New York lawmakers proposed legislation that would force restaurants in contracts with public authorities to remain open every day of the week, specifically naming Chick-fil-A and their longstanding company policy to close on Sundays.
New York State Democratic Assemblyman Tony Simone introduced a bill that would require publicly operated food services at transportation facilities and rest areas to “remain open seven days a week” in order to ensure that they “offer a reliable source of food services.” The justification for the bill explicitly names Chick-fil-A, which operates in seven locations leased by Irish convenience store chain Applegreen on behalf of the New York State Thruway Authority.
“Applegreen's portfolio of companies include Chick-fil-A, which by company policy is closed on Sundays, and which has already opened at seven service areas,” the bill justification reads. “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.”
The bill would only apply to “future contracts for food concessions” at publicly owned transportation facilities, implying that the current Chick-fil-A locations would not be impacted.
Chick-fil-A, a firm with many practices influenced by the Christian convictions of late founder Truett Cathy, closes for business every Sunday as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The company website says that Cathy “saw the importance of closing on Sundays so that he and his employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they choose.”
New York lawmakers previously attempted to block the opening of Chick-fil-A restaurants through the contract with Applegreen because the company avoids donating to charities which support homosexuality or transgenderism. New York State Democratic Assemblyman Harry Bronson said in a letter two years ago that the deal would contradict “non-discrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender expression.”
