Chair Menin Questions Robert Bookman on Low Approval Rates

Can you specifically say why you believe that only 67 restaurants have completed the entire application process and revocable consent at this juncture?

That's because of the issue that I I raised, and uh let me try to be more clear about DOT's misinterpretation of what their how the clock starts.

The statute and in your packet that that your committee prepared, there's a there is a chart that DOT produced showing the various steps and how long they're supposed to take.

First part of that chart is within five days of receiving a complete application, DOT sends it on to the next review agency's community board, and that starts the clock moving.

And if everybody lives with that clock, and the controller's office waives their review of the contract which they have, and the mayor's office waves their review of the contract, you know, which you know which they have.

That's all new stuff in this in the in the statute that was not there before that you put in there.

The process could be quick, somewhat quick, three to four months.

But DOT mistakenly, um and I call it a rookie mistake, didn't send these applications on within five days.

They did their entire substantive review first.

When they were done with the back and forth with the applicant, uh, the objections, the corrections, revised plans, give me better pictures, all the normal things that an license agency has to do with the application like this.

Then they started the clock.

Well, that put the whole process behind the eight ball.

So there was no way when people were allowed to apply up to August 3rd, that by April they would be done with thousands of applications.

That the rest of the process would be done with thousands of applications because they didn't start the clock in August in July like they should have.

That's the main thing.

If they change that going forward, it shouldn't take as many months for new applications, but they haven't changed that yet, and they need to.

And in all fairness, I do want to say, because again, I don't want to point fingers here.

On the other hand, the administration was the one who was pushing for all year-round outdoor dining, and DOT was as well.

And it was the council who said it should be you know, you know, it should be seasonal, and that's turned out to be a big mistake.

So there's mistakes to go around.

I I totally agree.

As someone who personally advocated for year-round outdoor dining, I totally agree.

I think it's completely unfair to restaurants that they have to basically bear the cost, have to put the equipment away.

It's absurd.

I was one who raised that issue.

I know others did as well.

So let me turn it over to Chair Brooks Powers for her questioning.

Thank you, and thank you for your testimony today.

Um I just had a couple of follow-up questions.

It was really helpful, particularly to hear from the businesses and what that direct impact was.