‘Open streets’ program to be made permanent; city to launch expanded program with S.I. site Updated May 12, 2021; Posted May 12, 2021 The line wraps around Minthorne Street on Saturday for Flagship and Ralph's new hard seltzer. (Courtesy of Sam Angiuli) Facebook Share STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — City officials say the “open streets” program that launched last year in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was such a success that they’ve decided to make it permanent. Mayor Bill de Blasio will sign legislation later this week making the program and the city’s “open restaurants” program permanent. “What we learned in COVID is that there’s a lot of things we can do differently and successfully, and ‘open streets’ was such a crucial example,” he said. “It’s reimagining how we use our streets. We’re finding new possibilities all the time.”