City Comptroller Mark Levine opened an investigation into the outdoor dining revocable consent approval process. His office requested records from the Department of Transportation and the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, including application timelines, staffing levels, counts of pending and completed applications, and plans to speed reviews. The request set a May 29 deadline. DOT reported submitting 1,225 permit applications to the Comptroller’s Office, with 765 submitted in calendar year 2026. DOT previously estimated 2,390 applications in its pipeline, suggesting many applicants remain in earlier review stages before reaching the Comptroller’s Office. The Comptroller’s Office said its registration step follows a fixed 30-day legal timeline and averages eight calendar days. The investigation centers on earlier DOT and MOCS review steps rather than Comptroller registration.
"The letter argues that the permits submitted so far represent only a small share of New York City's restaurant industry. Levine's office cited Live XYZ platform data showing 25,161 places in the city tagged as restaurants as of May 6."
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