On November 30, one of the COVID-19 pandemic's few positive influences on New York City came to an end. Earlier this year, the City Council voted to end the city's four-year experiment in laissez faire outdoor dining, replacing it with a labyrinth of regulations and fees. Over the past month, thousands of sidewalk dining setups—symbols of entrepreneurial creativity that enlivened city streets—have come down.
Like most great things about the city, the recent outdoor dining renaissance was unplanned. When the pandemic confined New Yorkers indoors, restaurateurs survived by taking business outdoors. Under an emergency program, the city allowed eateries to build makeshift structures on sidewalks and in parking spaces, creating lifelines for businesses and socially distanced spaces for diners.
