More sidewalk cafes and curbside dining areas cropped up throughout the pandemic as businesses sought safe ways to serve patrons and remain operational; changes by the City Council in June 2020 made it easier for restaurants to apply for Safe Start permits. Previously, businesses could spend thousands of dollars to apply for outdoor seating permits, but the temporary Safe Start permits waived fees and streamlined the approval process. Over 250 businesses have taken part in the temporary program so far. With those permits set to expire May 31, 2022, the Seattle Department of Transportation worked with Mayor Bruce Harrell and City councilmember Dan Strauss to extend the Safe Start
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