STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As part of my routine on the food beat, I visit multiple restaurants and markets each week—sometimes three or four in a single day. This gives me the chance to speak with a wide range of food service operators, grocers, and the hard-working people behind Staten Island’s restaurant industry. The job comes with a few realities: I’ll never be a Size 2, I hear a lot of opinions, and I’ve developed a solid sense of the Staten Island industry’s pulse.
After speaking with dozens of owners and managers over the past several days of varying backgrounds and political views, some compelling observations have emerged. But before diving into those, one common theme stands out: frustration with politics. This column isn’t about telling anyone how to vote or urging attendance at community board meetings. It’s about recognizing that restaurant owners are busy—often working during prime-time hours when civic meetings take place—and may not have the time or bandwidth to stay informed on local issues.
The same goes for many readers. So, consider this a platform to amplify the voices of restaurant owners—men and women from diverse backgrounds—who want to share their stories, concerns, and deep worries during a time of uncertainty in the mayoral elections and amid global economic shifts…