PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — It looks like streeteries across Pennsylvania are here to stay.

Many restaurants expanded their outdoor dining by adding streeteries during the pandemic.

George Profi, who owns Ambrosia at 24th and Locust streets, says his streetery seats 30 people and it’s open year-round, with fans for the heat.

“These are the first reservations where people go in and the last reservation that people ask for,” said Profi.

The COVID dining permits were set to expire at the end of this year. Now, streeteries are expected to be permanent thanks to House Bill 829.

“There are some restaurants and taverns that have shut down because of the COVID restrictions, and some are still trying to get back on their feet and the outdoor dining does really help them,” said state Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton).

Boscola is championing the bill, which allows restaurants in Pennsylvania to expand from 400 to 1,000 square feet. She’s also throwing restaurants more lifelines as part of her updates to the state liquor code included in the bill, like a happy hour extension from 14 hours a week to 24.

Alcoholic beverages can be included in a discount combo meal. In all, restaurant owners can now be confident that their streeteries are here to stay.

“The predictability now at the statewide level gives restaurants some certainty as they kind of explore things moving forward,” said Zak Pyzik, Senior Director of Public Affairs, Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association (PRLA).

The Senate just approved the bill, so now it’s going to go back to the House for another vote.

It’s expected to pass the House. It would be implemented within a week or so after the governor signs it.

Monday’s report recommends Pennsylvania put in place stronger disclosure requirements so homebuyers know whether they’ll need flood insurance before buying a property, consider flood resilience when crafting its building code and create new state tax deductions for flood insurance payments and tax credits for home renovations that lower flood risk. 

“We want to encourage people to do what they need to do to make their homes more resilient,” Santarsiero said. 

The report also recommends the creation of a new state office that would help municipalities enroll in a FEMA program known as the Community Rating System, which rewards municipalities for flood mitigation and communication efforts with flood insurance discounts for residents. 

Across the country, more than 1,500 municipalities earn discounts for their residents through the program. Only two dozen municipalities in Pennsylvania participate.  

The task force heard a “common frustration with the complexity, length of time, and extensive resources necessary” to enroll in the program, according to the report. 

It also recommends the state offer more grants to municipalities to help them fund floodplain management activities that would allow them to join the Community Rating System, maintain participation or earn deeper discounts for residents. 

State Rep. Dave Zimmerman, a Republican representing parts of Lancaster and Berks counties who sat on the task force, said he’d like to see municipalities have the resources to elevate or even buy out flood-prone properties. 

“If we’re going to have this ongoing flooding, and insurance fixing it, and then flooding again — at some point if we don’t raise up these properties a little bit, maybe they need to be just taken away,” he said. 

Most flood insurance in the U.S. is provided by FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, but Pennsylvania’s private market has been expanding, with the number of private flood insurance policies in the state growing more than ten-fold between 2016 and 2023, according to the task force report. 

State Senator Lisa Baker, a Republican whose district includes part of Luzerne County — the county in Pennsylvania with the most federal flood insurance policies, according to FEMA data — sat on the taskforce. She noted in a press release Monday that in some states, homeowners insurance companies have pulled out or restricted coverage.

“The frequency of high damage events and the rising costs of recovery efforts are roiling insurance markets,” she said. “This is a crucial juncture for us to consider some fundamental changes before our situation deteriorates into crisis.” 

Several of the recommendations would require the General Assembly pass new legislation. Sen. Santarsiero said he hopes to leverage the participation of both Republicans and Democrats on the task force to garner bipartisan support for any such bills. 

“We’ve agreed that we want to work together,” Rep. Zimmerman said. 

State Rep. Perry Warren, whose district includes Upper Makefield where flash flooding killed seven people last summer, said in a statement he looks forward to supporting legislation that would implement the group’s recommendations.

Back in June 2022, the staff at Alfredo’s Cafe in Scranton were shocked to find that Eric Smith, a customer, left this huge tip after coming to the cafe and ordering a stromboli which only cost $13.25. Mariana Lambert, the waitress who served him, became emotional and overwhelmed upon seeing his gesture.

“It really meant a lot to me because everyone’s going through stuff. It really touched my heart. I still can’t believe it. I’m still in shock,” Lambert later said.

However, finding the move obviously unusual and to make sure Smith had not accidentally left the money, Matt Martini of Alfredo’s Cafe went to verify the figure and collect additional ID from the customer. Interestingly, Smith had written ‘Tips for Jesus’ on the check.

Martini asked Smith about the note, and it is then that the customer revealed that he had left the tip after being inspired by a social media trend called ‘Tips for Jesus.’ He decided to do it after seeing how hospitable Lambert was.

Things took a turn for the worse

Martini tried to make sure the tip was above board, but things only got worse. A few weeks later, the cafe received a letter saying Smith was disputing the charge for the tip.

Zachary Jacobson, a worker at the cafe, recalled, according to Unilad, “We thought somebody was actually trying to do a good thing. And then now we are, what, three months later? Not even, and there’s nothing. There’s nothing to show for it at this point.”

Alfredo’s had already given the $3,000 to Lambert. Therefore, the eatery had to repay Smith out of their own pockets. They tried to communicate with Smith on Facebook, but eventually launched a civil lawsuit against him.

“Unfortunately, we had to file charges through the magistrate’s office because now we’re just out of this money at this point. And he told us to sue him. So that’s what we’re going to end up doing, I guess,” Jacobson said.

Community members launched a GoFundMe to help Alfredo’s raise funds, but the fundraiser was shut down after the business refused to accept cash.