#Bill de Blasio: NYC restaurants can have outdoor seating in Phase 2

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday said that city restaurants will be able to create an influx of seating on the sidewalks and in open streets during Phase 2 of the Big Apple’s reopening from its coronavirus-induced shutdown when outdoor dining only will be allowed.

“We will provide a massive expansion of curbside seating, a massive expansion of open space,” de Blasio said during his daily City Hall press briefing, in explaining how the city will accommodate Big Apple eateries financially-ravaged by the coronavirus crisis.

Outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted in Phase 2 of reopening, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday — and de Blasio, who maintains that the city is still slated to enter Phase 1 on Monday, said Thursday that the Big Apple could move into Phase 2 “as early as the beginning of July.”

However, under the state’s reopening schedule of two weeks per phase, the city should, if on track, hit Phase 2 by June 22.

Under the city’s new “Open Restaurants” initiative, the de Blasio administration will make it easier for food joints to set up sidewalk seating and allow restaurants to convert adjacent parking spots into more seating with no permits needed.

Restaurants will be allowed to create seating in open streets that are closed off to traffic under the plan. The city is looking to identify potential open streets on commercial strips with a high volume of restaurants.

“We’ll do what it takes to help this key part of life in New York City,” the mayor said, adding, “This is going to be another important step,” but that “health and safety” comes first.

Under the state’s outdoor dining rules, tables must be spaced six feet apart and all staff must wear face masks.

Customers must also wear face coverings when not seated.

“Monday, June 8, Phase 1 begins and we are resolute that we will continue this restart process,” Hizzoner said, noting, “We must have health and safety as the priorities in this restart.”