The Las Cruces City Council will present a Proclamation at the Monday, April 19, 2021 regularly scheduled meeting declaring Las Cruces Restaurant Appreciation Week, from April 19 to April 25.
The Proclamation will be presented during the early portion of Monday’s City Council meeting, which will be conducted via video conference. The meeting will be televised live on CLC-TV, Comcast Cable channel 20 and will also be available online at clctv.com and at YouTube.com/clctv20.
City Council has been strong supporters of Las Cruces restaurants particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council has established a Meal Voucher Program that provides eligible residents with a $10 vouchers that can be redeemed for a meal at restaurants who are participating in the program.
City Council has recognized that Las Cruces restaurants are a central part of the City's economic engine. In 2019, there were 5,497 residents who were employed at Las Cruces restaurants.
The Council is also mindful that Doña Ana County restaurant workers have been deeply affected by the pandemic. About 16 percent of all unemployment insurance claims since the start of the pandemic have been filed by restaurant workers who lost their jobs as a result of restaurants closing during the pandemic.
New Mexico’s restaurant industry was the second-largest employer before the pandemic and provided more than 75,000 individuals with jobs and the opportunity to learn valuable career skills.
Restaurants in Las Cruces have been severely impacted by the pandemic, losing an estimated $38 million in revenues compared to 2019 before the pandemic. Despite the revenue losses, Las Cruces restaurants have continued to contribute to charitable causes, such as youth sports leagues, military veterans’ organizations and law enforcement. Local restaurants continue to fight hunger through food box giveaways.
The Las Cruces City Council encourages residents to continue to patronize local restaurants and thanks them for their service and contributions to the community.