There s no doubt, many restaurant owners have had very tough times during the coronavirus pandemic, and state and local governments have been doing all they can to help.In Howard County, there was new concern about outdoor dining permits expiring, but County Executive Calvin Ball is hoping emergency legislation will be a quick fix. Outdoor dining offered us temporary respite from the very real concerns that we all shared of this deadly virus, Ball said Wednesday during a news conference.Ball said many restaurants in his county could not have survived without outdoor dining.Back in June 2020, the county offered outdoor permits for restaurants that didn t have outdoor seating or those that did could expand.That emergency order was tied to the state s emergency order, which is expected to expire on Aug. 15. Today, I plan to introduce emergency legislation that will allow those restaurants who are granted temporary outdoor seating permits during COVID-19 to keep that seating until
Now that the Plastics Reduction Act has passed the Howard County Council, restaurant owners like AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar’s Joe Barbera and environmental advocates are planning for implementation and the possibility of future legislation shifting carryout operations in the Howard restaurant industry.