On First Day of Outdoor Dining, Lander Releases Plan to Expand Program Year Round, Make Apps Faster & Easier
Adams Administration botched rollout: only seven restaurants secured outdoor liquor licenses
Lander released an accompanying video HERE
NEW YORK, NY — On the first day of outdoor dining, after a botched rollout from the ineffective Adams Administration, Brad Lander released the mayoral race’s first plan on outdoor dining, committing to make the application for outdoor dining faster and easier, enabling more restaurants to stay open year-round and maximizing seating while respecting pedestrian traffic.
“Today only a small fraction of New York City restaurants will open their outdoor dining setups because of the utter and complete failures of the Adams Administration,” said Brad Lander. “Only seven — yes, seven — restaurants will have also secured liquor licenses, bringing economic uncertainty to many of the city's best dining spots, and leaving New Yorkers with fewer options to drink outside! As Mayor, I will cut the red tape by opening up outdoor dining year round and making applications faster and easier so that this time next spring, we’ll be closer to the highest levels of outdoor dining options.”
With over 12,500 restaurants participating in the program at its peak, the Comptroller’s Office estimates the program created 11,720 jobs, resulting in $373 million of total annual wages and $9.6 million in income taxes to the City. The program activated 2.4 million square feet in street space that restaurants would otherwise pay upwards of $154 million to rent, creating significant economic opportunity for New York City’s small businesses at a time of significant financial strain.
The Adams administration burdened the program with bureaucratic requirements and then failed to adequately manage its implementation. The program scope went from 12,500 restaurants to just 2,500 restaurants on opening day. And now, only seven outdoor dining establishments will have liquor licenses this season. The program’s burdensome requirements, in combination with Mayor Adams’ mismanagement of the law’s implementation, have decimated the program, which will result directly in thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in lost revenues, wages, and income tax to the City.
As Comptroller, Lander repeatedly rang the alarm about the program's inefficiencies. As Mayor, Lander will redesign the Dining Out NYC program to make it well-run, year-round, and accessible to all. The tenants of his plan include:
Make it permanent
Allow roadway cafes that meet specific standards to remain open year-round. One of the key challenges faced by small restaurants across the five boroughs is that the program only allows outdoor dining in the roadway between April 1 to November 29. Lander will allow restaurants that meet design standards to operate year round.
Allow winter enclosures for sidewalk cafes. While sideway cafes can operate year-round under the current program, the program does not allow for these structures to be enclosed, leaving customers and workers exposed to harsh winter weather. Lander will allow restaurants to enclose these structures during the winter months using canvas, acrylic and glass vestibule style coverings to keep their customers and workers safe and warm.
Make the application process faster and easier
Commit DOT to a clear application processing timeline. Similar to the Comptroller’s 30-day contract regulation timeline, DOT should commit to a standard 30-day processing time for all Dining Out NYC applications. With adequate staffing and adequate project management, Lander will adhere to this timeline and provide restaurants with the predictability they need to plan for their businesses.
Upgrade application technology to allow features like letting restaurants save partially submitted applications to return to complete so they don’t have to be filed at once.
Resume in-person applications to increase access for smaller businesses. The online-only application option has deterred some small restaurants from applying due to its complexity.
Increase outreach and technical assistance. To encourage restaurants all across the five boroughs to enroll, Lander will launch a large-scale outreach campaign in multiple languages, and provide technical assistance to support businesses through the application process, with a focus on increasing participation among New York City’s immigrant restaurant owners.
Maximize seating space while maintaining space for pedestrian traffic
Revert to decade’s old clearance standards for sidewalk cafes of half the sidewalk width or eight feet, whichever is greater to maximize seating space. Additionally, Lander will ensure that scaffolding erected above a sidewalk cafe that meets pedestrian clearance requirements does not limit a sidewalk cafe's footprint.
Support restaurants & workers
Ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for restaurant staff. Thriving restaurants depend on thriving workers. Read Lander’s Worker’s Rights Plan.
Read Dining Out NYC 2.0: A Vibrant Future for Outdoor Dining.