With the upcoming resumption of roadway outdoor dining on April 1, the city has drastically cut down the number of authorized establishments from about 8,000 to just 600 due to new regulations instituted by Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. This has been criticized by advocates who claim it undermines the viability of the program established during the pandemic. Thousands of curbside dining configurations, or 'streeteries', previously flourished, but new restrictions and a complicated application process have stifled participation, leading to calls for reform.
"Feels safe to say at this stage that the program as it's currently designed is a failure," said Sara Lind, the Co-executive Director of the advocacy group Open Plans.
"We need a reformed program that encourages businesses of all sizes and types to participate or we're going to lose forever the one silver lining of the pandemic years."
DOT officials estimated as many as 8,000 restaurants had outdoor dining in the roadway or on the sidewalk under the Covid-era outdoor dining program.
The city still had as many as 5,000 outdoor dining structures remaining as of last August when restaurants had to apply to participate in the new program.
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