Outdoor Dining Program In Newburyport Comes Under Fire

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
There's a storm brewing over a few feet of road
in newberry Port.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
If it comes down to the city having to find
this program in a way that takes money out of
our coffers from taxpayers, it's not gonna fly.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
One city councilor, Jenny Donna Hughes said the city's restaurant
patio program might need to go. Eateries here pay for
space in the road, but she says it will soon
become too expensive and that it takes up too much
space some restaurants I spoke to our neutral but others
along State Street. We're worried enough to put a social
media campaign together.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
There's no question that it would have a very significant
effect on our business.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Ted Epstein owns Loretta Downtown. He said he'd be willing
to shoulder more of the cost. Steve Loves of Angie's
Diner mirrored that and said the summer months are so
important they need all the traffic they can get.

Speaker 4 (00:41):
June, July, and August has to pay for January, February
and March around here.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
Kyle Schaffel WBZ, Boston's news radio