Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 11 a.m. (New York City time), 250 Broadway - 8th Floor - Hearing Room 3
Committee: Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises
0:07 Any time who has the clock
0:07 today.
0:15 Good morning everyone and
0:18 welcome to two New York City
0:20 council hearing for the
0:21 subcommittee on zoning and
0:22 franchises if you would like
0:24 to testify you must fill our
0:25 witness slip with one of the
0:26 sergeant arms in the back of
0:28 the room even if you signed up
0:30 already online you also submit
0:33 testimony at testimony at
0:34 counsel dot dot gov at this
0:36 simply silence all electronic
0:38 devices please silence all
0:40 electronic devices and no 1
0:41 approach a dais at any time
0:43 chair we are ready to speak in
0:49 good morning and welcome t
0:52 oour meeting on the
0:54 subcommittee on zone ian
0:55 franchises I'm a council chair
0:57 of the subcommittee this
0:59 morning I'm joined by members
1:02 of the committee a council
1:05 member Farías showman salam
1:07 Sanchez as well as council
1:10 member avila's and majority
1:11 whip Hanks oh today we are
1:15 holding five hearings and
1:17 today we are holding fiv
1:19 ehearings and voting on three
1:20 proposals the hearing will be
1:23 held the hearings who will
1:27 hold concern szabo sa's
1:29 application for a sidewalk
1:30 cafe and councilman the fatty
1:32 acids district sacchetti so
1:35 sherry no no no I was just
1:36 trying to.
1:36 Check it's a shetty
1:39 brooklyn's application for a
1:40 sidewalk cafe did I say it
1:44 correctly chickadee cicchetti
1:45 kitty brooklyn application for
1:47 a sidewalk cafe and council
1:50 member millie's district st
1:52 francis pep rezoning for a
1:54 commercial overlay and council
1:56 members lee's district 920
1:59 0one fourth fourth avenue
1:59 residential rezoning and
2:01 council santos auras district
2:04 and and 46 nelson rezoning two
2:06 in Council Member district we
2:09 will then then vote on the
2:11 following proposals 37 59
2:13 hamilton avenue with
2:15 residential zoning and
2:16 councilman by hank's district
2:18 and two sidewalk cafe
2:21 yand sacchetti we will hold the
2:26 vote after the two hearings on
2:29 the sidewalk applications and
2:30 then resumed with the
2:34 remaining three hearings
2:39 something.
2:40 And we are also joined
2:41 online by council members
2:42 Felder and santos ouzo this.
2:47 All right this meeting is
2:49 being held in a hybrid format
2:51 members of the public who wish
2:53 to testify and then testify
2:54 and person or via zoom members
2:55 of the public wishing to
2:58 testify remotely register by
2:59 visiting the New York City
3:01 council web site www dot
3:05 counsel dot dot gov backslash
3:08 land use to sign up or for
3:10 those of you here who wish t
3:12 osee one of for those of you
3:14 here in person please see one
3:16 of the sergeant at arms t
3:18 oprepare and submit a speaker
3:20 card
3:20 . Members of the public also
3:22 view a live stream broadcast
3:24 of this meeting at the
3:26 council's website when you are
3:27 called to testify before the
3:29 subcommittee if you are
3:30 joining us remotely you will
3:31 remain muted until recognized
3:33 by myself to speak when you
3:35 are recognize your microphone
3:36 will be unm you'd id we will
3:39 limit public testimony to tw
3:41 ominutes per witness if you
3:42 have additional testimony that
3:43 you would like to don't you
3:44 like the the subcommittee t
3:46 oconsider or if you have
3:48 written testimony that you
3:49 would like to submit instead
3:51 of appearing in person please
3:52 email it to land use testimony
3:54 at counsel dot dot gov written
3:57 testimony be submitted up t
3:58 othree days after the hearing
4:00 is closed please indicate the
4:02 l you number project name name
4:03 the subject line of your email s
4:07 joining us remotely remain in
4:10 the meeting until excused by
4:11 the chair as council members
4:13 have have questions lastly for
4:15 everyone attending today's
4:16 meeting this is a government
4:18 proceeding and decorum must be
4:19 observed at all times members
4:21 of the public are asked not t
4:22 ospeak during the meeting
4:24 unless you are testifying the
4:26 witness table is reserved for
4:27 people who are called t
4:29 otestify and no video recording
4:31 or photography is allowed from
4:32 the witness table further
4:34 members of the public not
4:36 . Present audio or video
4:37 recordings as testimony but
4:39 submit transcripts of such
4:40 recordings to the sergeant at
4:43 arms
4:44 . For inclusion in the hearing
4:45 record
4:45 . The first hearing we will
4:49 hold concerns l u 49 related
4:51 to the sidewalk cafe
4:53 application by sabra sora
4:55 which is an establishment
4:57 located in the union port
4:59 neighborhood of the bronx and
5:01 Council Member fatima uses
5:03 district applicants seeking t
5:04 oplace 18 tables and 60 chairs
5:05 along the sidewalk by the
5:07 restaurant we will now hear
5:08 from Council Member Farías.
