New York State Assemblyman Tony Simone, a gay man and LGBTQ+ rights advocate, has introduced a bill requiring that rest-stop restaurants throughout the state be open seven days a week. The Democrat’s legislation targets fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, which has always been closed on Sundays.
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As the bill’s sponsor, Simone said it is “not in the public good” to have eateries along the New York State Thruway that are shuttered on a busy travel day. The lawmaker, who represents part of Manhattan, said in a statement, “Not only does Chick-Fil-A have a long, shameful history of opposing LGBTQ rights, it simply makes no sense for them to be a provider of food services in busy travel plazas.”
He added, “A company, that by policy, is closed on one of the busiest travel days of the week should not be the company that travelers have to rely on for food services.”
Bill Aimed at Chick-fil-A Would Affect Future Projects
The New York Thruway has been undergoing major renovations of most of its 27 rest stops. Chick-fil-A is in 10 of those locations and has already signed a 33-year contract with the state’s highway system. As a result, Simone’s bill would affect “all future contracts at transportation facilities owned by the Thruway Authority, as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.”
The bill reads, in part:
While there is nothing objectionable about a fast-food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant. Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public. Allowing for retail space to go unused one-seventh of the week or more is a disservice and unnecessary inconvenience to travelers who rely on these service areas.
Simone, who fought for marriage equality in New York and is married to a man, said, “You know, we get hungry when we’re traveling. We may not like our brother-in-law or sister-in-law’s cooking and want to get a snack on Christmas Eve” (which is on a Sunday this year). “To find one of the restaurants closed on the Thruway is just not in the public good.”
Lawmaker: Chick-fil-A Is Welcome If They Open on Sundays
New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey, a Democrat who is sponsoring Simone’s bill in the senate, said, “We need to ensure that [rest stops] remain reliable hubs, especially on the busiest travel days of the year.” She added, “If one of the main food options closes for just one day, it not only inconveniences travelers but also puts a significant strain on the food spots that are open, leading to longer wait times.”
The proposed bill must pass both houses of the New York Legislature, which are controlled by Democrats, and then receive a signature from Gov. Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat.
Opposition to Chick-fil-A’s role in the revamped rest stops dates back to July 2021. Several state lawmakers opposed the inclusion of the chain, which has been the target of boycotts led by LGBTQ groups.
