Judge says New York State must compromise on COVID-19 restrictions on bars and restaurants

The owners of The Quarter in Buffalo and Pharaoh's Gentlemen's Club in Cheektowaga said a judge stated the state must come up with a compromise to open bars and restaurants in Erie County's orange zones.

40 bars and restaurants are suing to reopen indoor dining.

BE 14-DAYS.ALSO TONIGHT -- ASTATE SUPREMECOURT JUDGEHANDED LOCALRESTAURANTOWNERS A MUCH-NEEDED SERVINGOF HOPE TODAY --PUTTING PRESSUREON THE STATE TOGET AN ACTIONPLAN IN PLACE THATWOULD ALLOWRESTAURANTS INERIE COUNTY TOREOPEN.THE REBOUNDBUFFALO IS OURCOMMITMENT TOMAKING SUREPEOPLE IN POWERARE DOING WHAT'SRIGHT.OLIVIA PROIA WALKSUS THRU APOSSIBLE TIMELINE.EACH DAY... IT'SANOTHER TALLY.ANOTHER DAYBRANDON CARRSAYS HE'S LOST THERIGHT TO EARN ALIVING.CARR: IT TAKES ATOLL PERSONALLYWITH MY FAMILYAND WITH MYCHILDREN.CHRISTMAS THISYEAR WASEXTREMELYDIFFICULT, ALMOSTEMBARASSING.

IT'SSHAMEFUL.

I CANALMOST NOTAFFORD TO TAKECARE OF MYFAMILY.CARR OWNS THEQUARTER INDOWNTOWNBUFFALO... HEESTIMATES THERESTAURANT HASLOST AROUND FOURHUNDREDTHOUSANDDOLLARS BECAUSEOF COVID-19RESTRICTIONS.CARR: WE DON'TEVEN HAVE THERIGHT TO DOANYTHING ABOUTIT.

WELL WE DOHAVE THE RIGHTTO DO SOMETHINGABOUT IT, BUTTHEY'RESTRIPPING US OFIT.PETER: IT'S MONEYTHAT WE'LL NEVERSEE AGAIN.

WE'REDOWN CLOSE TO$2 MILLIONDOLLARS.

IT'S NOTFAIR.PETER GERACE ISTHE OWNER OFPHAROAH'SGENTLEMEN'S CLUB.HE'S CONCERNEDBUSINESS HAS JUSTMOVED DOWN THESTREET... TOYELLOW ZONES...WHERE BARS ANDRESTAURANTS ARESTILL OPEN.

SOGERACE, CARR AND38 OTHER BARRESTAURANTOWNERS ARE SUINGTO REOPEN INDOORDINING.PETER: ERIECOUNTY IS BEINGBULLIED.

THAT'STHE EXACT WORDSMY LAWYERS USE.BULLIED.GERACE SAYSTHEY'VE RECEIVEDGOOD NEWS.PETER: THEGOVERNMENT HASUNTIL NEXTMONDAY TO COMEUP WITH ASOLUTION FOR USTO OPEN BACK UP.STAND UP: AND IFTHERE'S NOCOMPROMISE THESTATE MUSTPROVIDESCIENTIFICEVIDENCE AS TOWHYRESTAURANTSMUST REMAINCLOSED.CARR: NOT ONESINGLE CASE HASBEEN TRACEDBACK TO THE 40RESTAURANTSTHAT AREINVOLVED IN THIS,SO SCIENTIFICALLYTHIS ISN'T MAKINGSENSEWHATSOEVER.PETER: SO WE'RETRYING TOUNDERSTAND WHYWE'RE BEING SHUTDOWN.AND EVEN IF THEINDUSTRY CANREOPEN, THEREARE STILL ISSUESTHAT LIE AHEAD.CARR: WE STILLHAVE TO FIND AWAY TO REPLENISHALL OF OUR FOOD,FIND NEW STAFF,COME UP WITHNEW PAYROLLSYSTEMS ANDEVERYTHING.WE'VE BEENDAMAGED SOMUCH THAT EVENWHEN THEY DOOPEN US, WE STILLMAY HAVE TOCLOSE.OP, 7EWN.