Tomaso's Canteen

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Sam Minervino - Make-A-Wish Foundation We All Have the Power to Grant a Wish®. Help grant wishes by donating to my fundraising page today!

I am participating in “ Operation Change” for the first time…
Fiona, my first born Granddaughter, is a cancer survivor.
Fiona was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 18 months old. Make-A-Wish was a bright spot during a very difficult time for her family by giving them a wonderful trip to Disney World. I’d like to help shine that light on another Child….thank you for helping.

Sam Minervino - Make-A-Wish Foundation We All Have the Power to Grant a Wish®. Help grant wishes by donating to my fundraising page today!

Our regular Monday hours…

GREAT JOB!!!
What's happened: After hearing hours of testimony from dozens of servers, restaurateurs, and industry allies, the Portland City Council rejected a proposal to send a ballot question to voters to eliminate the tip credit. Councilors also opposed advancing a question that would have raised the local minimum wage to $20/hour.

What this means: No new wage initiatives will be on the Portland ballot this November after councilors voted to kick both wage questions back to committee, halting any likely movement on the issue this year. Two of the three councilors who initiated the proposal to eliminate the tip credit will not be returning next year.

An outpouring of opposition: At the height of Maine's hospitality and tourism season, servers and restaurateurs spoke for hours in opposition to advancing the tip credit elimination proposal. In fact, of the nearly 50 who attended, not a single person spoke in support of ending the tip credit. Only a handful who testified supported the question to increase the minimum wage to $20/hour.

Why this is important: Local and regional decisions can often have statewide implications. A strong show of support for the tip credit model by those on the front lines of the hospitality industry quashed yet another threat to Maine's restaurant community. To protect the long-term viability of the state's hospitality industry statewide, it's important to make sure bad public policy proposals initiated at the local level don't gain traction.

What's next: In a procedural move, the council voted to kick both wage proposals back to committee, where they received virtually no review to start. This very likely stalls any efforts this year to eliminate the tip credit, including other wage reform discussions. There is no established timeline when this could return in Portland or another community, and it is a committee chair's prerogative to set which items appear on an agenda and when. Functionally, these proposals are dead— for now.

I just received this email:

Hi Sam & Samuel’s!

Thank you for your post about tip credit! Sorry for the last minute conflicting information. Because they moved us to the earlier meeting time we’ve nixed the rally. Would you mind amending your Facebook post just to say that we are meeting at 4pm outside city hall and will be heading in to the public hearing shortly aftert? We are still all hands on deck on getting people there. Thank you for spreading the word!! I appreciate it.

Your voice is needed!
Join your industry colleagues on Monday, Aug. 19th at 4pm outside Portland City Hall to SAVE THE TIP CREDIT

What's happening: The Portland City Council will hold a public hearing to determine whether to send a proposal to eliminate the tip credit to the ballot in November 2024. Yes, again.

The details: On Monday, August 19th, at 4pm, servers, operators, and hospitality professionals are coming together in an effort to save the tip credit. We are meeting outside City Hall at 4pm before heading inside for the public hearing.

Bring testimony & bring a friend: This will be a public hearing format where the public will be given a few minutes to testify on the measure. Participants will not be asked to answer questions; just share their perspective on why the tip credit is valuable to the success of the restaurant industry.

Tips on testimony: The tip credit is vital to the success of the restaurant industry. We know it is a great model for staff, customers, and operators.

In 2022, Portland voters, by a margin of 61%, overwhelmingly showed their support of servers and the greater restaurant industry by defeating a similar question that would've ended the tip credit. The issue has already been decided.

The decision to bring this proposal forward was not transparent. None of the three councilors who advanced the proposal showed any indication they planned to bring this forward at the last minute.

August in Maine is the busiest season for many in the restaurant industry. Servers are having to take time away from work to ask councilors not to upend how they earn their living. This should not be the first time we are hearing about this proposal, less than 80 days to Election Day.