5:10 Good morning and thank you
5:10 chair lewis and members of the
5:13 committee and to the applicant
5:15 of sabra shura for being here
5:16 today we are here to consider
5:18 the sidewalk application for
5:20 sabra sura in castle hill in
5:23 my district as part of my
5:24 review I utilize the color
5:25 process to take a closer look
5:27 and more deliberate look at
5:29 this proposal for me this is
5:30 about more than just approving
5:32 an application on paper it's
5:34 about ensuring that's what's
5:35 proposed actually works within
5:36 the realities of the corridors
5:38 throughout my district castle
5:39 hill avenue is an active
5:41 commercial strip with steady
5:43 pedestrian traffic nearby
5:45 intersections and a mix of
5:46 small businesses and community
5:48 uses so my review focused on a
5:50 few key factors pedestrian
5:52 flow and accessibility
5:53 emergency access and how the
5:56 cafe footprint interacts with
5:57 neighboring businesses and the
5:58 public right of way my office
6:00 coordinated with the 4
6:01 3precinct the local firehouse
6:02 in castle hill business
6:04 improvement district to ensure
6:05 that there was alignment
6:07 across stakeholders that level
6:08 of coordination is critical t
6:10 omaking sure these setups are
6:11 safe functional and
6:12 sustainable in the long term
6:14 the sidewalk cafe program can
6:15 be a valuable tool for
6:16 supporting small businesses
6:17 and activating our corridors
6:18 but only when it is
6:20 implemented thoughtfully and
6:21 responsibly I'm looking
6:23 forward to seeing their
6:24 applications today thoroughly
6:26 and excited because sabra sura
6:27 is a key quarter partner thank
6:29 you for a moment to speak on
6:31 behalf of value 49.
6:33 Thank you Council Member I
6:34 will now call the applicant
6:36 panel four this proposal which
6:39 consists of alejandro wang
6:42 council please administer the
6:45 affirmation good morning could
6:46 you please raise your right
6:49 hand state my name for the
6:51 record do you swear to tell
6:52 the truth and nothing but the
6:54 truth in your testimony today
6:55 and in response to council
6:57 member questions
6:58 . Thank you thank you you now
7:01 begin your testimony which is
7:02 limited to eight minutes and I
7:03 will just ask you to please
7:06 restate your name and
7:08 organization for the
7:08 . Record my name is alejandro
7:09 wang a recipient
7:11 . My name is alejandro Wong
7:14 average percent sarah
7:16 restaurant a we've been with
7:18 the sawa effort 2010 and we
7:21 you know like I said we were
7:23 part of community on the bronx I
7:29 said we'll build in also in
7:33 neighborhood ah a a different
7:34 kind of a food and prison that
7:36 we are in the community thanks.
7:39 Thank you I now invite my
7:41 colleagues to ask questions
7:44 councilmember fadi asked do
7:44 you have a question just a
7:47 couple can can you just walk
7:48 us through how the proposed
7:50 layout maintains clear and
7:52 accessible pedestrian pathways k
7:55 hours.
7:55 During the peak hours like I
7:58 said we ah our restaurant's in
8:02 the corner and um like a
8:03 little dot the duty the half
8:07 is we they approve already the
8:09 layout on the like say being
8:11 in the saba cafe in 2010 an
8:14 dwe have never in any complaint
8:17 regarding the the sago cafe.
8:19 With us great and then I did
8:20 speak with the local precinct
8:22 and the local firehouse who
8:23 said you've been great
8:24 partners which we appreciate
8:26 in the event of any emergency
8:29 or
8:29 . If you've seen any in the
8:30 past with the restaurant has
8:33 the setup allowed for clear
8:34 and immediate access for ft
8:36 and y and other first
8:39 responders yes where okay and
8:40 then just one last question on
8:43 maintaining cleanliness for
8:45 trash management and upkeep of
8:46 the cafe and the extended
8:49 outdoor sidewalk cafe what
8:50 protocols do you currently
8:52 have in place with the New
8:53 policies that we set forward
8:53 in the City.
8:54 Yes like I said it remember
8:58 councilman ah that we are also
9:01 with the beat the New castle
9:04 beat so they have a you know
9:06 they have their own cleaning
9:09 sanitation h's like what the
9:10 beat and they always clean the
9:13 szabo cafe and all the the
9:15 over there okay great um thank
9:17 you so much here for I have no
9:19 thank you Council Member
9:22 you're now excused thank you
9:24 Henry you're now all righten
9:28 thank you for coming.
9:29 Counsel are there any
9:30 members of the public who wish
9:31 to testify remotely or in
9:33 person regarding this proposal e
9:38 public signed up to testify oh .
9:42 Sorry for members of the
9:44 at ease I'm sorry if there are
10:00 no members of the public who
10:01 wish to testify regarding this
10:04 application remotely please
10:05 press the raised hand button
10:06 and now if you are in person
10:08 please identify yourself t
10:10 oone of the sergeant.
