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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Krizette Woods, Owner of Sylvia's Restaurant
0:29:57
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93 sec
Krizette Woods, second-generation owner of Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem, testified about the challenges and potential benefits of the new outdoor dining program. She expressed gratitude for the Hospitality Alliance's assistance but highlighted difficulties with the application process and the importance of year-round outdoor dining for employment and business operations.
- The application process for the new outdoor dining program has been confusing and time-consuming, making it difficult for restaurants to plan.
- Year-round enclosed outdoor dining spaces could provide additional employment opportunities, with potential for 2-3 employees per shift, 5-7 days a week.
- Woods emphasized the value of advocacy groups like the Hospitality Alliance in supporting restaurants and bars through these changes.
Crizette Woods
0:29:57
Good morning, everyone.
0:29:59
My name is Krisette Woods, and I am the second generation owner of Sylvia's Restaurant, which has been serving the Harlem community since 1962, and I do remember us when we got our first sidewalk license, over maybe close to thirty years, over twenty years, but I want to say that, I wanna thank the Hospitality Alliance for helping us as much as they can to navigate through these the changes through this app application process, which has been, as they say, repeated.
0:30:33
We it has been extremely confusing.
0:30:36
Communication has been good, would say, but it has been the challenge of not being able to plan, you know, waiting for the approval, not being able to plan as we are in the season.
0:30:49
The other thing I would like to express is having something enclosed during the winter month will help us to continue the hours continue to provide additional seating.
0:31:04
Our outdoor space can employ up to two to three people per shift, per, five to seven days a week, so having that throughout the winter months will be very helpful to an already challenging operation and business.
0:31:22
So I would like to thank again the Hospitality Alliance Group for for advocating for restaurants and bars like us.