A Michigan restaurant owner issued an ad pleading for people to apply for jobs while lamenting that state lawmakers “make it easy to stay home and collect unemployment” amid the coronavirus.
“Hello, Tony Ruggiero, when Covid impacted our lives months ago, my family and staff promised to do our part to feed the community,” Tony Ruggiero said in the ad. “Today, we face another challenge, as many restaurants close their doors never to open again, we are faced with the problems of finding help. Our lawmakers continue to make it easy to stay home and collect unemployment rather than go to work. At Antonio’s and Roman Village, we believe a loyal workforce creates a strong family and strong community — which we are blessed to have. Please join our family.”
Ruggiero said the 30-second ad isn’t meant to be political but “intended to bring attention to a problem that is happening to everybody.”
He is the president and CEO of Antonio’s and Roman Village Corporations, which has been in business for more than 55 years in Michigan.
He told a local Fox outlet that he took out a full-page help wanted ad earlier this year but didn’t get many responses.
“Some of the responses we did get, they didn’t even show up for the interview,” Ruggiero said.
“We could use a great deal of staff, maybe 50 or 60 employees between all our locations,” he said.
After the commercial aired, more patrons began frequenting the restaurants, citing the commercial as to why.
Michigan became a hotbed of controversy earlier this year because of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s extended stay-at-home orders. Protests to reopen formed in Lansing in the spring, including one protest in which people carrying rifles and other long guns gathered in the House chamber and shouted at legislators.
In April, thousands of protesters flooded the state’s capital in their cars while flying “Trump 2020” and U.S. flags to protest coronavirus-focused restrictions that they said were excessive.
In October, the Michigan Supreme Court struck down Whitmer’s emergency orders regarding the coronavirus, effective immediately.
“Another big win at the Supreme Court today!” Michigan Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield said on Twitter. “The law is the law, and partisan politics can’t change that. The people will finally have their voices heard in this process. The House is in again tomorrow, and I hope the Governor is ready to cooperate. It’s time to work together!”
