Outdoor Dining at Soleluna in Sunnyside (Queens Post File Photo)
May 29, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Council Speaker Corey Johnson introduced legislation Thursday that would require the city to open up sidewalks and street space for outdoor dining, with the aim of helping restaurants get through the coronavirus pandemic.
The legislation — sponsored by several council members including Donovan Richards and Jimmy Van Bramer — calls for the city to identity streets, sidewalks and plazas where restaurants could operate while following social distancing requirements.
The bill if passed would require the Department of Transportation to identify open spaces where restaurants and bars could serve patrons, while preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The plan would see the DOT blocking off streets or plazas to allow eateries to set up tables where diners could be spaced safety apart. The legislation would also allow restaurants located in areas zoned for sidewalk cafes to receive a temporary sidewalk license — at no cost — to put up tables outside their establishment.
The council members want these plans in place by the time bars and restaurants are permitted to reopen, which is still expected to be weeks away.
Restaurants and bars will not be able to reopen for onsite dining until phase three of the state’s four-phase reopening plan. New York City is the only region that has not begun reopening — though the mayor says it will likely enter phase one in the first or second week of June.
However, when restaurants and bars are finally allowed to fully reopen, they are unlikely to be able to operate at full capacity. The outdoor dining space, the legislators say, will allow them to have more room to space out customers and tables.
“At a time when our industry is struggling to make ends meet, this type of creative and innovative policy will serve as a lifeline to the restaurant and bar industry,” said Jeffrey Garcia, President of the NYS Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association.
Increasing research also shows that COVID-19 is more difficult to contract outdoors.
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2 Comments
I don’t get it. Restaurants can already open for delivery and take out. Why would letting people sit around help business? Who would want excess dust and bird poop ending up in their food? Anyone who would eat can just as easily order some food and bring it home.
Before the panademic Resturants took up city side walks making it harder for pestrians to walk…Now more tables wilk make walking with social distance IMPOSSIBLE!!! Where are the cars going to disappear to… Most are RENTERS without GARAGES!!! To park in a parking lot costs $$$ that NYers DON’T have cause NY is NOT open so everyone can make a living! Kudos for the resturants and waitstaff but NOT HELPFUL to the rest of us!!! Not to mention resturants are not the cleanest facilites no matter what alphabet of “grade” they get! We’re gonna INVITE RATS soon if this continues! Go on youtube to see what I’m taking about! We already have dirty sidewalks, and the KIDS always leave their food and drinks everywhere even in stores!!! NY would do better to educate those in BASIC hygine and manners to avoid another catastophe in the future! But if you want to add tables put it on the roof! Their FRESH AIR more space for your business and the people can FREELY walk without FREAKING out the children and the cars can stay in the cheaper parking spots that justs feeds a meter instead of a condo for a car….