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David M. Carr explains vote on outdoor dining program and other bills
0:51:55
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Council Member David M. Carr explains his vote on Introduction 31-C, which establishes a permanent outdoor dining program in NYC. He expresses support for the sidewalk cafe portion of the bill but opposes the roadway dining section due to lack of a call-up option for community and council member input. He votes no on Intro 31-C, as well as Intros 5-A and 6-A.
- Carr praises the improvements to the sidewalk cafe process in the bill
- He criticizes the lack of a call-up option for roadway dining, which would require a charter amendment
- Carr expresses concern about giving DOT too much authority without ensuring community input will be heeded
- He discloses that his spouse is a student at CUNY, which is funded in the transparency resolution being voted on
David M. Carr
0:51:55
Permission to explain my vote?
Keith Powers
0:51:57
Go ahead.
David M. Carr
0:51:57
Just like to confine my remarks to introduction 31 c.
0:52:01
I I think the portions of this bill as they pertain to the sidewalk cafes are truly excellent.
0:52:06
It took a a moribund, onerous, expensive process and really made it much better while retaining community and council member input.
0:52:14
It's to the credit of the chair who is the prime sponsor of the bill that it turned out that way alongside all the staff on both sides of city hall that have worked on this.
0:52:22
And I'm such an admirer of it that it would make a roadway skeptic, dining skeptic like myself support this bill if it were identical in terms of the procedures, but they're not.
0:52:33
And it misses a crucial component for the right roadway dining portion, is the call up option that we have under the sidewalk cafe rules.
0:52:40
And I think that is something that we needed to have.
0:52:43
I know there were there's reticence about doing it because it would require a referendum to amend the charter in that way.
0:52:48
But I think when we're considering converting lane miles of public space to the benefit of a particular commercial entity or restaurant, that it's not a bad thing to ask the public their opinion on such a a grant of of an ability.
0:53:02
But also, in addition to that, it requires us as we give this authority to DOT as a legislative entity, Basically, we're giving them a blank check.
UNKNOWN
0:53:10
Mhmm.
David M. Carr
0:53:10
And I don't wanna judge the situation based on my relationship with this mayor and this DOT which is very good.
0:53:17
It's about what's the worst case scenario between a relationship between a council member and an executive agency.
0:53:24
And we have to make sure that in the future, all the processes are gonna allow the community input and the council member input to be heard and more importantly to be heated.
0:53:33
And that's one of the reasons why I can't bring myself to support this legislation because I don't want to trust the hope that the agencies will listen and heed to me or my successors.
0:53:43
I want to be able to know that for sure, and a call up would ensure that.
0:53:47
So I'll be a no on introduction 31 c as well as intros five a and six a and I on the rest.
0:53:53
And I'm simply gonna disclose on the record that in the transparency resolution we're voting on today, CUNY is funded and my spouse is a student at CUNY.
0:54:01
Thank you.