2nd - this is a good thread from @robthishandle (and thanks to @amywilson for highlighting it for me). Please read through, but basically, notices have been put up on several outdoor dining structures throughout the city to stop construction/prevent occupancy. https://twitter.com/robthishandle/status/1334918856465379329

While I have issues with a lot of these outdoor construction/dining expansions (namely, that a lot of them stop being outdoors and are fully enclosed), the fact is they are what the city has prompted restaurants to do

A lot of the more permanent-like ones have been built over the past several weeks as the weather has gotten colder and they've been built in the designated spots where outdoor dining was approved.

To the best of my knowledge, there hasn't been a lot of guidance from the city on how to build or specifications as to what restaurants are supposed to do to help them survive the winter. There hasn't been much information shared at all.

So why, after months of this, are they getting notices now that construction has pretty much stopped & they're in use?

I have no idea if the businesses received notice from the city that they'd be getting inspected/surveyed, but knowing how our permit/inspection process typically works, I seriously fucking doubt it.

Once again, why does the city keep throwing more and more roadblocks in the way of small businesses trying to survive? If there are safety issues, fine - set up meetings. Identify SPECIFICALLY what the issues are. Don't note a lack of permit