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By in Latest News Comments Off on PLBTA President Speaks At Industry Rally

PLBTA President Speaks At Industry Rally

Tom Tyler, 2021-22 President of PLBTA and owner of McStew’s Irish Sports Pub

The following speech was given by PLBTA President Tom Tyler, owner of McStew’s Irish Sports Pub in Levittown, Pa.  His speech was given at an industry rally on the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol on November 18, 2020. The rally was held to support taverns and restaurants suffering from the state’s COVID-19 mitigation orders.

 

Good afternoon. It is great to see all of you have come out to have your voices heard! My name is Tom Tyler, president of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association and owner of McStew’s Irish Sports Pub in Levittown Bucks County. It’s an honor to speak on the steps of our Capitol today as our industry comes together as one single loud voice to fight for its survival.

Since day one of this crisis, taverns, restaurants, clubs, and brew pubs have been the tip of the spear in the fight against COVID-19. In March we were asked to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19, And we agreed to do our part. What started out as two weeks to slow the spread has turned into endless mitigation efforts destroying our industry. In the beginning we were asked to sacrifice, now we are being sacrificed!

We have played a key role in this fight. Again, we have done our part. But our industry continues to be targeted unlike any other. And not because the science says we should as the state’s own contact tracing numbers continue to show transmission of the virus in bars and restaurants is very low!

Over the last 8 months we’ve watched our businesses go into a downward spiral with little help from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Yes, I’m grateful the state has waived my licensing fees for 2021. Yes, I’m grateful that taverns and licensed restaurants can sell mixed drinks to go. But…it’s not nearly enough to save small business taverns and licensed restaurants from going out of business.

There has been a lot of talk of a vaccine in the news recently. That is promising for the future. But until then, many more establishments will hang “for sale” signs out as they watch their businesses close under the financial pressures being caused by mitigation orders.

We have heard repeatedly the governor and our legislators acknowledge the sacrifice our industry has made. But their words won’t pay our bills and the time for words is over, it’s time for action!

The state legislature needs to provide an industry bailout and other meaningful measures to provide much needed funds and lifelines to help our struggling establishments pay their rent…. Pay their mortgages….. pay their utilites…..and most importantly, to keep and pay their employees! The state is still sitting on 1.3 billion dollars in Federal cares money. We want our share of those federal dollars. We deserve our share of those dollars!

On behalf of all small business taverns and licensed restaurants across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association calls upon our state legislature to act now! Don’t wait any longer! We are out of time! We need help now!

Let me finish by saying that the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association stands proudly, here today, with our industry partners including clubs, restaurants, and brew pubs. We’re all in this together!

Thank you!

By in Latest News Comments Off on Harrisburg Check-in – Getting to know Rep. Kurt Masser

Harrisburg Check-in – Getting to know Rep. Kurt Masser

The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association sat down with Rep. Kurt Masser recently to learn more about him and his interest in politics. He is the only active tavern owner who sits in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In addition to owning Wayside Inn in Shamokin, he represents Montour County and parts of Northumberland and Columbia County in the state House. In recent months, Rep. Masser has been hosting a listening tour, travelling to different counties to meet with tavern owners about their concerns.

PLBTA: Tell us about the Wayside Inn. How long have you been in the bar business and why?
KM: I have been in the business for 38 years, we have owned the Wayside Inn for 31 years. We originated in the hospitality industry because of a need to market our farm products. I grew up on the family farm. We first started a farm market, then went into the restaurant and catering business and then we purchased the Wayside Inn. All are still open and doing well.

PLBTA: Thinking back to your first elected position, what motivated you to run for public office?
KM: It was as simple as opening my real estate tax bill at the business. I was mad as hell because of a large tax increase. I knew I had a couple of options, harp and complain or get involved, I chose the latter and ran for and won a seat as County Commissioner, then 7 years later for State Representative.

PLBTA: There are a number of pressing issues facing tavern owners today. Of all the issues, which ones are you most concerned with addressing?
KM: I have spent considerable time on gaming for taverns. But I also have been hearing from a number of people in the industry about fairness between different types of licensees, and am now working on those issues also.

PLBTA: Passage of Act 39 forced many changes in the retail liquor industry, with unintended consequences for many licensees.  Similar changes took place with each new law regulating gaming, from small games of chance to skill games and VGTs.  Taverns are facing more challenges and more competition than ever before from many angles.  Do you anticipate the Pennsylvania House of Representatives looking at the impacts of Act 39, and making changes to help level the playing field for all licensees?
KM: I think we have to look at the impacts of Act 39, and it is my job to help the rest of the General Assembly understand the challenges we face. The industry has radically changed since I’ve been in it, we need to be able to change and also to adapt, but more importantly we need the legislature to partner with us to protect our industry and the jobs associated with it.

PLBTA:  What can tavern owners do to help convince legislators to support them and get the changes they need from the PLCB and state government?
KM: Most importantly get to know your legislators. Make sure they hear from you! It means much, much more to me when I hear from a constituent in my District. Invite them to meet with you and talk about the issues. If possible, do a meeting with numerous tavern owners from his/her district and the legislator. They need to hear from you. It can be very frustrating when we are advancing a bill that either hurts or helps us and I hear from my colleagues that they hadn’t heard from any tavern owners.

PLBTA: As you know, our Members are mostly Mom-and-Pop operations. When they look around their hometowns, they can see that the local hardware store has closed, the independent doctor was bought out by a hospital chain, and the neighborhood grocery store is no more. They worry that their industry is next. Do you ever worry about small businesses going away?
KM: I do have concerns, but I don’t worry that our industry will go away. As I have said before, like any other business, times change, industries change, and you need to be ready and willing to change with those times.

PLBTA:  Rep. Masser, do you have any advice for bar and tavern owners about how to help change the state’s liquor or gaming laws?
KM: Get involved and let your voice be heard. You need to know your State Rep. and your State Senator, and they need to know you. I know running your business takes all of your time, and sometimes you may think “what is the point, it won’t matter”. I was just like most of you before being elected, but I now know how wrong I was.

PLBTA: Do you have any advice to other tavern owners who may be interested in running for office someday?
KM: If you are able to, you should run for office. Whether local, state or Federal, we need more people in office who have signed the front of the check. We need more people who have struggled to make payroll and pay bills, that know how changes to any laws can and will affect small business.

 

This Q&A was republished from the February 2020 edition of Pennsylvania Observer — the official monthly magazine of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association.