Policy

MTA rolls out OMNY card machines at select subway stations

Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

October 30, 2023

MTA rolls out OMNY card machines at select subway stations

By Aaron Ginsburg

The time has come. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday installed the first OMNY vending machines at select subway stations across the city, marking a major step in the retirement of the MetroCard. The new machines allow people who pay with cash to purchase a tappable card to use at the turnstiles, which are all equipped with tap-to-pay technology. The installation of OMNY vending machines, which will also accept cards and digital wallets, in all 472 stations will continue through 2024.
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New R211 subway cars taken out of service due to faulty gears

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

October 30, 2023

New R211 subway cars taken out of service due to faulty gears

By Aaron Ginsburg

Due to technical issues, almost all of the subway system's new futuristic cars have been taken off the rails. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week confirmed that six out of the seven new R211 subway cars had been taken out of service due to malfunctioning gearboxes which caused the car's wheels to lock up, drag along the tracks, and flatten, as first reported by Gothamist. The cars are expected to be back in service in a few weeks after being repaired.
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Prospect Park reopens Fallkill Waterfall trail after nearly 30 years

All photos courtesy of Caroline Ourso

October 26, 2023

Prospect Park reopens Fallkill Waterfall trail after nearly 30 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers can now access a waterfall in Prospect Park without having to hop a fence for the first time in decades. The Prospect Park Alliance on Thursday opened Fallkill Trail, a new woodland pathway leading to the scenic Fallkill Waterfall that has been behind fencing since 1995. The new trail was created by staff and volunteers from Prospect Park Alliance who worked to remove invasive plants, plant native species, haul logs, grade paths, and form the trail.
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New York approves three offshore wind projects in historic renewable energy investment

Photo courtesy of (vincent desjardins) on Flickr

October 25, 2023

New York approves three offshore wind projects in historic renewable energy investment

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York is making the largest-ever state investment in renewable energy in the United States. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the state has awarded contracts for three new offshore wind farms that are expected to generate 4,032 megawatts of clean energy, lowering CO2 emissions by more than 7 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of removing 1.6 million cars from the road annually. The wind projects paired with 22 land-based renewable energy projects will create enough clean energy to power 2.6 million homes in New York, or 12 percent of the state's electricity needs.
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Policy

Midtown East casino proposal adds Bjarke Ingels and 500 affordable apartments

Rendering of Freedom Tower by Negativ

October 23, 2023

Midtown East casino proposal adds Bjarke Ingels and 500 affordable apartments

By Devin Gannon

A developer hoping to build a casino near the United Nations is adding two components to its plan to appeal to New Yorkers: a famous architect and hundreds of affordable apartments. Soloviev Group last week announced its proposed mixed-use development in Midtown East dubbed Freedom Plaza will include 1,325 apartments with more than 500 of them permanently affordable. Plus, as the New York Times first reported, starchitect Bjarke Ingels will design the project, which includes a hotel, museum, public green space, and an underground casino.
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Policy

NYC’s proposed outdoor dining rules ban enclosed structures

The outdoor dining shed at Maiden Korea, 316 5th Avenue, in 2021. Photo courtesy of Alfresco NYC.

October 20, 2023

NYC’s proposed outdoor dining rules ban enclosed structures

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city wants to shed its outdoor dining shacks. Under draft rules for the permanent outdoor dining program released by the city on Thursday, fully enclosed "streeteries" would no longer be permitted. Instead, structures on roadways can have umbrellas, awnings, or some other covering that can easily be removed. The city on Thursday launched a 30-day comment period to get feedback from restaurants and the public on the proposed rules. The first approved outdoor dining setups are expected to be installed in spring 2024.
read more about the future of outdoor dining

NYC on track to build just 11,000 homes this year, half of 2022 total, report finds

Brooklyn Point in Downtown Brooklyn offers 421-a benefits through 2045; Rendering by Williams New York.

October 19, 2023

NYC on track to build just 11,000 homes this year, half of 2022 total, report finds

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City will build just 11,000 new units of housing this year, a sharp decline from the year before and way below the number of homes needed to address the city's current housing crisis. According to a report released Wednesday by the NY Building Congress, construction of new residential units dropped by 62 percent in 2023, due to the expiration of the 421-a tax abatement in combination with high interest rates.
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NYC launches plan to expand greenway network by 40 miles

Photo Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 13, 2023

NYC launches plan to expand greenway network by 40 miles

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City will build more than 40 miles of new greenways in the outer boroughs. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced that the city would fill the gaps in the existing greenway network with protected bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, bringing the citywide total of greenway corridors to 60 miles. The expansion, funded in part by a $7.25 million federal grant secured by the mayor last summer, will support existing greenway projects and the creation of new corridors, including the seven-mile Harlem River Greenway in the Bronx.
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Last year’s holiday open streets in Midtown drove $3M in spending at local businesses

Image courtesy of Violet Mendelsund/Mayoral Photo Office on Flickr

October 12, 2023

Last year’s holiday open streets in Midtown drove $3M in spending at local businesses

