It is good that we have so many new restaurants and that many of them have outdoor eating areas on sidewalks and courtyards, but what caught our eye our story about these areas was the horror businessmen must go through to get a sidewalk caf/ permit.

Here is what the story by Camille Villanueva says, "Under the current system, a 10-day turnaround is unheard of. Richard Sheridan, a public information officer with the Seattle Department of Transportation, describes the process as complicated and bureaucratic, with a multi-month waiting period and shuffling between the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, the Seattle Department of Transportation, and back to the Seattle Department of Planning and Development again."

Robert Dominquez, manager of La Carta De Oaxaca manager, describes the process as a pain. It took them about a year and half just to get their permit.

No wonder businesses grumble about City Hall. Where is the mayor's push to fix that overwhelming complaint heard whenever a business seeks a city license, permit or service?

In this case, a fix is on the way - well there is a plan anyway. We shall see.

The city charges a hefty fee for sidewalk eating and that is fine, the sidewalks do belong to the taxpayers and should not simply be given to restaurants. We hope the city will make certain businesses keep these places looking clean and appealing.

But a year and a half for a permit? This is simply not acceptable.

- Jack Mayne