Restaurant streeteries’ future in several cities hinges on upcoming legislative votes
The future of “streeteries,” a financial lifeline for restaurants during limited-capacity restrictions, is up in the air in several cities—just in time for the frigid months. In Philadelphia, alfresco dining has been caught in the middle of a City Council imbroglio, The Inquirer reports, with elected officials divided over whether—and where—they want these makeshift outdoor dining spaces in their districts. The current proposal to make streeteries permanent would ultimately create a two-tiered system: districts whose council members allow streeteries carte blanche, and others that are permitted only on certain district streets or regions. Restaurants situated outside the boundaries would have to request individual exceptions to keep their outdoor dining structures. And in New York City, as the vote on streeteries’ permanency looms, restaurateurs are banking on periods of longer, milder transitional weather to keep more people dining outside with electric heaters and blankets. —Matthew Sedacca
