Contact Your Elected Officials Regarding Third-Party Food Delivery

Fix Food Delivery, Call Your Councilperson

Third-party delivery services, such as DoorDash, Grubhub, and UberEats, charge restaurants commissions as high as 30% and additional fees on orders through affiliated phone numbers and webpages, cutting into already-thin profit margins. Restaurants not interested in these services may struggle with being added without their knowledge. As a result of restrictions on in-person dining during the COVID-19 pandemic, these issues have become amplified.

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In May, legislation was enacted by New York City capping third-party delivery service fees at 20% and prohibiting delivery companies from charging restaurants for calls that do not result in orders. However, this cap on fees is above the 10% cap initially proposed in New York City, the 10% cap enacted by executive order in Jersey City, and the 15% caps in major cities including San Francisco, Seattle, and D.C. These protective policies in New York City also end 90 days after the reopening of on-premise dining – long before restaurants can recover.

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This behavior by third-party delivery services threatens the continued existence of independent restaurants across New York City, and stronger legislation is needed. 

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Calling your Council Member helps your voice get heard in the discussion surrounding third-party delivery services. Use one of the scripts below or write your own!

short script

Hi, my name is ___________ and I live in the council member’s district. I’m calling in support of legislation protecting restaurants from high fees from third-party delivery apps. I urge you to help our restaurants stay in business and pass legislation to extend the 20% cap on fees beyond 90 days.

long script

Hi, my name is ___________ and I live in the council member’s district. I’m calling in support of legislation protecting restaurants from high fees from third-party delivery apps. Compared to other cities in the U.S., the legislation on delivery services passed by the Council in May sets a higher cap on fees, and it ends 90 days after reopening, threatening the ability of restaurants to stay in business. I urge you to pass legislation to lower and extend the cap on third-party delivery fees.

find your council member below

You can find your City Council district at the New York City Council’s page here. Contact information for Members is below.

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You can read more about Int. No. 1908-B and Int. No. 1898-A, the May legislation on third-party delivery services, on the City Council’s website.