NEW OUTDOOR DINING PROGRAM
No longer just a pandemic-era outdoor dining solution: last month, the New York City Council passed legislation Mayor Adams signed into law that will create a system allowing businesses to set up dining sheds on city streets from April through November and to remove them in the winter months. The permanent program — Dining Out NYC — promises to build upon lessons learned during the temporary Open Restaurants program and make outdoor dining more accessible, safe, and inviting.
Initiatives of the new program include:
- Provide clear design guidelines
- Expand sidewalk dining to all boroughs — year-round
- Allow roadway dining for eight months a year
- Be managed by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT)
Touted as “the largest, best outdoor dining program in the country,” the City is banking on Dining Out NYC to be a success, and they are eager for the area’s small businesses to participate. Details regarding the processes (for permits, fees, and licensing), as well as the design requirements are still in the works, but permanent outdoor dining is scheduled to launch in Spring of 2024.
Check here for the rollout timeline, a description of the process, and other details.
ARE YOU DSNY-READY?
Compliance time is upon us! Back on August 1 of this year, the new rule requiring ALL food-related businesses in NYC to use rigid containers with secure lids when setting out trash for collection went into effect. There’s been a 30-day period for warnings and education; on September 1, violations of this rule will be cited, with fines. Do you have your new bins yet??
Also, as of September 5, 2023, ALL chain stores (not just food businesses) with five or more locations in NYC must use rigid containers with secure lids when setting out trash for collection.
And the new set out rules for trash offer two options for businesses: to either place waste at the curb 1 hour before closing, OR after 8:00 pm. (If placed out after 8:00 pm, recyclables do not need to be in a container.)
Go here for detailed information about these new trash requirements. And you can sign up here for one of many upcoming DSNY virtual info sessions. If you have any questions, please contact our office so we can help.
ILLEGAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY CRACKDOWN
NY1 reports that, in the latest effort to stop unlicensed cannabis dispensaries from opening, city lawmakers focused on landlords, not the illegal operators themselves. The new law now in effect and backed by the Real Estate Board of NY, explicitly prohibits landlords from knowingly renting to illegal dispensaries that sell cannabis or tobacco products.
After a raid on the storefront by the sheriff or NYPD, the landlord will receive a letter informing them they are renting space to an illegal business; it comes with a request to evict. After a follow-up inspection and second notice, if the landlord is not compliant, they will get fined: $5,000 dollars for the first violation and $10,000 for subsequent violations. The fines go through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
There are NO state-licensed dispensaries currently in Brooklyn. Every cannabis shop you see in the borough is operating illegally, and it further hinders the progress of the legal marijuana market in NYC. Don’t be that landlord who has illegal tenants!
NYC BEST BOOTCAMP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Time is money! Save on both with assistance from the Department of Small Business Services’ NYC BEST Team and their Bootcamp Program.
This series of webinars will help small business owners understand the rules and regulations needed to launch and operate a business in New York City, including industry-specific courses to help restaurants, street vendors, childcare providers, manufacturers, and other types of specialized businesses. There is also a session that addresses violations and summonses, and how to handle them.
Check out all the upcoming virtual modules and topics to be covered and sign up soon here; boot camp courses start Thu., September 7.
The NYC BEST team also offers one-on-one help –- for free! The team is an invaluable resource for working with City and State agencies and utilities. (They recently assisted Bati Ethiopian Kitchen in our district to expedite their grand re-opening!) To learn more, call 888-SBS-4NYC or visit their site. (Services are available in multiple languages.)
FAB FULTON ANNUAL MEETING
For the first time since 2019, the FAB Fulton Annual Meeting will be held in person. The date is set for Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 11:00 am, at Brooklyn Music School in Fort Greene. Stay tuned for more communication regarding registration materials, coming soon.
GET ANSWERS!
Not just for residents, our Town Hall conversations are designed to provide small business owners an opportunity to meet the specific reps for our neighborhood from various NYC agencies. We encourage you to bring your questions and complaints to our next panel at Greenlight Bookstore (686 Fulton) on Tuesday, September 12, from 7-8:30 pm.
We’ll be joined by NYC Planning, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, NYC Department of Transportation, and just added, NYC Sanitation, who will have lots to share in light of many recent mandatory rule changes. Please come out or send a staff member to collect valuable insights and information at this event!
MILESTONE: FORT GREENE COUNCIL’S 50TH!
For 50 years, Fort Greene Council, Inc. (FGC) has stood at the forefront of service throughout Brooklyn. One of the largest Black non-profit organizations in Brooklyn, FGC was founded in 1973 to serve our most vulnerable underserved population, older adults and children. FGC will be celebrating five decades of service at a lively gala, slated for Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 6 -11 p.m., at the wonderful Glen Terrace in Brooklyn.
Show your support for your Fulton Street neighbor and send congratulations by becoming a sponsor, attending the event, or placing an advertisement in the gala journal. Click here for info!
ABOUT FAB FULTON
The Fulton Area Business Alliance (FAB FULTON) is a non-profit organization that advocates for and collaborates with small businesses and property owners along Fulton Street in Brooklyn’s neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill to maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming community while securing resources and partnerships for initiatives that enhance and promote the district.
This post contains links to the articles and information referenced in our latest FAB BIZ BLAST email communication. You can subscribe to future newsletters; sign up here for the FAB FULTON BIZ BLAST to get the latest information and resources for FAB FULTON Businesses
