Los Angeles Mayor Announces $800 Stipend For Employees In Food Service Industries

Do it for your people. Los Angeles food service employees will receive a one-time $800 stipend from the city.

On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the Secure Emergency Relief for Vulnerable Employees (SERVE) will provide 4,000 workers with cash from the nonprofit Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles. This includes employees from restaurants, breweries, and food stands.

California continues to struggle its fight with the coronavirus pandemic. Last week Governor Gavin Newsom issued a new stay-at-home order, and on Wednesday, Los Angeles county reported over 8,000 patients hospitalized with the virus and 40 new deaths. The new report placed restrictions on indoor dining.

To combat the financial strain on those in the food industries, SERVE has chosen to respond with the $800 stipend. According to the mayor, 4 out of every 10 food industry employees have lost their jobs, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“With outdoor dining suspended at our restaurants, the losses suffered by the industry’s workers and business owners are mounting,” Garcetti said. “I’ve heard the pain in the voices of our service workers and from our restaurant owners.”

If you or someone you know is interested in receiving the stipend, residents are eligible if they are 18 years or older and have a 2019 income of $58,450 or less. Applications for the initiative begin on Monday.