Community board raises enforcement concerns after outdoor dining rollout

Manhattan City Community Board 2 members told a board meeting that the city's outdoor dining program began with widespread variation in compliance and uncertain enforcement.

Board member Bob said, "Secondly, as everyone knows, the, the outdoor dining started today," and described walking an area near the community board where "about 8 or 10 places" had set out tables and "at least 3 of them were doing it improperly." Carter, speaking later in the meeting, said the Department of Transportation (DOT) had not explained how complaints would be handled: "the DOT has not has not addressed how complaints will be managed or handled." Chanel (board member) said DOT had advised people to file 311 complaints so they could be routed to the appropriate agencies: "people should file 3 0 1 complaints, and... those complaints would be routed to the appropriate agencies." The transcript also recorded a DOT figure shared in the…