Gjonaj supports permanent outdoor dining
BY JASON COHEN
Recently, Mayor Bill de Blasio
proposed a plan to make
outdoor dining happen year
round, an effort that is fully
supported by Small Business
Committee Chair Councilman
Mark Gjonaj.
Gjonaj’s Chief of Staff, Reggie
Johnson told the Bronx
Times this is a step in the right
direction, but it really does
not address the issue of only
allowing 25 percent capacity
in restaurants.
Johnson stressed that
it makes no sense how restaurants
in Long Island,
Westchester and Connecticut
can hold 50 percent, but here
they can’t.
“We are calling on
NYC to get parity with the
rest of the state,” he said.
“Most restaurants want 50
percent capacity.”
With the fi rst public hearing
for permanent outdoor dining
set for Sept. 30, Johnson
said there are still particulars
that need to be worked out.
For example, the number and
type of heaters that can be set
up outside.
Johnson wondered how
much this will help restaurants
and questioned whether patrons
would want to sit outside
once it started getting colder.
“Restaurants are supportive
but is this enough to sustain
a business?” he asked. He
noted that some places have not
been paying rent for months.
The city will allow restaurants
to expand seating to the
frontage of adjacent properties,
as long as the adjacent property
owners formally agree to the
use of the space for a specifi ed
period of time and commit not
to charge a fee for its use. The
city will work with the State
Liquor Authority on any requirements
associated with extending
alcohol service to the
expanded seating in front of
adjacent properties.
In early October, the New
York City Department of Transportation
(DOT) will issue a
template agreement and provide
instructions on how to fi le
the agreements. Adjacent properties
may not be used prior to
the release of offi cial instructions
and formal agreements.
HEATING
As cooler weather arrives,
the city will allow restaurants
to incorporate heating elements
into their outdoor dining setups.
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
����������������
��������������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������
We Now Accept WIC
BRONX TIMES R 14 EPORTER,OCTOBER 2-8, 2020 BTR
Electrical heaters will be
allowed on both sidewalk and
roadway. Propane and natural
gas heaters will be allowed on
sidewalks only and they will
remain prohibited in roadway
seating. Use of propane will require
a permit from FDNY and
compliance with FDNY regulations
for outdoor use, handling
and secure outdoor tank storage
overnight. Offi cial guidance
on what will be considered
approved installation and
use of heating elements will be
released before the end of September
and restaurants are prohibited
from installing heating
elements until guidelines are
released and followed.
TENTS
Restaurants will also be
permitted to use tent enclosures
to keep diners warm.
In partial tent enclosures, at
least 50 percent of the tent’s
side wall surface area must
remain open and electrical
heaters are allowed. In full
tent enclosures, the tent’s
side walls may be closed but
occupancy limitations will
be capped at 25 percent of
capacity and indoor dining
guidelines must be followed.
Electrical heaters will also
be allowed. Enclosed structures,
such as plastic domes,
will be allowed for individual
parties and must have
adequate ventilation to allow
for air circulation.
ROADWAY SAFETY
As the program’s duration
will now continue through
the winter months and winter
weather creates potential
for inclement weather
to impact road conditions,
the city will engage the restaurant
industry and other
stakeholders to develop additional
safety features to
further strengthen roadway
barriers. To ensure timely
implementation, the city will
require restaurant owners to
comply with new safety features
by Nov. 15. In addition,
signifi cant snow events may
necessitate the temporary removal
of some barriers from
the roadway.
The city will work with
the City Council to make
the regulatory changes
necessary to make the
program permanent.
The mayor’s plan to make outdoor dining year round is fully supported
by Small Business Committee Chair Councilman Mark Gjonaj.
Courtesy of Facebook
SECURITY DRUGS
Accurate! Fast Friendly Service!
“In my twenty years as a
pharmacist, I’m happy to work
������������������������������������������������������������
take care of their customers.”
Natu “Nick” Gevaria, BS Rph Pharmacist
FREE
DELIVERY
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������