By Aaron Ginsburg

Banning cars on blocks around holiday hotspots in Midtown last year led to an additional $3 million in spending at businesses on the pedestrianized streets, according to a new report. Mayor Eric Adams this week announced the 2022 holiday-specific Open Street program, which opened 11 blocks to pedestrians during the busiest time of the year, created more foot traffic and led to an increase of 13.9 percent in transactions at local businesses along open streets. The study conducted by Mastercard found merchants on pedestrianized streets saw an average of $90,000 in additional spending per day. The success of the car-free holiday streets program laid the groundwork for a permanent redesign of Fifth Avenue, said Adams, who has selected a team for the design process.
READ MORE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FIFTH AVE

Policy

Bed bugs in NYC: What renters need to know

Photo by Masaaki Komori on Unsplash

October 11, 2023

Bed bugs in NYC: What renters need to know

By Aaron Ginsburg

Everyone's social media feeds have been flooded with startling images and videos of Paris streets filled with discarded mattresses amid a citywide bed bug infestation. New York City is no stranger to bed bugs, which faced a major outbreak a decade ago and currently ranks second on this year's Orkin's Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List. And now with reports that the infestation could spread throughout Europe and land in the Big Apple, New York apartment dwellers should know the best way to deal with the blood-sucking insects, from how to prevent an infestation and your rights as a tenant to the legal responsibility of property owners.
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Popular Articles

Nearly all New York City residential buildings will have to containerize trash

Image courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 11, 2023

Nearly all New York City residential buildings will have to containerize trash

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's ambitious plan to prevent garbage from piling up on streets and sidewalks has a new target: residential properties. Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Wednesday announced all buildings with nine or fewer apartments will be required to place their garbage in a secure container starting in 2024. This covers 765,000 buildings in the city, or 95 percent of all residential properties across the five boroughs.
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Policy

NYC ends credit checks for families with housing vouchers

Photo courtesy of Maxim Pierre on Flickr

October 6, 2023

NYC ends credit checks for families with housing vouchers

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is making it easier for New Yorkers to get into affordable homes. Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development on Thursday announced households with CityFHEPS housing vouchers will no longer have to undergo credit checks when selected for affordable housing, speeding up the process of finding housing for more than 4,000 families a year. According to the city, vouchers guarantee a family can afford the rent, making credit checks unnecessary in the process.
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12 acres of Central Park’s Great Lawn closed until April after damage from Global Citizen Festival

Photo via WikiCommons

October 3, 2023

12 acres of Central Park’s Great Lawn closed until April after damage from Global Citizen Festival

By Devin Gannon

A large section of Central Park's Great Lawn will be closed through at least April after damage caused by the Global Citizen Festival and heavy rain. As first reported by West Side Rag, the "combination of heavy rain, foot traffic, and machinery" during the September 23 event destroyed one-third of the grassy area, leading to its immediate closure and need for re-seeding.
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Policy

NYC’s curbside compost program expands to Brooklyn

Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 3, 2023

NYC’s curbside compost program expands to Brooklyn

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklynites, it's time to get your compost on! On Monday, curbside compost collection began in New York City's most populous borough. Brooklyn is the second borough to join the city's universal composting program after Queens, which rolled out a permanent, year-round program in March after a successful pilot last year. Between Queens and Brooklyn, the program will serve nearly 5 million residents, making it the nation's largest composting program.
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Policy

Major flooding disrupts NYC subway service as Hochul and Adams declare state of emergency

A 2018 storm. Photo: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office.

September 29, 2023

Major flooding disrupts NYC subway service as Hochul and Adams declare state of emergency

By Devin Gannon

Nearly every subway line is experiencing service disruptions on Friday morning as extreme rainfall and flooding slam New York City. In a post on X, formerly called Twitter, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said "there is only extremely limited subway service," with several lines suspended or partially suspended due to water on the tracks. In response to the heavy rainfall and extreme flooding, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday declared a state of emergency for New York City, the Hudson Valley, and Long Island.
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Policy

New York seeks proposals transforming Chelsea prison into affordable housing

Streetview of 550 West 20th Street © 2023 Google

September 27, 2023

New York seeks proposals transforming Chelsea prison into affordable housing

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York State is moving forward with a plan to transform a former prison in Chelsea into affordable housing. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced a request for proposals (RFP) to redevelop the Bayview Correctional Facility at 550 West 20th Street into a residential development with affordable and supportive housing. The proposals for the 100,000-square-foot site near the High Line must have a minimum of 60 supportive housing units and 15 short-term transitional residences, according to the RFP.
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NYPD ‘robocop’ now patrols Times Square subway station

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

September 25, 2023

NYPD ‘robocop’ now patrols Times Square subway station

By Aaron Ginsburg

Late-night commuters fear not! A 420-pound, 5-foot-2-inch-tall robot is now patrolling the Times Square subway station overnight. During a press conference held at the 42nd Street subway station last Friday, Mayor Eric Adams announced a two-month pilot program to test the robocop, officially known as the Knightscope K5 Autonomous Security Robot. The robot will patrol the 42nd Street station from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., recording video to be viewed in case of an emergency or crime, according to the mayor.
READ MORe on the ROBOCOP

