Graham, Donna
‘REESE AREER RN Re we |
To: Michael Buckley
Subject: RE: Curiew
From: Michael Buckley [mailto:michael.mtdq@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 7:01 PM
To: Board of Aldermen
Subject: Curfew
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To President Lori Wilshire and the Board of Alderman
I am requesting to have this letter added to the discussion of the Restaurant Curfew in Nashua
The current proposal to enact a curfew in the city of Nashua is an action that will have a detrimental effect
that is targeted specifically at restaurant operators in the city of Nashua. The restaurant industry has been
dramatically impacted by the COVID crisis and there are many operators who are barely hanging on to their
businesses. Any additional actions such as this curfew could spell the end. If you have visited any restaurants
in Nashua over the past eight months you will see that the majority of operators have taken safety of their
staff and patrons very seriously and already have protocols in place that are far more stringent than many
other industries.
There has been no scientific hard data that has demonstrated restaurants and bars are super spreaders
of COVID. The NHLRA has requested this data from NH DHHS numerous times and there have been no studies
or evidence that can show COVID was spread in restaurants. Some of the unintended consequences of this
action include:
e Forcing patrons into restaurants in a shorter time period which will increase social contact during
the earlier hours
e Forcing gatherings at homes with no air exchange vs in restaurants & bars where there is the
highest level of air exchange and fresh air constantly being added. People are still going to get
together if there is a curfew.
e This is a targeted action that will only impact Nashua restaurants. This will encourage patrons to go
outside of Nashua to restaurants and bars that are not being restricted. This is detrimental to the
business owners in your city and gives them less of a chance of survival than similar properties not in
Nashua.
e Acurfew would only continue the narrative that restaurants are dangerous and will keep driving
business away. Restaurants that are following procedures are far more safe than your visit to your big
box store or grocery store where employees have no place readily available to wash their hands,
product is touched by numerous people, and sanitation of high touch areas are barely attended to.
We respectfully ask that you vote against enacting a curfew targeted at the small businesses in your own
community. ifthere are a few operators that are not following the proper protocols the action should be
against these specific operators not against the industry as a whole.
Thank You for your consideration
Michael T Buckley
Surf and MT's Restaurants Nashua NH
