The city council is considering making the al fresco dining program year-round to address cost concerns from small businesses.

New York City’s beleaguered outdoor dining program could expand to year-round operations as part of an effort to make it economically feasible for business owners.
As Kevin Duggan explains in Streetsblog NYC, the seasonal program “decimated” the city’s streeteries. After the new rules were implemented, participation in the outdoor dining program dropped from around 6,000 to 8,000 participating businesses to less than 3,000 applications. Today, “Only 77 outdoor dining setups have made their way through the full new application process, but DOT gave 726 roadway cafés a conditional approval to set up if they cleared a public hearing phase.” Restaurants also face months-long delays in getting permits for alcohol service.
Multiple city council members said while they previously voted in support of the 2023 law that created the seasonal program, they now support year-round outdoor dining. According to Council Member Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn), “We need an outdoor dining program that is year-round, that is accessible and convenient for businesses to be able to participate in, and we’re going to do our best to introduce legislation in the very near future and get that over the finish line.”
FULL STORY: Year-Round Roadway Dining Could Come Back Under ‘Do-Over’ Bill

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Making Mobility More Inclusive
A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
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