Council Member Brewer on sidewalk cafe winter enclosure bill
Council Member Brewer discusses her bill allowing sidewalk cafe operators to enclose their cafes from November 30 to March 31, enabling restaurants to retain staff year-round and providing clearer standards than in the past.
I'm talking about the bill that has to do with sidewalk cafes that can now be able to put out a cover during the winter.
It complements some of the other bills that are passing today.
And the reason I think it's important is it would enable the restaurants to have more staff remain during the entire year.
Number two, these restaurants already pay for their outdoor sidewalk cafes.
And obviously if they're not using them, they're losing money.
So it's the kind of bill I think that would have repercussions for all of the restaurant industry and it gives clearer standards than has been in the past.
So I do want to thank Andrew Ridgy from the New York City Hospitality Alliance and certainly Rachel Cordero and Sarah Swain from the speaker staff and from my office, Shuler Puder.
This is a practical seasonal option that they can now, between November 30th and March 31,
have the kind of cover that you might see around some of the front doors when restaurants and grocery stores cover up that door so that it's not a cold entrance when the public is coming and going.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilmember.
Councilmember Marano, and if there's anyone else signed up for general orders, please let me know.