10:11 At arms.
10:13 I there are no members of
10:15 the public who was to testify
10:17 regarding l u 49 regarding two n
10:23 for a sidewalk cafe the public
10:24 hearing is now closed and
10:25 items are now laid.
10:26 Over I will now open the
10:31 second hearing which concerns
10:31 l u 50 related to the sidewalk
10:33 cafe related to she.
10:36 Which is an establishment
10:38 located and bed stuy brooklyn
10:40 and Council Member district
10:42 applicant is is seeking t
10:44 othree tables and six chairs
10:46 along the sidewalk by the
10:51 restaurant
10:51 . Is councilman mealey would
10:53 you like to okay yeah all
11:08 right we now call on council
11:10 member merely wrote remarks
11:11 thank you Madam chair um thank
11:15 you what is happening in our
11:17 communities things are opening
11:19 up and thank god that I saw it
11:22 and I'm
11:23 . Made opportunity to meet the
11:25 owner and that's what all
11:26 elected officials should do
11:29 before anything opened up in
11:30 their neighborhood so I was
11:32 arnar he came to our office
11:35 looking forward to serving
11:37 with you um and I'm glad that
11:39 the process is right and
11:43 . Till all store owners or
11:45 anyone opening up a business
11:46 find out who
11:48 . Your elected officials ya
11:53 City Council senator assembly
11:55 congress u s state senator
11:57 find out who they.
11:58 Are talk to them so I'm so
12:01 glad that he gave me the
12:03 opportunity I'm going visit
12:06 his restaurant soon and I know
12:07 the food's gonna be good right
12:09 and not only did he open up in
12:12 the neighborhood he has open
12:14 space for the community t
12:17 ocome in and have meetings
12:19 bring their children so I
12:20 thank you for that community
12:22 service I'm servitude everyone
12:24 does not have it and just by
12:26 you open it up realizing
12:28 realizing that it is about the
12:30 also enter let your space be
12:33 for the community I thank you
12:35 and I approve this um sidewalk
12:39 cafe in a make it much better
12:42 for the community on the
12:44 sidewalk um about six seats so
12:47 going to.
12:48 He has to save four seats
12:50 for me and my friends so thank
12:52 you so much and cheer I
12:55 approved this 100% and thank
12:58 you thank you Council Member
13:01 merely
13:01 . I will now call yeah you
13:02 sure I did I will now call the
13:05 applicant panel for this
13:06 proposal which consists of
13:09 emmanuel De bayes they're
13:10 saying oh that's beautiful
13:11 . All right counsel please
13:12 administer the affirmation
13:13 . Could you please raise your
13:16 right hand ah and state your
13:17 name for the record.
13:19 Emmanuel deb yossi
13:20 . Do you swear to tell the
13:21 truth enough and move the
13:21 truth in your testimony this
13:23 morning.
13:24 Yes I do thank you thank you
13:26 not begin your testimony which
13:28 is limited to eight minutes
13:29 and I will just ask you to
13:31 please restate your name and
13:32 business for the record good
13:35 morning chair and members of
13:36 the committee my name is
13:38 emmanuelle debbie ja I'm the
13:39 founder and owner of chickadee
13:42 out sorry cantina sake ollie
13:45 birds die doing business as
13:47 chickadee at 1 8 5 howard
13:49 avenue in ocean hill brooklyn
13:52 chickadee is a venetian
13:54 inspired wine bar and
13:56 restaurant we open on March 8
13:59 of this year our focus is on
14:02 affordability community and
14:05 cultural programming we host
14:05 two jazz events every night
14:07 and we developing a queer
14:08 night for the neighborhood we
14:10 are deeply embedded in the
14:13 howard avenue corridor we have
14:15 active partnership with three
14:16 of the nine establishments on
14:17 the avenue and we are
14:19 committed to building that
14:22 community further as I've
14:23 discussed with counsel member
14:25 millie I want to know we're
14:30 going to work with
14:32 councilmember millet t
14:34 ostrengthen howard avenue this
14:36 south walk affair will allow
14:37 us to serve our community
14:39 better outdoors extend our
14:41 programming into the street
14:42 and contribute to the
14:43 activation of the corridor one
14:44 thing that is very dear to me
14:46 is the fact that I think that
14:48 a sidewalk cafe really brings
14:50 the establishment onto the
14:51 street and so it makes it more
14:53 accessible in a neighborhood
14:55 there is already going a lot
14:56 of change I think that is
14:57 important to keep the doors
14:59 open as Council Member as
15:02 mentioned also we're open fiv
15:04 eto midnight but the space is
15:05 open from 2 2 5 p m free of
15:08 charge for meetings of the of
15:12 the block associations we've
15:14 had already a clothing drive
15:15 last Saturday and we're going
15:17 to have a tournament this
15:21 Sunday because that's that's
15:22 the spirit of the space t
15:24 oreally keep it up and I pay
15:26 rent for 24 hours and it's a
15:27 shame to only use it for seven