Though many Big Apple restaurants and roughly 70% of local residents support extended outdoor dining, critics are frustrated that these rent-free and tax-free extensions haven’t been afforded to other businesses.
Complaints of excessive noise and trash, unattractive dining structures, compromised sidewalk accessibility and rat infestations have also dogged the program since its 2020 debut. The Uniformed Firefighters Association is concerned that these restaurant extensions slow their emergency response times, and the Coalition United for Equitable Urban Policy recently held a rally in protest of the program.
