OK for permanant outdoor dining
City Council approves bill that would allow outdoor dining to continue
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
Outdoor dining will become a
permanent fi xture on the streets
of New York, the City Council
declared Thursday.
The city’s legislators approved
a bill (Intro. 2127-A) that continues
the program launched in June to
boost business at eateries across the
fi ve boroughs amid the COVID-19
pandemic. The initiative will be extended
through September of next
year, and then replaced by a permanent
outdoor dining plan to come.
The legislation also clears the
way for restaurants to use portable
heaters in outdoor dining spaces so
restaurants may continue to serve
guests during colder weather in the
fall and winter.
Brooklyn/Queens City Councilman
Antonio Reynoso introduced
the legislation back in September;
10 other lawmakers co-sponsored
the bill. He called its passage “a
huge win for the restaurant industry
and its workers, diners and the
morale of residents.”
“New York City’s outdoor dining
program has been a remarkable
success,” Reynoso said. “Now, by
making outdoor dining permanent
and allowing for the use of outdoor
heating lamps, my bill will allow for
continuation of the program into
the colder months.”
The bill, which passed 46-
2, now awaits Mayor Bill de
Blasio’s signature.
The arrival of COVID-19 in New
York forced restaurants to close
their doors to patrons back in March
due to capacity restrictions. Though
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,28 OCTOBER 23-29, 2020 BTR
many dining spots shuttered, others
continued on into the spring serving
customers through delivery or
takeout service.
In the spring, the City Council
and de Blasio approved a program
allowing restaurants to set up curbside
café seating outside their establishments
in the street. This enabled
restaurants to once again serve patrons
once New York City entered
Phase 2 of its reopening on June 22.
While outdoor dining proved
quite popular across the city in
bringing diners back to their favorite
eateries, the entire industry
continues to struggle amid the pandemic.
The New York City Hospitality
Alliance previously reported
that far too many restaurateurs are
well behind on their rent, and only
able to make partial payments to
their landlords.
Andrew Rigie, the alliance’s executive
director, applauded the City
Council for passing the permanent
outdoor dining bill, but repeated
calls for federal relief for New York’s
struggling dining sector.
Although outdoor dining has
been overwhelmingly successful,
the city’s restaurant industry
is still on life support and its survival
depends on safely expanding
indoor dining occupancy to
50% soon, and the federal government
immediately passing The
RESTAURANTS Act.”
The RESTAURANTS Act, introduced
earlier this month in the
House of Representatives, would
steer $120 billion in fi nancial aid to
struggling eateries across America.
Alexander Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard closed for the dining related construction.
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Commissioner
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
—
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