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Q&A

Sanchez and Abreu question DOT on Intro 917 cleanliness enforcement and costs

New York City Council · Jun 25, 2026 · starts 0:29:21 · 2 min 13 sec

Sanchez asks about the 1.5-foot cleanliness radius and how it works. Michelle Craven explains sanitation enforces that radius while DOT enforces other cleanliness rules, and reports very few complaints under the new permanent program. Abreu asks about enforcement changes and costs; Craven says the bill would duplicate existing rules with no significant change.

Shaun Abreu

I'm now going to, Councilmember Sanchez, if you could just ask your 917 questions now.

Justin E. Sanchez

Sure.

Justin E. Sanchez

Hold on two seconds.

Justin E. Sanchez

In terms of 917, so the DOT rule currently have the outdoor calf raider operators keeping their area, I think it's 1.5, the area with a 1.5 foot radius.

Justin E. Sanchez

How is that radius actually working?

Justin E. Sanchez

Does that work?

Justin E. Sanchez

And how was that 1.5 foot radius come to?

Michelle Craven

So I believe the 1.5 radius is sanitation's jurisdiction, so they actually enforce that piece of it and we enforce the rest of it.

Michelle Craven

I will say we've gotten very few complaints about cleanliness in this new permanent outdoor dining program.

Michelle Craven

In the emergency program, we had many, many, many complaints about cleanliness.

Michelle Craven

It's something we've taken very seriously in setting this program up and setting up our rules.

Michelle Craven

And it's been...

Michelle Craven

We've hardly heard about it at all.

Michelle Craven

And our inspectors do go out and enforce for cleanliness.

Michelle Craven

We look for waste and debris and graffiti and food scraps and whatever else.

Michelle Craven

That's mostly inside the setups, but we've had very few issues.

Shaun Abreu

And how would DOT's approach to enforcement change at all, if at all, with this new legislation?

Michelle Craven

I think it would be substantially the same.

Michelle Craven

I mean, we have these rules already, so it wouldn't actually change the requirement.

Michelle Craven

It would just kind of duplicate it in the ad code, I think.

Michelle Craven

So we would still enforce it the same way.

Shaun Abreu

And generally, what is the most common cleanliness issue that is reported when you do get the few reports?

Michelle Craven

Okay, if someone dumps garbage or debris or something outside of the setup.

Michelle Craven

Great.

Michelle Craven

It's the most common complaint.

Shaun Abreu

And how much does DOT anticipate it would cost to implement 917?

Michelle Craven

I don't think it would really change things because, again, we already have these in the rules, so it would be the same requirements.

Shaun Abreu

Great.

Shaun Abreu

Sounds like a great bill.

Shaun Abreu

On my time here is done.

Shaun Abreu

Thank you.