NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — On Monday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is holding a hearing to decide the future of year-round outdoor dining in New York City.
The mayor had previously shown support for the measure, especially because permanent outdoor dining could bring thousands of jobs to the city.
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The measure was approved by the City Council on Aug. 13, as some business owners say permanent outdoor dining could really help their bottom line.
“We want to make money year-round, and sometimes it feels like you are being penalized for trying to do that,” said Ty Smith, a restaurant owner.
Right now, businesses can take advantage of the program between the months of April and November.
After that, any structure they built and paid for needs to be taken down, according to city rules.
On top of that, businesses owners say the fees are expensive and take a toll on small shops trying to keep doors open.
The city also acknowledged that when city council passed the measure.
“It became stupidly expensive, stupidly expensive to have to build, store, and deconstruct these structures every year,” said Brooklyn Councilmember Lincoln Restler.
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Under this new rule:
Restaurants would be allowed to have outdoor dining all year long, with enclosed spaces during the winter
They’d also be allowed to stay open until 11 p.m. and will have to comply with sanitation and traffic regulations
“It was not an issue during the pandemic,” said Smith. “I don’t understand why it would be such a big issue now.”
The mayor is expected to make a decision by mid-September.
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