By Jacob Chen

A Coalition of mostly Village Block Associations and community groups have organized together as CUEUP, or Coalition United for Equitable Urban Policy determined to take on the efforts to make the Pandemic-era inspired outdoor eating sheds permanent.

The Coalition, which has filed a lawsuit to stop the City from enacting a permanent ordinance permitting the sheds to continue in existence describes itself as follows:

WHO WE ARE

The Coalition United for Equitable Urban Policy (CUEUP) is an alliance of neighborhood and block associations, organizations, institutions, businesses, and residents united for collective action and participatory policymaking to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of all New Yorkers. We oppose Mayor Eric Adams’ permanent outdoor drinking and dining program.

 WHAT WE BELIEVE

CUEUP supports our neighborhood restaurants, and wants them to not only survive, but thrive. However, we oppose making permanent the Open Restaurants and Bars program. Policies regarding the future of restaurants also directly impact the lives of residents and small shops, who must be part of the decision-making process. The top-down process that created the permanent program was unjust and undemocratic. 

CUEUP also advocates for the uniform application of rigorous enforcement measures as part of any NYC Open Restaurants and Bars legislation in order to ensure the equitable treatment of all New Yorkers. 

OUR GOALS

In order to maintain livable residential neighborhoods and mixed-use districts that support diverse small businesses and promote the health and safety of residents, workers, and visitors alike, we call for

The immediate and vigorous enforcement of the current regulations guiding Open Restaurants to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of New Yorkers

The repeal of NYC Local Law 114, which set the stage for a permanent Open Restaurants program

An end to the closed-door deal-making currently underway that eviscerated NYC’s zoning laws and will hand over public streets and sidewalks to the hospitality industry

Robust public discussion and community-based review and approval of any reshaping of our sidewalks and streetscapes

MEMBER  ORGANIZATIONS

Our allies in advocacy

8 St. Marks Place Tenants Association

Bowery Block Association

LES Dwellers

West Village Residents Association

South Village Neighbors

Human-Scale City

9th Street A-1 Block Association

Central Village Block Association

London Terrace Residents

North Avenue A Residents Association

Sunnyside Gardens Preservation Alliance

12th St Block Association

Bedford-Downing St. Block Association

Chinatown Core Block Association

Moving Forward Unidos

Orchard Street Block Association

West 15th St. Block Association

Berry Street Alliance

Bowery Alliance of Neighbors

East 5th Street Block Association

Neighborhoods United

SoHo Alliance

Council of Chelsea Block Associations

CUEUP can be contacted at cueupny.com.

Jacob Chen is a student at Beacon High School.