City Council Looks to Extend Pandemic-Era Caps on Third-Party Delivery Fees

City Council votes to permanently cap third-party delivery fees

New York City lawmakers voted on Thursday to permanently cap the fees that delivery companies like Grubhub, Uber, and DoorDash can charge restaurants. The bill — co-sponsored by council members Francisco Moya of Queens’s 21st District and Mark Gjonaj of the Bronx’s 13th District — would cap delivery and non-delivery fees at 20 percent, extending a similar temporary measure passed by the Council last year.

“The City Council has taken a critically important step toward protecting New York City eateries by passing legislation to permanently cap the outrageous third-party delivery fees charged by these billion dollar corporations,” Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said in a statement.

The cap is part of a larger package of bills targeted at leveling the playing field for restaurant owners and third-party deliverers. The Council also passed a measure that would require delivery companies to obtain a license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection every two years in order to conduct business in the city. Under the bill, the department could revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew licenses for companies that violate city regulations. The bills now await Mayor Bill de Blasio’s signature.

In other news

— The inaugural South East Queens Vegan Festival is headed to Roy Wilkins Park in Jamaica on Sunday, August 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Created by vegan Caribbean soul food spot, Real Veggie Cafe, to bring about “generational health and wealth in our communities,” the free event includes cooking, juicing, and eating competitions among local chefs and attendees. — Caroline Shin, Eater contributor

— Up-and-coming dessert company Marco Ice Cream will be serving up scoops from Partners Coffee in the West Village and Talea Beer Co. in Williamsburg this weekend. The pop-ups will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on August 28 and 29.

— City Council voted on Thursday to tighten zoning rules for street performers and food vendors in Times Square.

— Brooklyn Magazine finds “sticky pernil” and “lively mondongo” at the recently opened El Manjar Dominicano in Greenpoint.

— Big Night, a party supplies store with a bangin’ backyard, opens this Saturday, August 28 in Greenpoint.

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