What is Behind Istanbul’s Crackdown on Sidewalk Dining

The district of BeyoÄ?lu in the city of Istanbul is a busy tourist and night-time area with bars and restaurants, most of which had, until recently, outdoor seating sections.

But after repeated complaints by residents that tables and chairs were blocking the streets, the city of Istanbul has mandated restaurants to remove their outdoor tables.

This is not going over well with restaurant owners who had to lay-off staff to pay their high rental fees.

Anchor Marco Werman talks to Constanze Letsch who lives in BeyoÄ?lu and wrote about the issue in the British daily “The Guardian.”