With outdoor dining here to stay, NYC DOT commissioner walks us through newly drafted rules

By Web Staff

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — The pandemic-era outdoor dining program is here to stay in New York City, and officials recently drafted rules for restaurants to follow.

This comes after the City Council passed legislation in August making the program permanent.

Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez joined us in the studio to talk about the newly proposed rules that businesses should be aware of.

“How we are doing this program is seasonal. So the roadway outdoor dining will be allowed from April to November. Whoever wants to have it year round, they have to apply for a sidewalk café. So we will be giving the restaurant owners that opportunity,” he explained. “Do you want to have a temporary to use the roadway? That will be seasonal. But if you want to do it year round, they will have to apply for the sidewalk.”

We asked him what improvements have been made to the program, and what he would say to people with quality of life concerns, such as rats.

A public meeting on the proposed rules will be held November 20.

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