Restaurant Owners and Small Businesses Are Suing New York City Over Its Vaccine Mandate

Restaurant owners are suing the state of New York over its vaccine mandate.

New York City announced a new mandate earlier this month requiring citizens to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before being seated inside for restaurants, going to gyms, or going to an event held inside. This rule is also applied to staff members, CNN reports. September 13 is when the city will actively enforce the rule, which went into effect this week.

The group of restaurants and five small businesses came together in a lawsuit against the city.

“This vaccine mandate is arbitrary and capricious because it targets certain establishments but not others,” the plaintiffs wrote in their lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday. In their efforts to end the mandate, the group claims the rule blocks unvaccinated people from exercising their religious freedom and stops them from working.

Nonetheless, Mayor de Blasio says he has “tremendous confidence that we’re in a very strong legal position” pertaining to the order. “We must get more people vaccinated,” adding that doing so is “critical.” According to court filings, the plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit are guided by Independent Restaurant Owners Association Rescue.