Advocating for Our Tables: NYSLRA at City Hall on Outdoor Dining and Sanitation Policy
Wednesday, April 23, 2025- New York City
On a pivotal day for New York City’s restaurant industry, our President, Sandra Jaquez, represented The New York State Latino Restaurant Association (NYSLRA) at City Hall to advocate for policies that directly impact the livelihood of our members. As outdoor dining continues to play a crucial role in the recovery and sustainability of restaurants across the five boroughs, ensuring that legislation reflects the needs of small and minority-owned businesses has never been more important.
Sandra submitted formal testimony regarding the future of outdoor dining—a lifeline for many restaurants during and after the pandemic. What began as a temporary measure has evolved into a permanent component of New York’s dining culture. Outdoor dining not only creates more seating and revenue opportunities but also enhances neighborhood vibrancy and accessibility.
In addition to the outdoor dining discussion, Sandra attended a sanitation hearing to better understand proposed regulations and how they might impact restaurant operations. Cleanliness, waste management, and compliance with new standards are critical components of a successful food establishment, and navigating these changes requires clarity, fairness, and direct engagement with policymakers.
“Too often, our community’s voice is left out of the rooms where decisions are made,” Sandra shared. “Our goal is to ensure that Latino restaurateurs are not only present but leading in shaping the policies that affect them every day.”
As NYSLRA continues to advocate for equitable opportunities and fair regulation, we encourage our members to stay informed, stay active, and know that their concerns are being heard at the highest levels.
We remain committed to ensuring that the heartbeat of New York’s culinary identity—our Latino restaurants—not only survives, but thrives.
#OutdoorDiningNYC #NYSLRA #LatinoRestaurants #PolicyMatters #AdvocacyInAction
