NYC Council Speaker Pledges to Revive Year-Round Outdoor Dining

NEW YORK (VINnews) — City Council Speaker Julie Menin on Wednesday pledged to restore year-round outdoor dining in New York City, aiming to ease the regulatory burdens that led many restaurants to abandon the program in 2025.

Speaking at a breakfast hosted by the Association for a Better New York, Menin, a Manhattan Democrat, said the move would help small businesses survive and adapt while preventing job loss. “Preventing job loss is vital to maintaining New York as the economic capital of the world,” she said.

Speaker Menin Addresses ABNY Power Breakfast https://t.co/cR3bZafjMh

— New York City Council (@NYCCouncil) February 4, 2026

The initiative builds on a bill introduced last year by Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler, which Menin co-sponsored. The proposed legislation would remove seasonal restrictions and streamline approvals for sidewalk and roadway cafes, a process that previously involved multiple city agencies and local community boards.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani voiced support for the return of a year-round program, which was scaled back under former Mayor Eric Adams. Last year, only about 400 establishments received full approvals, while thousands more operated under conditional permits.

Industry groups welcomed Menin’s announcement. Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said reducing fees, insurance costs, and regulatory hurdles is “essential to strengthening our economy and supporting the hospitality and cultural sectors.”