NEW YORK—Mayor Michael Bloomberg stood with some Long Island restaurant owners on Monday to laud what he sees as the great success of the restaurant letter-grading system that premiered a year ago. The publicly visible grades rank sanitary and safety conditions.
“On this one-year anniversary of restaurant grading, I am proud to say that the system is working for customers and for restaurants,” said Bloomberg. “Not only has the city made restaurants cleaner, safer, and more transparent for consumers, but the fine relief has saved 8,000 restaurant owners about $3 million.”
Restaurants that receive an A upon the initial inspection are relieved of fines for infractions.
Andrew Rigie of the New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA) isn’t so sure the grading system is a great success.
Rigie explains that all other restaurants that don’t receive an A upon initial inspection still have to pay fines, even ones that receive an A after a second inspection. More of these fines are being handed out, he said.
“On this one-year anniversary of restaurant grading, I am proud to say that the system is working for customers and for restaurants,” said Bloomberg. “Not only has the city made restaurants cleaner, safer, and more transparent for consumers, but the fine relief has saved 8,000 restaurant owners about $3 million.”
Restaurants that receive an A upon the initial inspection are relieved of fines for infractions.
Andrew Rigie of the New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA) isn’t so sure the grading system is a great success.
Rigie explains that all other restaurants that don’t receive an A upon initial inspection still have to pay fines, even ones that receive an A after a second inspection. More of these fines are being handed out, he said.
“The current inspection system has increased the number of inspections and fines overall,” declared Rigie. While he supports efforts to protect public health and safety, he said, “We continue to have many concerns with the many negative impacts it has on the small business owner. We believe it has caused fear, concern, and sleepless nights.”
The city has programs in place in several languages to help ease restaurant owners into the system and help them get a passing grade, but many are still suffering during the transition says Rigie.
The number of restaurants that receive an A upon the initial inspection has gone up from 27 percent at the program’s six-month mark in January, to 39 percent.
A Baruch College survey shows New Yorkers appreciate the letters now posted in 90 percent of the city’s restaurants. According to the survey, which was included in a Department of Health (DOH) report released on Monday, 65 percent of people polled used the grades to “inform their dining choices all or most of the time.”
Rigie reminds diners that restaurants graded B and C are sill deemed safe and sanitary enough to serve the public.
The more points a restaurant is awarded, the worse. According to the DOH website, a single violation can earn the restaurant anywhere from 2 to 10 points, depending on the severity. It takes 28 points to get a C, 15 points to get a B, and less than 14 points to get an A.
“You can accrue over 1,000 points in this letter grade system, yet it only
takes 28 points to get a C,” Rigie points out.
A coffee shop owner in Midtown Manhattan who preferred to remain unnamed, says the grades are subjective.
“[Different inspectors work from] different interpretations of the guidelines. It really depends on who comes in here. If you get a really nice person, you could do really well. If you get someone who is having a really bad day, you could get a B or a C.”
The shop got a B upon first inspection. The owner took it to court and argued his 26 points down to a 14 points and an A-grade without a second inspection.
The city has programs in place in several languages to help ease restaurant owners into the system and help them get a passing grade, but many are still suffering during the transition says Rigie.
The number of restaurants that receive an A upon the initial inspection has gone up from 27 percent at the program’s six-month mark in January, to 39 percent.
A Baruch College survey shows New Yorkers appreciate the letters now posted in 90 percent of the city’s restaurants. According to the survey, which was included in a Department of Health (DOH) report released on Monday, 65 percent of people polled used the grades to “inform their dining choices all or most of the time.”
Rigie reminds diners that restaurants graded B and C are sill deemed safe and sanitary enough to serve the public.
The more points a restaurant is awarded, the worse. According to the DOH website, a single violation can earn the restaurant anywhere from 2 to 10 points, depending on the severity. It takes 28 points to get a C, 15 points to get a B, and less than 14 points to get an A.
“You can accrue over 1,000 points in this letter grade system, yet it only
takes 28 points to get a C,” Rigie points out.
A coffee shop owner in Midtown Manhattan who preferred to remain unnamed, says the grades are subjective.
“[Different inspectors work from] different interpretations of the guidelines. It really depends on who comes in here. If you get a really nice person, you could do really well. If you get someone who is having a really bad day, you could get a B or a C.”
The shop got a B upon first inspection. The owner took it to court and argued his 26 points down to a 14 points and an A-grade without a second inspection.
