On Monday, April 19, 2021, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti delivered his 2021 State of the City speech and announced several initiatives designed to assist restaurants. 

The proposals for restaurant relief included in Garcetti’s speech include:

• $25 million program to write Comeback Checks of $5,000 to 5,000 small businesses.
• A proposed ordinance to cut the time for alcohol permit approval for restaurants by 90% and to cut the cost of that permit by 70%.
• Allowing restaurants to defer city fees of $8,000 or more for a three-year period.
• Suspension of valet and off-site parking requirements to help restaurants save up to $10,000.
• Making the LA Al Fresco dining program permanent, including nearly $2 million in grants for restaurants in low-income neighborhoods to set up permanent parklets for outdoor dining.
• A set-aside of over $1.3 million to help street vendors clear bureaucratic hurdles and purchase modernized carts that will let them get the permits needed to operate with stability and freedom.

Details on when these programs could be implemented and how to apply have not yet been released. Funds to support these proposals are included in the Mayor’s Proposed City Budget and summary. The Los Angeles City Council now needs to consider the proposals and budget and vote to implement these measures.