lawmakers across the United States, including Miami-Dade, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Philadelphia, New York State, and New Jersey’s own Essex County, by putting an immediate stop to evictions and foreclosures throughout Hudson County. Resources: https://www.citylab.com/equity/2020/03/coronavirus-income-loss-paying-rent-eviction-housing-covid19/607426/ https://www.merkley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20.03.12%20National%20moratorium%20on%20evictions%20and%20foreclosures%20COVID-19.pdf

Those of us who lived through the 2008 crash and Great Recession saw the lasting economic effects of so many Americans who could no longer afford to pay their mortgages and rents. It ruined lives, and many Americans never recovered. It depressed the economy for a very long time. Let's not make the same mistake twice. Ask Congress to pass legislation that will maintain the economic stability of American families while we navigate this crisis.

We are in a health crisis and entering an economic crisis. During the Great Recession, leaders focused primarily on financial relief for big businesses and banks, causing communities of color and working-class people to lose massive amounts of wealth – forever. We must learn from this previous mistake, and provide consistent financial support for families that were already living paycheck to paycheck. We need to send Emergency Money to the People right away, and provide ongoing support. NBA stars, business owners, and concerned citizens on Twitter are sending people cash to cover lost wages and emergency supplies. The government should bolster what Americans already know to be correct – that cash allows people to solve problems for themselves, quickly.

An astounding number of people in this city do not have enough savings to cover food and basic supplies for one to two weeks in the case that they are out of work. In light of the current spread of Coronavirus and resulting economic effects, many people in Cleveland are understandably nervous about the insecurities they may be facing if they are unable to work. Many low-income residents in Cleveland are in a tenuous situation due to the spread of Coronavirus and resulting workplace shutdowns. We've crafted a thoughtful and collaborative approach to the crisis in the hopes that landlords adopt these practices to avoid any undue displacement or hardship on their tenants: 1. Proactively reach out to tenants to explain the landlord's plans and expectations on this issue and to ask them to provide updates about any changes in their financial status. We ask that landlords assure tenants that they are committed to working with them on a case by case basis to accommodate their needs. 2. During the course of this epidemic and its resulting economic outcomes, we ask that landlords put a moratorium on any financial-related evictions. 3. We ask that landlords utilize deferrals, loans, or temporary rent reductions/forgiveness as necessary to help those who have been laid off, prevented from working, or otherwise unable to make their rent rely on the safety and security of their home. Here is a message template to share with tenants: “Dear _, we hope this message finds you and your family well. We understand that the unfolding Coronovirus epidemic will impact a number of our tenants and are monitoring the situation closely. We do not want to add housing insecurity to the stresses that everyone is already experiencing, and are committed to ensuring that all of our tenants can stay in their homes through the duration of the present crisis. We are willing to work with each tenant on a case by case basis to address problems, financial or otherwise. We are asking that everyone promptly inform us of any developing problem as soon as new information is available so that we can work together to make accommodations. Please keep us posted, do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns, and in the meantime, take care of yourselves." * * * * * * * * We must work together to find solutions that meet the needs of many. To anyone worried about the ramifications of this crisis, whether landlords or tenants: Let's put our heads together to discuss how to get through it while protecting our most vulnerable residents. Contact: [email protected] to get involved.