Hochul signs bill extending use of municipal space for outdoor dining
ALBANY, N.Y. » Assemblymember Patricia Fahy announced that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation extending the use of municipal space for outdoor dining to continue helping New York's restaurant industry recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previous legislation signed in July of 2021 extended this program for one additional year. The legislation signed extends the outdoor dining program for three additional years, preventing the need for continual renewal. A survey conducted in January 2022 by the New York State restaurant industry found that 74% of operators report sales volume in 2021 was lower than it was in 2019. Additionally, 55% of restaurant operators have reduced hours of operation on days they opened and 40% are closed on days they would normally be open, limiting sales.
“Outdoor dining utilizing sidewalks and street space has become a financial lifeline for New York's restaurants during the global COVID-19 pandemic,” said Fahy, D- Albany. “Not only has it helped hundreds of small, locally owned businesses remain in business, it's also proved a popular boon to our local economies and ‘Main Streets.' I was proud to sponsor this legislation to help allow those restaurants to continue utilizing outdoor spaces for another three years to help keep their doors open, and I commend Governor Hochul for signing legislation extending New York's ‘open streets.'”
“I am so pleased the Governor signed this legislation in time for people to enjoy dining out this summer,” said Assemblymember Carrie Woerner. “The measure was originally intended to be a short-term assist for restaurants in New York during the very trying previous years. However, a happy consequence was learning that people enjoy the transformation of busy streets into places for al fresco dining. While the food service sector is still making adjustments to the way they operate in the wake of the extreme disruptions of the pandemic, this bill will give them three additional years to refine utilizing outdoors spaces as they come back to full time operation.”
“I am proud to cosponsor this new law that will continue to allow our small business restaurants to have additional options for outdoor dining,” said Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh. “Thank you to my colleague Assemblymember Fahy for leading this effort and thank you to Governor Hochul for signing the measure into law. As a former Mayor and experienced small business owner, I understand firsthand how this new law will provide the opportunity to continue to boost our local economies, retain jobs, and allow our local businesses to serve even more customers.”