City Council passes permanent plan for outdoor dining
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | OCT. 23-OCT. 29, 2020 5
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
Outdoor dining will become a
permanent fixture on the streets of
New York, the City Council declared
Thursday, Oct. 15.
The city’s legislators approved a
bill (Intro. 2127-A) that continues the
program launched in June to boost
business at eateries across the five
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 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 now awaits Mayor Bill de
Blasio’s signature.
The Queens Chamber of Commerce
applauded the passage of the bill.
“Restaurants are the backbone of
New York City’s economy, and the economies
of neighborhoods throughout
the five boroughs, but the past several
months have been devastating to the
industry,” said Thomas Grech, CEO
of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
“Outdoor dining has not just been a hit
with restaurantgoers, it has allowed
our cherished neighborhood establishments
to keep New Yorkers employed
and bring in some desperately needed
revenue. We are delighted that the program
has been made permanent. We
are also pleased to see the Council taking
proactive steps to ensure that the
program can continue as we approach
the colder months by allowing use of
electric and propane heaters.”
The arrival of COVID-19 in New
York forced restaurants to close their
doors to patrons back in March due to
capacity restrictions. Though 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 two 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.
“The RESTAURANTS Act, introduced
earlier this month in the House
of Representatives, would steer $120
billion in financial aid to struggling
eateries across America.
REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
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