Sidewalk cafes are cooked (New York City)

NY Post ^ | may 27, 2013 | DAVID SEIFMAN and ANTONIO ANTENUCCI

[lowbridge]

The city Department of Consumer Affairs has served notice to 17 popular restaurants that this will be their last season to offer sidewalk cafes

[9YearLurker]

So why not just file for exemptions, if they are on public property and put together the documentation to demonstrate if they aren’t?

(Actually, the City should and may have already sorted out and only approached those who are on public property without an exemption.)

[Veto!]

Good points. Then there’s the charm factor. Assuming that all sidewalk cafe’s make a point of being charming, they benefit the citizens’ spirits very much.

[nutmeg]

I was born and raised there, but haven't been since my 20th class reunion. Will be going this September for my 35th, but won't be spending any money other than the cost of the reunion, which I've already paid. We'll be staying with friends and leaving the next day.

Good for you that you're staying with friends (who I'm sure are taxed to death, living in NY state!). Do not park on the streets - I can almost guarantee you'll get some sort of parking "violation".

The NYC hotel prices have truly hit the insane levels, from what we've seen over the years. Maybe I'm not clued into the deals on hotels.com, Priceline, etc. I don't know how tourists can afford to stay in NYC these days.

Fortunately (I guess) we live close enough to NYC so we can drive down and back in one day (or take Metro North).

The past few times we needed a hotel in the NYC area, we stayed across the Hudson in Fort Lee, NJ. It's more fun to stay in NYC, but we don't have endless $$$$....

[nutmeg]

With the increased prices for gas, train fare, restaurants, *insane* hotel and Broadway play prices, parking/traffic "violation" tickets, parking garage prices, etc., we just don't go anymore. Maybe once a year now at Christmastime...

Forgot to mention the huge hike in the NY and NJ tolls...

[nutmeg]

The real problem is the economy. When the warm weather finally comes, the restaurants can’t wait to get the income from the outdoor cafes. They are hurting. So another anti-business assault is not the answer.

Bloombird is after more revenue but there must be something like a Laffer Curve that says when he’s going too far.

Yup, you're right about BloomTurd. He's gone WAY too far for us, particularly with his parking and traffic "violation" ticket prices, toll hikes and other rules and regulations. We've given up parking on the streets, so we're forced to pay the high garage prices. Metro North train fares are way up.

We won't be providing any $$$ to those restaurants this upcoming spring or summer, and I really do miss going to some of them. It's gotten to the point where we can only afford to go to NYC about once a year now, unfortunately. Usually around Christmastime...

[Jim from C-Town]

Don’t forget the issue of trans fat restrictions in restaurants. This was the biggest problem in Cleveland History.

[ptsal]

Bloomberg.... voter friendly....NOPE

[Jim from C-Town]

High prices AND bed bugs!

Only in New York!

[Gabz]

Do not park on the streets - I can almost guarantee you'll get some sort of parking "violation".

That I know. The restaurant where the reunion is being held has valet parking (included in what I've already paid) and there is no alternate side parking at my friends' on the weekends.

I looked at the cost of a room and about croaked - and I'm talking Brooklyn, not mid-town Manhattan.

[firebrand]

The hotels above 96th Street aren’t bad. A lot of people won’t stay that far uptown, but it’s just like the rest of the Upper West Side.