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New Yorkers debate loss of parking spaces for outdoor dining
On Monday, the
New York Post published a report revealing that about 8,550 NYC parking spots have been monopolized by roadside outdoor dining sheds during the pandemic, according to data provided by the city. That’s about 0.3 percent of the city’s total three million parking spaces.
The report kicked off, once again, a favorite pandemic argument for New Yorkers: Are outdoor dining sheds a welcome addition to the city’s dining scene or not? The
Post talked to restaurateurs on both sides of the argument in Astoria, with some saying that it has been a necessary lifeline during the pandemic while others argued that now their customers can’t find places to park. Residents, too, couldn’t agree on whether the sheds were a boon for the neighborhood or simply causing more traffic congestion.