Every week that goes by without any federal relief funds, the more malicious and willfully negligent the restaurant apocalypse seems. This is the subject of a story I just wrote about insurance, but as usual there’s more to it. https://marker.medium.com/america-is-killing-its-restaurants-423d1b8c0bbb
Behind the Concerted Effort Not to Save America’s Restaurants

Restaurant are dying at a record rate—but insurance companies won’t bail them out

https://marker.medium.com/america-is-killing-its-restaurants-423d1b8c0bbb
In essence, restaurants are being slaughtered by The Blob, the longtime lobbyist and former Joe Biden aide @connaje term for the massive insidious corporate thought cartel that controls Washington. https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/08/attack-blob-professional-democrats-professional-republicans-ran-america-ground.html
Summer Rerun: Attack of the Blob – How Professional Democrats and Professional Republicans Ran...

A network of bank regulators, staffers, lobbyists, think tanks, and corporate officers undermined reform, using a cover of partisanship.

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/08/attack-blob-professional-democrats-professional-republicans-ran-america-ground.html
A guy who exemplifies the Blob is Nick Calio, the veteran lobbyist behind the $50 billion airline bailout who led gov affairs at Citigroup when it got a series of bailouts bigger but also more low key than those of any other bank. (randomly he was a regular at my old restaurant)
Chefs din’t have a Calio, and they weren’t used to asking for bailouts. They did have John Houghtaling, a trial lawyer who got rich suing The Blob mostly over its systematic lowballing of flood insurance claims. The Blob loathes him. https://www.nola.com/news/business/article_308a601a-d3b4-55ee-898d-2312168e27ce.html
After FEMA chides trial lawyers, this Metairie attorney pushes back

When FEMA chided trial lawyers this week for profiting at the expense of the agency's National Flood Insurance Program and its policyholders, John Houghtaling II's response was succinct: "Appalling."...

https://www.nola.com/news/business/article_308a601a-d3b4-55ee-898d-2312168e27ce.html
Houghtaling thought chefs not might need a bailout if they had business interruption insurance, a staple of most big commercial real estate leases. He also knew insurance companies would try to deny their claims. He tried to shame them. Lol. https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-hit-by-covid-19-want-insurance-payouts-insurers-say-no-11593527047
Companies Hit by Covid-19 Want Insurance Payouts. Insurers Say No.

A potentially $100 billion battle looms over “business interruption” coverage, which insurers say doesn’t apply unless there is physical damage, like from a fire. In the thick of the fight is a New...

https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-hit-by-covid-19-want-insurance-payouts-insurers-say-no-11593527047
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