Time to Stand Up for Our Servers

LA’s fires have taken their homes and livelihoods — let’s not take their hope.

As someone who grew up in La Cañada, just five miles from the Eaton Fire, and now lives less than ten miles from the Palisades Fire, I’ve not only seen firsthand the devastation these fires have caused but also found myself feeling deeply for all those who have lost their homes, their businesses, and their stability.

Topping the list of those I feel for is a close friend from many years ago who lost his home in Altadena. Then there are also two other friends who lost their homes in the Palisades, and my brother who lost three rental properties in Altadena.

But as much as I hurt for them, my heart especially aches for the restaurant servers who’ve lost their jobs — and for those who, for whatever reason, cannot leave Los Angeles and now face the daunting reality of trying to survive in an industry that may no longer sustain them.

As to the question of why I feel so deeply for the servers, it’s because I come from a family of individuals who’ve worked as servers.

• My brother served at a restaurant in Berkeley to put himself through college.
• My sister worked as a server at Gladstones in Malibu
• My daughter served at CPK and Burger Continental in Pasadena
• My nephew and niece worked as servers at their parents’ Juice It Up in La Cañada.
• My son started serving at Olive Garden in Monrovia, moved on to Moonshadows (now destroyed by the fire), and today serves at Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.

I know servers. I know what it means to be a server.

It means long hours on your feet, weaving through crowded dining rooms while balancing plates, glasses, and the occasional special request — all with a smile. It means managing personalities with grace, whether it’s an impatient customer, a large party with complex orders, or a team of coworkers relying on each other to get through a busy shift. It means relying on tips to pay rent, cover groceries, and keep the lights on, knowing that a slow night or a canceled shift can throw everything off balance.

The fact is that servers are the people who have created our most memorable dining experiences, celebrated our most important milestones, and always worked tirelessly to ensure we felt cared for. Now, they are the ones who need our care and support.

So, local and state governments, please step up. Provide financial assistance to those servers who’ve lost everything and those who, amid a projected downturn in the number of people dining out, are at risk of losing everything. Emergency relief is needed to help these individuals cover essentials like rent and food, and wage protections must be implemented to ensure that those still working don’t fall further into financial instability.

Servers have always been there for us. Now, it’s our turn to serve them in their greatest time of need. And while we’re at it, let’s also extend a helping hand to the cooks, dishwashers, and all the other workers who’ve made, and will continue to make, our LA dining experiences memorable.