The following is attributable to Maulin Mehta, New York Director for Regional Plan Association:

“Year-round outdoor dining is a commonsense step that will make the program more practical for restaurants and more vibrant for New Yorkers. Through the Alfresco NYC Coalition, RPA has long advocated for a permanent, predictable outdoor dining program that supports small businesses while recognizing our streets as valuable public spaces that can serve people in many different ways. RPA celebrates today’s vote which builds on that vision by removing an unnecessary barrier to participation and giving restaurants greater certainty to invest in safe, accessible, and well-designed outdoor spaces.”