More than 1,000 responses were received In less than two weeks following the City Council’s request that restaurateurs provide feedback on the City’s food safety inspection process and new letter grading system.
Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Health Committee Chair Maria del Carmen Arroyo unveiled the questionnaire on January 10th and all responses were due by January 31st. The survey responses will now be analyzed in preparation for an oversight hearing to explore the inspection process and areas for reform.
“I’m thrilled with the response so far, but we want to hear from even more restaurateurs – big and small, in every neighborhood, in every borough,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “We’re asking restaurant owners and operators to give us as much information and real data as possible to serve as the foundation for our hearing. This survey gives an important group of New Yorkers – restaurant owners – their say in a system that regulates them.”
“So far, this online survey seems to be yielding a strong response from New York's restaurateurs, which is great. This is the kind of engagement we need from the public on issues that affect daily life in our city. Based on this early result, I think we can expect a robust oversight hearing in the near future,” said Oversight and Investigations Chair Jumaane Williams.
In July 2010, DOHMH began requiring food service establishments to post letter grades corresponding with scores reflecting sanitary inspections during which restaurants receive points for violations. An inspection score of 0-13 violation points is an A, 14-27 violation points is a B, and 28 or more violation points is a C. Grade cards are meant to be clearly visible to the public.
Attorney James DiPasquale
DiPasquale Law Group