Grubhub letter falsely lists NYC restaurants that support loosening delivery cap fee

A number of Huge Apple restaurant homeowners had been named with out their information in a letter despatched to native politicians by Grubhub in a lobbying push to amend a regulation that limits what meals supply corporations can cost the eateries, The Publish has discovered.

One of many missives despatched final month to Metropolis Council member Carmen De La Rosa named 23 companies in her Washington Heights district. 

Nevertheless, at the very least seven of the restaurant homeowners didn’t know something concerning the letter till it was dropped at their consideration by the New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar and Lounge Affiliation, a number of homeowners advised The Publish.

The letter additionally named individuals who didn’t personal the eating places.

“That is clearly an try to make use of us with out our consent to push by means of laws,” stated Gus Anton, proprietor of The Park View restaurant at 219 Dyckman St. “I used to be outraged by the letter,” which listed Pedro Reyes – who’s unknown to Anton – as a consultant of the 50-seat eatery that serves sandwiches, salads and pastries.

Sandra Jaquez, proprietor of Sa’tacos at 231 Dyckman St., was equally shocked to be taught that her restaurant was a signatory and represented by Matteo Costa.

“I don’t know who Matteo Costa is,” Jaquez stated. “I by no means agreed to the letter and I’m not for this [legislation],” she added.

5 different restaurant homeowners – Marisco Centro, Grito Mexican Grill, Burgos, Amore Cafe and Malecon Restaurant – additionally didn’t consent to being listed on the letter, based on Jeffrey Garcia, president of the Latino Restaurant, Bar and Lounge Affiliation.

“Any doc they put out now needs to be questioned due to these discrepancies we discovered,” Garcia stated.

De La Rosa was unavailable for remark her spokesperson, Fraynette Familia, stated.

The equivalent kind letter was despatched to different Metropolis Council members itemizing eating places of their districts, based on one Council member, who didn’t need to be recognized, however confirmed that it was despatched by a Grubhub lobbyist.

A Grubhub spokesman declined to remark concerning the letter when reached by The Publish on Wednesday.

The letter is the most recent skirmish in a pitched lobbying battle between the meals supply corporations and restaurant commerce teams, who’re combating to maintain the payment cap on the books because the Metropolis Council prepares for hearings on the difficulty.

In 2021, legislators handed the payment cap, which restricts the business from charging eating places greater than 20% per takeout order. The regulation permits the business to cost 15% for supply and 5% for different charges reminiscent of advertising. 

The meals supply corporations are backing a invoice launched final November that will loosen the payment cap.

“Teams engaged on behalf of huge eating places have persistently misled members of the business about this laws,” the Grubhub rep advised The Publish. “To-date, greater than 500 representatives from eating places throughout the 5 boroughs have voiced their help for this widespread sense change to make their very own advertising selections and higher compete with massive manufacturers. And it’s encouraging that greater than half the Metropolis Council has co-sponsored this invoice to empower small, locally-owned companies.” 

The Metropolis Council has not set a date for a future listening to on the difficulty.

Grubhub, Doordash and UberEats are additionally suing the city to overturn the 2021 regulation, which was implemented in 2020 to assist eating places climate the pandemic. 

A rising variety of 26 Council members, together with Marjorie Velazquez (D-Bronx), Eric Dinowitz (D-Bronx) and Vicke Paladino (R-Queens) help amending the regulation – alarming a big contingent of eating places who don’t need to reverse the payment cap.

On Tuesday, some 900 restaurant homeowners delivered a letter to the Metropolis Council entitled “Say No To The Greater Charges For The Huge Supply Invoice.”

“There may be an aggressive lobbying marketing campaign alleging there’s a grassroots marketing campaign to do away with the payment cap from eating places and group teams,” based on the letter, which was shared with The Publish. “Nevertheless it’s being funded and coordinated by a significant supply firm that stands to learn vastly.”

The letter was spearheaded by the NYC Hospitality Alliance and the Latino Restaurant Bar and Lounge Affiliation, which characterize greater than 4,000 eateries within the metropolis.

“It’s very regarding that so many progressive Council members have signed on to gutting this restaurant safety on behalf of billion greenback corporations,” Hospitality Alliance government director, Andrew Rigie stated.

“We’re gearing up as a result of they’re spending an incredible amount of cash on lobbying and are partaking in questionable tactics,” Rigie added.