Madison Pinckney Testimony: New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

The Dining Out program offers a vibrant opportunity for the community growth and engagement, but it has to do so while ensuring disability access to these restaurants and the sidewalks.

Um, sidewalk access is paramount for the disability community, um, especially considering that a lot of other transportation options like the subway that millions of New Yorkers rely on is not accessible, which often leaves the sidewalk as the primary mode of navigation for everyday life.

Um, when sidewalks are blocked either by um dining structures or by server and patron traffic, people with disabilities often have to navigate into the street, which is incredibly dangerous, not just for um themselves, but for others.

Um, luckily, dining out mandates a clear path for sidewalks and other accessibility requirements.

Um, and NOPI applauds these requirements, but also urges the council to have robust enforcement, and by doing so, will require enough resources to investigate each complaint.

Because the enforcement of these uh requirements relies heavily on public reporting.

Um, additionally, the dining out program should offer an annual report of these accessibility complaints and the city's responses, which will help ensure accountability not just for restaurants, but also for the city is enforcement.

Um, thanks so much for the opportunity.

Thank you very much for your testimony today.

And we're now going to go to Zoom.

Uh we've got three members on the panel.

I'm gonna call them in order John Grimes, Chiara Seikeld, and Michelle Campo.