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Debate over revocable consent process for outdoor dining
1:05:19
·
129 sec
The panel discusses the revocable consent process for outdoor dining permits and argues for its elimination. Rob Bookman provides a historical context and criticizes the current system as unnecessarily complex and time-consuming.
- Revocable consent was added as an overlay to sidewalk cafe regulations in 1980
- Panelists argue that the process is unnecessarily complex compared to other uses of public sidewalks
- They suggest replacing revocable consent with a simpler permit or license system
- The current process involves multiple layers of bureaucracy, including reviews by the Controller's office and Mayor's office
- Panelists emphasize that removing revocable consent wouldn't eliminate necessary enforcement or clearance requirements
Gale A. Brewer
1:05:19
And then the revocable issue.
Andrew Rigie
1:05:20
Yeah.
1:05:21
Let's get rid of it.
1:05:22
Wait.
Rob Bookman
1:05:22
Wait.
1:05:22
That's been an issue for me for decades, literally.
1:05:27
I don't understand why a sidewalk news standard occupies 70 square feet as a permanent structure doesn't need irrevocable consent, but movable tables and chairs do.
1:05:38
And basically, when the sidewalk cafe law was passed in the nineteen seventies, it did not.
1:05:43
You were a restaurant, you were able to apply, there were there were basic clearances, and you got approved.
1:05:48
1980, '2 things happened.
1:05:50
The zoning overlay was added and the revocable consent overlay was added.
1:05:55
We've now gotten rid of the zoning overlay, which is good for the boroughs, but we have not gotten rid of the revocable consent that's a hard word for me, overlay.
1:06:04
And that overlay, there's no you know, the the council put it into law.
1:06:09
In my opinion, the council could take it out of the law.
1:06:12
You know, you know, you made it, and you can take it away.
1:06:16
So, again, there are multiple uses of the public sidewalk that don't have that revival consent overlay.
1:06:22
So you go to an agency.
1:06:23
It's generally consumer affairs.
1:06:25
You file an application.
1:06:27
If the application ultimately goes to review process and it gets approved, you get your license, you know, shine.
1:06:33
You're done.
1:06:34
You know, you pay you do your renewals.
1:06:35
They do the enforcement.
1:06:36
Whatever.
1:06:37
The consent overlay makes it a multi month, multi layered, multiple expensive process.
1:06:43
And there's no legal reason in my mind for it.
1:06:45
There's certainly no ethical or moral reason, and there's no policy reason for We whatever you need to do to get rid of it, you should get rid of it.
1:06:51
Whatever agency, whether it's DOT who's a licensing agency or consumer affairs, there's still gonna be enforcement.
1:06:57
There's still gonna be clearances.
Gale A. Brewer
1:06:58
The permit, there would be.
Rob Bookman
1:06:59
Yes.
1:06:59
They'll have a permit.
1:07:00
They'll have a license, which could still be taken away if, you know, three strikes and you're out.
1:07:03
All that stays the same.
1:07:05
You just don't have this extra stuff.
1:07:07
So there's no controller's office reviewing the same 20 page contract literally 3,000 times.
1:07:13
You don't have the mayor's office reviewing the same boilerplate 20 page contract 30 times, you know, 3,000 times.
1:07:19
There's no reason for it.
1:07:20
It's a whole bureaucracy that I don't know why it was created in 1980.
1:07:24
It's even before my time, but its time has passed.
Gale A. Brewer
1:07:26
Thank you very much.
1:07:27
Thank you, miss