Photo Courtesy of NYC DOT
“Open Storefronts has given business owners an easy way to maximize their space and keep customers safe as they shop. And by introducing restaurants into the program, we’re giving local eateries more ways than ever to keep their communities vibrant,” Mayor de Blasio said.
By Forum Staff
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday announced the Open Storefronts program, which permits storefront businesses to use a portion of their sidewalk to display merchandise, sell goods, complete transactions, and provide queuing areas, will be extended through Sept. 30, 2021. The mayor announced the program will also allow businesses to sell pre-packaged food on sidewalks, and allow restaurants to use sidewalks for take-out orders.
Staten Island native appointed as city’s finance commissioner
Updated Dec 31, 2020;
Posted Dec 31, 2020
Sherif Soliman, a former Staten Islander, was appointed as the city’s Department of Finance commissioner. (Advance file photo)
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Sherif Soliman, a former Staten Islander who grew up in New Springville and graduated from Port Richmond High School, was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio Wednesday as the city’s Department of Finance commissioner.
A 20-year-veteran of public service, Soliman comes from a family of first-generation immigrants who settled in New York almost 45 years ago after emigrating from Egypt.
During his time on Staten Island, Soliman was chief of staff to former Assemblyman Eric Vitaliano. He was later tapped to lead the New York State Legislative Affairs team and had roles that included serving as director of communications at the New York City Employees’ Retirement System and most recently chief of staff for the
Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
Update, 1:39 p.m.: Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that streetside outdoor dining citywide can resume tonight at 6 p.m.
Streetside outdoor dining in Manhattan is back up and running following a temporary ban due to heavy snowfall in the city this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced. The four other boroughs are still banned from operating outdoor dining structures that take up street space. The mayor’s office will be making another announcement at 1 p.m. regarding whether or not the ban will be lifted elsewhere today, depending on snow removal progress.
You re Not A Real New Yorker Until You ve Dined Outdoors During A Snowstorm
arrow People dining at Extra Virgin in the West Village during the snowstorm Erin Levi
The city put a kibosh on outdoor dining in roadways and curbside during the snowstorm starting yesterday at 2 p.m. But because the storm wasn t quite as bad as expected, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday morning that outdoor dining could resume immediately in Manhattan today. A few hours later, he announced that Open Restaurants will reopen citywide at 6 p.m. this evening.
But the hefty snowfall was not enough to deter some New Yorkers from braving the weather last night and attempting to dine outside which was allowed, so long as they weren t blocking any roadways or sidewalks.