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COMMUNITY OP-ED MARCH 22, 2024 | The Indian Eye 16

Building a City of Opportunity for

8.3 million residents of New York City

For far too long, outdated regulations have made it difficult for small businesses
in our city to flourish. These regulations, enacted in 1961, no longer make sense for the

modern city in which we live. They include zoning laws that prevent certain kinds of
businesses in specific neighborhoods

ERIC ADAMS

s I often say, we live in a city of
8.3 million people — and 35
Amillion opinions. But one thing
all New Yorkers can agree on is that
people come to our city to make it.
They come here to work, build lives,
and fulfill the American Dream. And
the Adams administration is commit-
ted to creating the conditions for that The temporary outdoor dining program saved 100,000 jobs during COVID and showed us a bright future for our streets — but it also led to
dream to flourish. This means doing
everything we can to protect public abandoned sheds and sanitation issues (File photo)
safety, rebuild our economy, and
make all five boroughs more livable on Madison Avenue; or being al- nomic Opportunity. es and ideas for how to design their
for all New Yorkers. lowed to have music and DJs at some Along the same lines, we have space, and the new rules ensure that
As part of our ongoing efforts, bars, but not being allowed to set made outdoor dining permanent. the areas around outdoor dining
we have developed “City of Yes for aside space for customers to dance The temporary outdoor dining pro- spaces are kept clean, so they look
Economic Opportunity” — a set of to the music. Worse still, these out- gram saved 100,000 jobs during good and don’t attract rodents and
18 zoning changes that will help busi- dated rules prevent businesses own- COVID and showed us a bright other pests.
nesses find space and grow, support ers and entrepreneurs from meeting future for our streets — but it also Running a city like New York
entrepreneurs and freelancers, boost real needs. led to abandoned sheds and sanita- is never easy, and for all New York-
growing industries, and make our With the City Council’s support, tion issues. Our permanent program ers to flourish, we must continue to
streetscapes more vibrant. we can sweep aside these senseless works for locals, tourists, and restau- adapt to new realities. Whether it’s
For far too long, outdated reg- restrictions and create more oppor- rant owners and keeps our streets at- responding to climate change, get-
ulations have made it difficult for tunities for New Yorkers and their tractive, safe, and trash-free. ting rid of outdated zoning rules, cre-
small businesses in our city to flour- businesses to flourish. We have suc- And we’re making it easier for ating new economic opportunities,
ish. These regulations, enacted in cessfully partnered with the Council restaurants to create clean and safe or implementing new commonsense
1961, no longer make sense for the on “City of Yes for Carbon Neutral- outdoor dining setups through our rules to keep us all safe and healthy,
modern city in which we live. They ity,” which makes it easier for New new Dining Out NYC portal, which the Adams administration puts the
include zoning laws that prevent cer- Yorkers to go green with clean ener- will allow more New Yorkers across health and prosperity of New York-
tain kinds of businesses in specific gy, solar panels, composting, electric the five boroughs to enjoy outdoor ers front and center every day.
neighborhoods — for example ban- vehicles, and more. Now, we can do dining. The portal offers restaurant Eric Adams is the Mayor of
ning hardware stores or repair shops the same with City of Yes for Eco- owners a wide range of free resourc- New York City, NY

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