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Council member's critique of outdoor dining's impact on city streets
3:36:10
·
3 min
Council Member Vickie Paladino strongly criticizes the continuation of outdoor dining structures, arguing they unnecessarily impede streets and parking spaces. She debates with Elizabeth Adams about the program's impact and necessity in post-pandemic New York City.
- Paladino argues that outdoor dining structures are now an intrusion on streets and parking spaces
- She lists concerns including rat infestation, homelessness, and difficulties for large vehicles navigating city streets
- Adams attempts to counter with statistics about the minimal impact on parking spaces, but Paladino dismisses these arguments
- The exchange becomes increasingly heated, with Paladino accusing Adams and TransAlt of being 'delusional'
Vickie Paladino
3:36:10
Well, I agree with you that it has the ambiance that New York needs.
3:36:14
However, the intrusion upon our streets is something that we do not need.
3:36:18
Okay?
3:36:19
We acute we actually approved outdoor dining, in a very reasonable sense, seasonal and on our streets and cafe tables so long on our, sidewalks so long as it does not impede upon pedestrians walking.
3:36:36
The outdoor dining sheds were a life preserver for many during COVID pandemic.
3:36:42
Nobody will argue that fact with you.
3:36:45
However, the fact that they are an intrusion upon parking spaces and they're actually hurting small businesses by doing so.
3:36:54
There have been alternatives and you pointed out rooftop dining and such, But to live along these fallacies that we must have outdoor dining impeding upon our streets and that this is a lifeline, no.
3:37:14
You're wrong.
3:37:14
It's not.
3:37:16
So, I think the way we're managing it right now from, April until November is within reason, and, I think you're off base with this.
3:37:28
So one thing we don't need is between bike lanes and everything else, bus lanes.
3:37:35
We don't need restaurants on our streets any longer.
3:37:39
And they become rat infested in disease.
3:37:42
We don't need it.
3:37:43
And a place for the homeless to sleep.
3:37:45
So there's my list of why we do not need outdoor sheds any longer.
Elizabeth Adams
3:37:52
Responding to your point about, parking spaces.
3:37:56
So at its peak, outdoor dining took less than 1% of our city's on street parking spaces.
3:38:02
In its current iteration, that has actually dropped to less than point 1%.
3:38:07
So it's really not the the majority takeover of parking spaces.
Vickie Paladino
3:38:11
I disagree.
3:38:12
Totally.
Elizabeth Adams
3:38:13
It those are those are numbers.
3:38:15
And then I will also just say this is a much better use of our public space than one individual's
Vickie Paladino
3:38:22
vehicle.
3:38:22
Is the city of New York, Elizabeth.
3:38:24
This isn't Denmark.
3:38:26
This isn't Amsterdam.
3:38:28
We live in a city with 8,000,000 people, and my husband drives a 52 foot tractor trailer.
3:38:36
Do you have any idea what it's like to navigate the streets of New York City when you're driving a 52 foot tractor trailer trying to make a living?
3:38:48
Any idea?
3:38:49
In the narrow streets of in the narrow streets
Elizabeth Adams
3:38:52
then getting around on the subway and walking and using all of our public transportation.
Vickie Paladino
3:38:59
Oh, you're gonna tell it's It's important
Elizabeth Adams
3:39:00
that we're thinking about how New Yorkers move around You're delusional.
3:39:04
And have space to do so.
Vickie Paladino
3:39:06
Absolutely and totally delusional, but it doesn't surprise me coming from TransAlta.
3:39:10
Thank you very much.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
3:39:11
Thank you, council member.