The tip credit model works. It's supported by servers, customers, and the greater restaurant community. Nothing has changed in the 20 months since Portland voters last rejected a similar effort. It's critical that Portland City Councilors demonstrate their commitment and support to the servers and industry that makes Portland one of the best restaurant scenes in America.

The takeaway: If we are going to be successful in our effort to save the tip credit, the Portland hospitality community needs to show up in force to make the case. The tip credit is essential to Portland and Maine's standing as an award winning food, restaurant, and hospitality mainstay. The continued threat these proposals place on servers and restaurants is harmful and unfair. Since Washington, D.C. eliminated the tip credit in May 2023, full service restaurants in the nation's capitol cut 3,700 jobs. We urge the Portland City Council to listen to servers, staff, and the greater hospitality community and reject this proposal. Portland cannot afford to follow the D.C. path.

You can read the proposal to eliminate the tip credit here.

On the evening of the 19th, the Council will also hold public hearings to consider proposals to raise the minimum wage to $20/hour and to amend Portland's hazard pay ordinance.

If you are able to attend, please let us know by emailing [email protected] as soon as possible.

The best form of advocacy is live and in-person. A strong showing by Portland's restaurant community is the best chance of success.

Attendance by your restaurant and staff shows strong support for your fellow industry colleagues.

However, we understand it is August in Maine, and not everyone will be able to attend. If you are unable to participate or know anyone who would still like to have their voice heard, please email the city council and urge them to oppose the proposal to eliminate the tip credit and support Portland's servers and restaurant industry.

Email full city council – [email protected]

Mark Dion, Mayor – [email protected]
Pious Ali, At-Large – [email protected]
April Fournier, At-Large – [email protected]
Roberto Rodriguez, At-Large – [email protected]
Anna Trevorrow, District 1 – [email protected]
Victoria Pelletier, District 2 – [email protected]
Regina Phillips, District 3 – [email protected]
Anna Bullett, District 4 – [email protected]
Kate Sykes, District 5 – [email protected]

Our Team representing Maine!

Donate to Send Portland 12U All Stars to Little League Regionals!, organized by PLL Board Congratulations to our Portland Little League 12U All Stars on winni… PLL Board needs your support for Send Portland 12U All Stars to Little League Regionals!

Pizza Villa is looking for some folks interested in working. Please contact Sam at:
[email protected]
OR Tina:
207-7741777

OR bring your resume to:
Pizza Villa
940 Congress street
Portland Maine 04102
Thank you

https://conroytullywalker.com/obituaries/james-binky-tetrault

James "Binky" Tetrault Obituary (1955 - 2024) - Portland, Maine Binky was born on April 15th, 1955 and passed away on May 31st, 2024 at the age of 69

Merry Christmas from Tomaso’s Canteen!

Christmas Eve…

Merry Christmas weekend!

EVERYONE IS INVITED TODAY!
AND we will still be honoring our Happy Hour prices! 50% OFF HAPPY HOUR TOO?!?! YUP!
($10 per person, on premise only)

AND we will still be honoring our Happy Hour prices! 50% OFF HAPPY HOUR TOO?!?! YUP!
($10 per person, on premise only)

At Samuel’s this Sunday!
EVERYONE IS INVITED!
(on premises only)

EVERY NIGHT!

THANKSGIVING NEWS!
Tomaso’s will be OPEN Thanksgiving night
5 PM to 1 AM

I mean today!
(If today is Tuesday)

Please email Sam at:
[email protected]
Or text 207-776-1015
THANK YOU!

Thank you Tonia and Rob for single handedly creating the greatest drinking event since the 18 Hole bar walkabout back in the 80’s!
And to those who made it until the not-so-bitter-end, We salute You!

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/portland-me/jeffery-burns-11493531

Spectrum may possibly be the most inept company with the worst customer service I can ever recall dealing with.
They scheduled an equipment upgrade but sent no equipment. Then the technician came the next day at 2:44 PM and left because his notation said he couldn’t access the property. He lied. Then, after being dinked around by “customer service”, for two hours, they said they cannot help until next week. There better be some better options out there for both TV and internet and if anyone knows of any, please let me know.