Page 14 - The Indian EYE 090123

COMMUNITY OP-ED SEPTEMBER 01, 2023 | The Indian Eye 14

Outdoor dining is here to

stay in New York City

Dining Out NYC will have specific cleanliness guidelines and allow roadway dining during the eight
warmest months of the year, which will allow us to keep our streets cleaner, fight rats, and keep getting rid

of abandoned sheds when setups come down in the winter

ERIC ADAMS

his past week we made it offi-
cial: outdoor dining is here to
Tstay. New Yorkers were hun-
gry for an outdoor dining program
that was cleaner, safer, and healthi-
er. And by signing a new bill to bring
al fresco dining to all five boroughs,
we’ve delivered for them.
Our new outdoor dining pro-
gram, “Dining Out NYC,” will be
the largest outdoor dining program
in the nation and will shape New Before the pandemic, outdoor dining was largely limited to Manhattan — and only allowed on the sidewalks (File photo)
York City’s streets going forward.
It’s going to help our small business-
es thrive, get visitors and residents our world-famous restaurants alive from the beauty of our city. That’s small businesses. Our administration
alike to spend money in our neigh- through the pandemic, and, without why in the last year, we removed is committed to working with every
borhoods, and support good jobs for question, helped save 100,000 jobs over 430 abandoned and egregious restaurant to give them the support
working-class New Yorkers. while keeping our neighborhoods sheds — I even took a sledgeham- they need to take advantage of this
Before the pandemic, outdoor vibrant. With Dining Out NYC, we mer to help dismantle one. Dining program.
dining was largely limited to Man- are building on the best of outdoor Out NYC will have specific cleanli- Just like it takes a team in the
hattan — and only allowed on the dining and throwing the worst in the ness guidelines and allow roadway kitchen working together to make
sidewalks. On top of that, the city trash. Now New Yorkers won’t have dining during the eight warmest a great meal, historic change takes
charged thousands of dollars in fees to leave the city for great outdoor months of the year, which will al- all of us working together. I want
to restaurant owners, many of them dining; they will be able to enjoy all low us to keep our streets cleaner, to thank all the restaurant owners,
small business owners. When the that New York City’s restaurants fight rats, and keep getting rid of workers, diners, and communities
pandemic started, outdoor dining have to offer, all outdoors in the abandoned sheds when setups come who made this program possible.
was temporarily expanded to every fresh air. down in the winter. I look forward to dining out with
borough in the city and included the And I want New Yorkers to This is how we get outdoor din- you on a street in New York City
use of roadway space. know: we heard your concerns about ing done right. This is how we create soon. Bon appétit!
The expansion was a resound- outdoor dining. Abandoned dining jobs for working-class New Yorkers. Eric Adams is
ing success. Outdoor dining kept sheds attracted rats and detracted And this is how we stand with our the Mayor of New York City, NY

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