Council Vote on Outdoor Dining Regulations Likely

by Mindy Cohn

A vote on a bill making outdoor dining a permanent fixture in New York City Council is likely to be voted on by the New York City Council on Thursday after months of consideration and numerous revisions since the bill was first introduced last February. 

The revised bill gives oversite of the outdoor dining process to the City Department of Transportation and allows roadway cafes from April through November. Restaurants will be authorized year-round sidewalk seating as long as they have secured a four-year permit. Curb-based roadway seating will require an additional permit for a set amount of time.

Protests surrounding the bill that would make outdoor dining permanent include residents who don't want to deal with the constant noise and issues with sanitation. Vocal disability rights activists have also protested the bill by bringing a suit alleging, "The City flaunts its Open Streets Program as one that 'transforms streets into open public spaces' – into blocks of pedestrian plazas – but completely refuses to acknowledge the injurious impact that the program's barriers, barricades, and other impediments have on individuals living with ambulatory disabilities."