Skip to content

Around and a Roundy: The Grinch Who’d Steal Outdoor Dining

Want your restaurant streets? You'd better speak up, says our editorial columnist.
Around and a Roundy: The Grinch Who’d Steal Outdoor Dining
Cartoon: Bill Roundy

This week, our editorial cartoonist Bill Roundy channels Dr. Seuss (or rather, his character the Grinch) in order to highlight the mounting opposition to the al fresco dining movement.

Sometimes, it neighbors complaining about noisy bars. Other times, it’s motorists who miss the free car storage that disappeared underneath the pandemic-inspired outdoor dining facilities. Whoever the complainant, Roundy points out an essential truth about public policy in this town: They who speak the loudest rule the day.

If you want the city to continue the biggest rollback of parking since 1950, when cars first were allowed to be left overnight on city streets, now is the time to raise your voice.

Rest assured, New York: If people don’t stand up for what we’ve gained, the vociferous car lobby will take it back.

All of Bill Roundy’s cartoons are archived here.

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog New York City

Monday’s Headlines: Jerry Edition

July 13, 2026

How to Save 8 Million Lives in 20 Years

July 13, 2026

Bummer Streets? Annual Car-Free Program Remains Pretty Much The Same Under Mayor Mamdani

July 10, 2026

Memo to Mamdani: Queens Deserves a Busway on Austin Street 

July 10, 2026

New York’s Rampant Illegal Parking Stumps Viral Good Samaritan Street Cleaners

July 10, 2026
See all posts