Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council are making moves to solidify pandemic-era outdoor dining regulations, setting the scene for perpetuity with a voted-in Al Fresco dining program that's earned praise for its role in aiding local restaurants. According to a statement obtained by the official Mayor's office website, the ordinance will make it easier for eateries to offer outdoor dining on private property, a feature widely utilized during the height of the COVID-19 crisis.
Last week marked a year since Mayor Bass assumed office, an occasion she spent with Council member Eunisses Hernandez, visiting and discussing plans to boost small businesses with local restaurateurs in Highland Park. Businesses included in their tour were Antigua Bread, Las Cazuelas Restaurant & Pupuseria, Otoño Restaurant, and Civil Coffee, reflecting on the Al Fresco program’s impacts. Bass praised the City Council's unanimous decision to adopt the outdoor dining ordinance, noting that it eases some of the burdens on local enterprises, stating, "The permanent Al Fresco Dining Ordinance carries forward the spirit of the widely successful pandemic-era temporary program and makes sure the process for permanent Al Fresco is simple and easy to navigate for our restaurants," Mayor Karen Bass told the Mayor's office website.
City Council officials stand united behind the Al Fresco ordinance, touting its potential to reignite economic and cultural vigor within the community. City Council President Paul Krekorian emphasized the boon for businesses and the joy it brings to the Los Angeles lifestyle; Council President Pro Tempore Marqueece Harris-Dawson called it a "big win" for restaurants and the use of public spaces; and Councilwoman Traci Park and Councilmember Tim McOsker echoed similar sentiments about the initiative's positive trajectory for local dining spots.
Statements supporting the permanent establishment of Al Fresco dining have poured in from industry leaders and restaurant owners alike, celebrating the collaborative effort and its benefits to the small business community in Los Angeles. Eddie Navarrette, Executive Director of The Independent Hospitality Coalition, recognized the ordinance as a transformative moment, granting independent restaurants a meaningful voice in shaping policies, while Jot Condie, the CEO of The Los Angeles Restaurant Association, exclaimed that neighborhood restaurants are thrilled about the continuity of their expanded outdoor services, as per their respective interviews provided to the Mayor's office website.
Restaurant owners have not held back their gratitude towards the City's efforts in providing significant support to the eclectic dining scene. Carlos Lopez, owner of Las Cazuelas Restaurant, expressed his heartfelt thanks to Mayor Bass and the City Council, lauding the developed patios as instrumental in creating a dynamic atmosphere for diners, as reported by the Mayor's office website. With such citywide endorsement, Los Angeles is set to witness an enduring outdoor dining culture, much to the approval of local entrepreneurs and the dining public.
