Over the last month, the New York press has been filled with stories about the decline, decimation, disappearance and even the death of New York’s supposedly “popular” outdoor dining program. The stories accompanying the headlines all played on a single theme: The new regulations and fees of the permanent Dining Out NYC program — along with seasonal use of the roadbed — have caused many fewer restaurants than were expected to apply for the now-permanent program. One television news story even referred to the eve of the deadline as the Last Supper!