Manhattan BP proposes razing part of FDR Drive and replacing it with green space

Photo courtesy of Mark Levine on Flickr

September 25, 2023

Manhattan BP proposes razing part of FDR Drive and replacing it with green space

By Aaron Ginsburg

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine has a plan to revitalize Lower Manhattan's waterfront by tearing down part of FDR Drive. Levine last week unveiled a plan to remove a raised section of the highway between the Brooklyn Bridge and the Battery Park Underpass and replace it with green space and bike lanes.
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Policy

Mayor Adams unveils sweeping plan to create 100K new housing units across NYC

All renderings courtesy of New York City Department of City Planning

September 21, 2023

Mayor Adams unveils sweeping plan to create 100K new housing units across NYC

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday unveiled major reforms to New York City's zoning code to make it easier to build more housing across every neighborhood. The "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity" plan could create 100,000 new apartments over the next 15 years by updating restrictive zoning rules. This could mean allowing new homes above commercial businesses and on campuses, accessory dwelling units, office-to-residential conversions, and other proposals to create "a little more housing in every neighborhood."
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All NYC businesses required to containerize trash

Photo courtesy of m01229 on Flickr

September 19, 2023

All NYC businesses required to containerize trash

By Devin Gannon

Roughly 20 million pounds of trash will be tucked away in containers instead of in trash bags piled up on New York City sidewalks next year. As part of the latest effort to curb the city's rat problem, all businesses will be required to put garbage in lidded containers beginning next March, Mayor Eric Adams announced Tuesday. About 25 percent of the city's businesses, including restaurants and grocery stores as well as chain businesses, are currently mandated to containerize trash; when the newest proposed rule takes effect, the requirement will apply to 100 percent of businesses.
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Policy

NYC unveils new trash can that will replace ‘iconic’ green mesh bins

Photos courtesy of the NYC Department of Sanitation

September 14, 2023

NYC unveils new trash can that will replace ‘iconic’ green mesh bins

By Aaron Ginsburg

Say goodbye to New York City's old green wire mesh trash cans and say hello to a new, shiny litter bin ready for a rat-free future. The city's Department of Sanitation this week started replacing the iconic green bins with modernized cans made up of three parts: a concrete base to prevent it from falling over, a hinged metal lid, and a removable, lightweight plastic basket for sanitation workers to empty, according to the New York Times. The new bins fix a fundamental flaw in the dated wire mesh design: holes for rats to get inside.
READ MORE ABOUT NYC'S NEW TRASH BINS

Policy

Adams proposes giving building owners more time to comply with Local Law 97

Billionaires’ Row © 6sqft

September 13, 2023

Adams proposes giving building owners more time to comply with Local Law 97

By Aaron Ginsburg

With the enforcement of a law capping carbon emissions quickly approaching, Mayor Eric Adams is proposing giving property owners more time to comply. The mayor on Tuesday announced the "Getting 97 Done" plan to facilitate compliance with Local Law 97, which requires buildings 25,000 square feet or bigger to meet new greenhouse gas emissions limits by 2024. Adams' proposed rules allow owners to miss the deadline to retrofit their buildings if they make a "good faith effort" to comply with the law.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MAYOR'S PLAN

Policy

Work on Hudson River rail tunnel project could begin next month

President Biden joined Mayor Eric Adams in January 2023 to discuss the Hudson River Tunnel Project. Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

September 12, 2023

Work on Hudson River rail tunnel project could begin next month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work is finally moving forward on a project that will replace a dilapidated, century-old rail tunnel connecting New York City and New Jersey. The Gateway Development Commission on Monday awarded the first contracts for construction on the New Jersey side of the $16.1 billion two-track Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP), with the first phase of the transformative plan expected to break ground as soon as October. The tunnel project is the main component of the $30 billion plan, the country's largest public works project currently underway.
details this way

City Planning approves zoning changes to make it easier for NYC to go green

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

September 12, 2023

City Planning approves zoning changes to make it easier for NYC to go green

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is taking steps to accelerate climate-friendly projects. The City Planning Commission on Monday voted to approve the City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality, a set of 17 citywide zoning changes that will help the five boroughs reach carbon neutrality goals by removing barriers to greener energy, transportation, buildings, and water and waste systems. The changes will help NYC reach its target of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ZONING CHANGES

Policy

Trump name to be removed from Bronx golf course following deal with casino operator

Photo courtesy of Dan DeLuca on Flickr

September 11, 2023

Trump name to be removed from Bronx golf course following deal with casino operator

By Aaron Ginsburg

Donald Trump's name will no longer be associated with a Bronx golf course after the multi-million-dollar lease held by the former president's company was sold to a group looking to secure one of New York City's three casino licenses. As first reported by the New York Post, casino giant Bally's Corporation purchased the operating license to Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point for an undisclosed amount, securing control of the property after the city tried and failed to take over the golf course from the Trump Organization.
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Policy

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