The rules for the reopening of the economy in Miami-Dade require restaurants and other businesses to maintain social distancing standards, which limits the number of tables they can use.
But Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo believes that the county can help by temporarily closing some streets to traffic so 
that they can be used by these businesses to serve customers outdoors. Bovo, who is running for county mayor, is presenting what Ladra calls his “sidewalk cafe resolution” to the Infrastructure and Capital Improvements Committee on Tuesday.
The measure “encourages the temporary closure of roads and rerouting of traffic on a temporary basis in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for the public purpose of maintaining social distancing and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of County residents and visitors during the COVID-19 economic recovery period.”
Read related: Jackson doctors, nurses want post COVID19 community conversation
The resolution also urges municipalities to also consider these measures “to allow for increased pedestrian access and social distancing during the County’s economic recovery period,” and directs the mayor to expedite proposals.
A lot of other cities nationwide, including New York City, are already closing streets and rerouting traffic to allow for more social distancing.
If approved, this could provide some relief for restaurants that face closure after months of losses, like El Porteño on Miracle Mile (more on that later). It could increase the number of customers they could have and still be in the 50% capacity threshold.
The committee meets at 2 p.m. virtually and the meeting can be watched online.
Miami-Dade’s Esteban Bovo: ‘Close streets for post COVID19 reopening’ added by Ladra on
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