NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — From trash lawsuits to reports of people having sex and doing drugs, New York City's outdoor dining structures have been subject to harsh criticism.
Mayor Eric Adams promised Thursday that the outdoor dining program, which was instituted in the early months of the COVID pandemic, "is here to stay" as he announced a new enforcement initiative to remove abandoned or dilapidated dining structures.
"Outdoor dining has transformed New York City and saved 100,000 jobs during the pandemic, but we cannot allow abandoned dining sheds to litter our streets," Adams said. "These deserted dining sheds have become eyesores for neighbors and havens for rats, and we are going to tear them down."
Adams made the announcement in Midtown Thursday morning before he put on work gloves and helped bring down a structure with a sledgehammer.
The city said it has torn down two dozen sheds as part of the new enforcement and is investigating 37 others for "egregious violations" of the Open Restaurants program guidelines, according to a news release.
Structures reported to be abandoned will be verified as such two separate times before receiving a termination letter, followed by the shed's removal.
The Department of Transportation will then hold the structure for 90 days. If it is not reclaimed in that period, it will be disposed of.
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Any New Yorker who identifies a shed that appears abandoned is encouraged to call 311, say "Open Restaurants" or "outdoor dining" and share the location so the task force can review it. New Yorkers can also submit photos to 311 via text, email, or the 311 website to report a shed out of compliance.
"With this initiative, we are also taking the essential step towards a permanent Open Restaurants program that all New Yorkers can be proud of every day," Adams added. "I want to say it loud and clear: Outdoor dining is here to stay."
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