To Kick Off "2nd Avenue Restaurant Week," Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney Urges Support for Local Businesses

Press Release

To kick off "Second Avenue Restaurant Week," a Manhattan Chamber of Commerce initiative to promote dining establishments affected by the construction of the Second Avenue Subway, U.S. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens) urged New Yorkers and visitors to support local businesses by dining and shopping along the Second Avenue corridor, not just during the promotional week, but year-round. Yesterday, Congresswoman Maloney visited Delizia Restaurant and Pizzeria on Second Avenue at East 92nd Street to treat volunteers and supporters to some hot pizza and cold sodas and to express her support in person for Second Avenue Restaurant Week.

"I am delighted to support businesses and restaurants in our neighborhood affected by the 2nd Avenue Subway construction. There's no finer menu of dining options anywhere than on Manhattan's East Side, and I want to encourage all New Yorkers and visitors to our great city to visit Second Avenue and help support some of the terrific establishments located along the construction route for our neighborhood's future subway line," said Congresswoman Maloney.

"I'm proud to join the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce in supporting the "Shop Second Avenue" campaign year-round -- and to grab some great deals during Second Avenue Restaurant Week right now! We want to encourage shoppers and diners to flock to Second Avenue and help boost the great restaurants and small businesses that are the lifeblood of our community," she added.

Background:
Second Avenue Restaurant Week is a Manhattan Chamber of Commerce initiative intended to promote local establishments whose business has been affected due to the construction of the Second Avenue Subway, a long-dormant project of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on which work was resumed in earnest in 2007, and which is projected to be completed by December 2016. Restaurants between East 68th and East 96th Streets along the Second Avenue corridor are offering customers 20 % discounts off food, or a three course meal for $20.16 (reflecting the Subway project's expected completion date). The event is organized and sponsored by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the New York State Restaurant Association and currently includes twenty-five participating restaurants.

The Second Avenue subway is one of the two largest mass transit projects in construction in the entire country. The other, East Side Access connecting Long Island Railroad to Grand Central Terminal, is also being built almost entirely in New York's 14th Congressional District represented by Congresswoman Maloney.

To help support the Second Avenue Restaurant Week initiative, Congresswoman Maloney joined its Twitter campaign today using the Twitter hashtag "#2ndAveRestWeek". A list of participating restaurants can be found at:

* http://www.2ndavenueshopper.com/

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