New York City's Outdoor Dining Program Faces Criticism as Participation Falls Short of Expectations.
A recent hearing before the City Council revealed that a new outdoor dining program in New York City is failing to meet its potential due to restrictive regulations and a cumbersome application process. Despite having over 12,000 restaurants participate in the pandemic-era initiative, only about 400 restaurants have completed the licensing process for the current year under the city's Dining Out NYC program.
Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez attributed the low participation rates to various factors, including the complexity of the application process and the costs associated with it. Restaurants are required to pay $2,100 for a license that allows them to operate both on roadways and sidewalks, as well as "consent fees" based on the space they'll use.
Rodriguez suggested streamlining the review process by eliminating community board approval, but many restaurant owners disagree, citing concerns over the cost and logistical burden of setting up and tearing down seasonal outdoor dining setups. Some even expressed frustration with the current system's restrictive rules, including a requirement to pay for street space upfront for an entire year.
Critics argue that these regulations are causing restaurants to opt out of the program altogether. The NYC Hospitality Alliance has proposed reforms to expand outdoor dining and make it more accessible to businesses. The alliance suggests eliminating some of the review layers and making the application process less burdensome, allowing restaurants to focus on serving customers rather than navigating complex bureaucratic hurdles.
As the season comes to an end, the city is considering bills to reform and expand outdoor dining. While sidewalk cafes are already allowed year-round, roadway dining has been concentrated in Manhattan below 96th Street, a far cry from the goal of creating a vibrant five-borough program. Some argue that the high costs associated with operating seasonal outdoor dining setups are driving restaurants out of business.
The city's outdoor dining program is seen as a key component of its efforts to boost economic activity and improve the quality of life for New Yorkers. However, the restrictive regulations and cumbersome application process have raised concerns among restaurant owners and local businesses. As the debate over the program's future continues, one thing is clear: something needs to change in order to bring outdoor dining back to a level that meets its potential.
A recent hearing before the City Council revealed that a new outdoor dining program in New York City is failing to meet its potential due to restrictive regulations and a cumbersome application process. Despite having over 12,000 restaurants participate in the pandemic-era initiative, only about 400 restaurants have completed the licensing process for the current year under the city's Dining Out NYC program.
Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez attributed the low participation rates to various factors, including the complexity of the application process and the costs associated with it. Restaurants are required to pay $2,100 for a license that allows them to operate both on roadways and sidewalks, as well as "consent fees" based on the space they'll use.
Rodriguez suggested streamlining the review process by eliminating community board approval, but many restaurant owners disagree, citing concerns over the cost and logistical burden of setting up and tearing down seasonal outdoor dining setups. Some even expressed frustration with the current system's restrictive rules, including a requirement to pay for street space upfront for an entire year.
Critics argue that these regulations are causing restaurants to opt out of the program altogether. The NYC Hospitality Alliance has proposed reforms to expand outdoor dining and make it more accessible to businesses. The alliance suggests eliminating some of the review layers and making the application process less burdensome, allowing restaurants to focus on serving customers rather than navigating complex bureaucratic hurdles.
As the season comes to an end, the city is considering bills to reform and expand outdoor dining. While sidewalk cafes are already allowed year-round, roadway dining has been concentrated in Manhattan below 96th Street, a far cry from the goal of creating a vibrant five-borough program. Some argue that the high costs associated with operating seasonal outdoor dining setups are driving restaurants out of business.
The city's outdoor dining program is seen as a key component of its efforts to boost economic activity and improve the quality of life for New Yorkers. However, the restrictive regulations and cumbersome application process have raised concerns among restaurant owners and local businesses. As the debate over the program's future continues, one thing is clear: something needs to change in order to bring outdoor dining back to a level that meets its potential.
like whats up with the $2100 license fee? and the application process is already complicated enough without having to deal with community board approval 
gotta simplify this whole thing so restaurants can focus on serving good food instead of dealing with all these hoops 
and why do they have to pay for street space upfront tho? cant they just, like, negotiate or something? i mean im all for outdoor dining but this sounds super stressful 
and what if restaurants are small ones they cant afford that kinda cost? the city should def make it more affordable 
. 12k restaurants signed up in the pandemic era, that's awesome! But now only 400 are participating? It's gotta be those regulations, man... $2100 license fee is insane 
. And what's with all these extra "consent fees"? It's like they're trying to nickel & dime the restaurants 
and it got me thinking, have you guys ever tried those 'cascara' lattes? like, coffee made from tea-like leaves or something? and then i started wondering, what's the deal with people getting all worked up about outdoor dining in nyc? it's just a table on the sidewalk, right? 
anyway, gotta say, $2100 for a license to set up a little outdoor spot is kinda crazy... 
costs r drivin restaurants outta biz lol 
It's no wonder only 400 restaurants are participating when you've got a process that's more complicated than a tax audit.
I mean, if you want to make it easy for restaurants to participate, then maybe you should simplify the process a bit. Like, eliminate some of the red tape (pun intended) and let them focus on serving food instead of fighting with the city. 
it's like they're trying to suffocate the restaurants or something! $2,100 for a license? That's crazy talk! And don't even get me started on the community board approval thing... who thought that was a good idea? 
Streamline the application process, reduce the fees, and let restaurants focus on serving their customers. That's what I want to see, not this bureaucratic nightmare 
It's like the city is trying to strangle them 
And what's up with the community board approval process? Can't they just let restaurants decide if they wanna try it out or not? 
. Maybe we can figure out a way to make it work without breaking the bank 
. If the city really wants to boost economic activity, they need to make it easier for businesses to thrive. And as for me, I'll be stickin' with my favorite spot on 5th Ave, where the only thing that's "consented" is the amazing food 
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. Instead of making it all about profit, why not focus on creating a system that's actually supportive of small businesses and local communities? Like, what if they offered grants or subsidies to help offset those "consent fees"? 
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Not me, that's for sure! The NYC Hospitality Alliance is on the right track by proposing reforms to expand outdoor dining and make it more accessible to businesses.
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95% of diners say outdoor seating is a must 
and NYC needs to deliver on that! 
️ stats show that NYC's food scene has lost $1.2 billion in revenue since the pandemic 
and community board approval is just a headache 
some ppl r sayin reformz are needed but idk if that's gonna make a diff 
, or I'll be taking my business (and my appetite) elsewhere