Editor\u2019s note: The above video aired in a previous broadcast.<\/p>\n
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) \u2013 New Yorkers could see outdoor dining<\/a> on their ballots this November.<\/p>\n Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s Charter Revision Commission, which proposes ballot measures for New York City elections, will take a close look at outdoor dining approvals, according to a section of the commission\u2019s first report exclusively obtained by PIX11 News.<\/p>\n Discover more local reporting on our homepage <\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s the first window into the priorities of the Commission on Government Efficiency, or COGE, which will eventually create ballot measures for the upcoming election. COGE has already held 12 public hearings, and outdoor dining quickly took focus<\/a>.<\/p>\n The commission has identified key areas of focus as permitting, contracting, fiscal stability and accelerating public space and infrastructure projects, according to a spokesperson for the Mayor\u2019s office. The commission will draft ballot proposals after more public hearings.<\/a><\/p>\n What does the charter say about outdoor dining rules?<\/p>\n Outdoor dining catapulted in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0At its peak, the city had nearly 12,000 sidewalk and roadway restaurants. That number has dropped to just over 1,400 since the program was made permanent and seasonal.<\/p>\n Business leaders say it\u2019s a symptom of red tape.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is taking far, far too long for a restaurant to get an outdoor dining license, when the whole intent of the new program was to speed up the process, bring equity to it,\u201d said Andrew Rigie, executive director of New York Hospitality Alliance, at a June hearing.<\/p>\n The city charter controls the use of public space by private entities through revocable consent licenses, which are required for outdoor dining set-ups. They are fixed-term and require, at a minimum, the Department of Transportation\u2019s approval. Rigie suggested removing the revocable consent altogether.<\/p>\n \u201cEliminating the unnecessary revocable consent requirement from the outdoor dining approval process would help restaurants open outdoor caf\u00e9s more quickly, create more jobs, reduce costs and delays, and establish a more accessible, efficient, and successful program that strengthens neighborhood economies across all five boroughs,\u201d Rigie said in a statement.<\/p>\n COGE\u2019s initial report notes options like changing hearing requirements to obtain the proper licenses, consolidating applications and speeding up the process on DOT\u2019s side. Past charter revision commissions have proposed simplified and accelerated approval processes for certain projects, like publicly financed affordable housing projects<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the same time, the City Council is considering legislative changes to make the program more successful, like making it year-round rather than seasonal.<\/p>\n Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here <\/a>and follow her on Twitter here<\/a>. <\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. <\/a><\/p>\n