MINNEAPOLIS — At Oro by Nixta, owners are passionate about their food.
Co-Owner Gustavo Romero says their business philosophy is all about corn, culture and their employees.
“Our employees are like family,” Romero said.
That's why he's frustrated by a recent Minneapolis City Council decision to create a Labor Standards Board in the city.
The resolution to create a Labor Standards Board was approved by a 9-3 vote by the Minneapolis City Council last Thursday. City council members who voted in favor of this resolution argue a Labor Standards Board will give workers a stronger voice to create policies and changes to the city’s workforce.
Romero is concerned this new board could be used to tell local business owners how to run their business.
"We have heard them say this idea that people abuse their employees, and I think that is very disrespectful for the people that don't,” Romero explained.
Romero started his restaurant about a year ago. The restaurant was recently named a finalist for a James Beard Award, but despite this success, Romero said it’s difficult to run a restaurant in the city of Minneapolis.
"It's more expensive, it's more challenging, you have more regulations,” Romero said.
He worries even more regulations will push restaurant owners into the suburbs.
"I try not to think that way,” Romero said. "We want to stay in the city. We want to live here. I live eight blocks from my business. I'm a true northeaster and I want to stay here. I want to raise my child here, but I don’t know if I can. I can go 15 minutes in one direction to a different city and not have to deal with these regulations.”
Romero and 40 other BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) restaurant owners recently sent a letter to the Minneapolis City Council to oppose the creation of a Labor Standards Board.
Wednesday afternoon a collective of nearly 400 business owners from various industries also sent a letter to the council and to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to voice their opposition.
The idea of creating a Labor Standards Board has drawn support from various unions and workers groups.
On Monday, a few dozen workers and union members delivered a letter of their own to the Mayor’s office asking him to support the creation of a Labor Standards Board.
Romero said if the board does happen he's asking city leaders to at least be open-minded and give business owners a fair voice, because so far he feels the business perspective has mostly been ignored.
"It's frustrating to know that what I say didn’t matter and what my community is saying doesn't matter. We don’t feel heard,” Romero said.
A spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the mayor has not made a decision about the creation of a Labor Standards Board.
The mayor has until the end of the day on Thursday to either pass or veto the resolution and send it back to the city council.