Yesterday, the City Council repaired a very bad error that it committed three years ago in restricting outdoor dining sheds in the city, a restriction that has seen a 90% drop in the number of outdoor eateries that prospered during COVID. Hopefully, the restaurants will use this opportunity to return to the streets and the sidewalks, expanding again their spread.

In 2003, it was Speaker Adrienne Adams leading the way to forbid roadbed sheds during the colder months, meaning that restaurants had the onerous task of breaking down, then storing during the winter and then rebuilding the structures every year, which few have chosen to do. Where once there were as many at 8,000 outdoor food establishments, that has fallen to about 800.

Now it is Speaker Julie Menin spearheading a chance for a revival........

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