Policy

April 16, 2026

Mamdani proposes city-backed insurance program to cut costs for some NYC landlords

While Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration has so far focused on affordability for renters, the mayor announced a plan to help landlords on Thursday. A new program managed by the city will reduce the cost of property and liability insurance for affordable and rent-stabilized housing. As the New York Times reported, the proposal is seen as a peace offering to property owners, whose interests have often been at odds with the administration. According to the city, the self-sustaining program will help address the rising cost of insurance, which has more than tripled since 2017.
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Landmarks approves 8-story cast-iron-inspired rental in Tribeca

(L) Exterior rendering, (R) North facing rendering. Images courtesy of the LPC.

April 15, 2026

Landmarks approves 8-story cast-iron-inspired rental in Tribeca

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the demolition of two mid-20th-century commercial buildings in Tribeca’s historic district to make way for a luxury residential development. Proposed by SilverLining Development, the 8-story project at 31–35 Lispenard Street in the Tribeca East Historic District will feature 19 apartments, likely rentals, as Tribeca Citizen first reported, with a facade inspired by the cast-iron buildings in neighboring Soho. Aden Wiener, founder of SilverLining, said the development will introduce a “new concept of living” to the area, with ground-floor retail and a boutique collection of “highly amenitized” loft residences.
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Hochul proposes pied-à-terre tax on NYC second homes worth over $5M

Photo by Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia

April 15, 2026

Hochul proposes pied-à-terre tax on NYC second homes worth over $5M

By Devin Gannon

Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday proposed a yearly tax on non-primary residences in New York City. After resisting calls to tax high-income earners led by progressive leaders like Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the governor is now embracing a surcharge on secondary homes in the five boroughs valued at $5 million and above. Known as pieds-à-terre, these properties are occupied by part-time residents who usually stay there while working or visiting the city. While it's not the first time such a tax has been proposed in recent years, the new push for the surcharge comes as the city deals with a multibillion-dollar budget gap.
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NJ Transit tickets to World Cup matches at MetLife could cost more than $100

Credit: Peyton Clough on Unsplash

April 15, 2026

NJ Transit tickets to World Cup matches at MetLife could cost more than $100

By Aaron Ginsburg

With FIFA World Cup ticket prices already high, fans attending matches at MetLife Stadium this summer could face additional costs, as NJ Transit considers charging more than $100 for return rail tickets. As first reported by The Athletic, fares for the 18-mile trip could rise sevenfold, from $12.90 to more than $100, without standard discounts for seniors, children, and riders with disabilities. However, ticket prices have yet to be confirmed, with final transportation costs expected to be announced in the coming days, according to an agency spokesperson.
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Mamdani announces plans for city-owned grocery store in East Harlem

Photo courtesy of Kara McCurdy | Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 14, 2026

Mamdani announces plans for city-owned grocery store in East Harlem

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday announced plans to build a city-owned grocery store in East Harlem, advancing one of his core campaign promises. Located under the Park Avenue Viaduct between 111th and 116th Streets, La Marqueta was opened by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1936 as one of the city's original public markets. Over the years, the marketplace has struggled and has shrunk its footprint and its number of vendors. As the New York Times first reported, the city plans to spend $30 million to build the store at the site of La Marqueta, which is expected to open by 2029.
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Policy

Trump administration agrees to display Pride flag at Stonewall after lawsuit

Credit: Will Alatriste/NYC Council Media Unit on Flickr

April 14, 2026

Trump administration agrees to display Pride flag at Stonewall after lawsuit

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Pride flag will be displayed permanently at Stonewall National Monument in Greenwich Village after the Trump administration agreed to reverse its decision to remove it. As part of a court settlement reached on Monday, the federal government agreed to reinstall three flags on the monument’s flagpole within a week, according to the Associated Press. Filed by a group of nonprofits after the flag's removal on February 9, the lawsuit argued that the administration illegally targeted LGBTQIA+ people and violated a policy allowing the National Park Service (NPS) to display "non-agency" flags at federal sites when they provide historical context.
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Policy

NYC to connect Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park with car-free pedestrian space

Credit: spurekar on Flickr

April 13, 2026

NYC to connect Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park with car-free pedestrian space

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City wants to close a chaotic street between Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park, connecting the plaza to the 585-acre green space with a new car-free pedestrian space. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday announced a proposal to remove the four-way crossing next to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch and ban cars from Union Street to Eastern Parkway along the plaza's southern edge. The redesign also includes new bike lanes and bus priority upgrades aimed at improving service on the B41 and B6, two of Brooklyn's busiest routes.
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Even amid NYC’s housing crisis, new affordable units sit vacant for over 14 months

Credit: Martin Robac on Unsplash

April 10, 2026

Even amid NYC’s housing crisis, new affordable units sit vacant for over 14 months

By Aaron Ginsburg

A report released Thursday is calling for reforms to New York City’s leasing process, finding that some affordable housing buildings can take up to 14 months to reach full occupancy due to delays. Published by Enterprise, the report highlights how even amid the city’s housing crisis, newly built affordable units can sit vacant for months as tenants and owners navigate the “lease-up process,” the period between when a building is ready for move-ins and when it reaches capacity. As first reported by The City, the report outlines a series of recommendations, including reforms to CityFHEPS, the city’s Housing Connect lottery system, and streamlining of the homeless placement process.
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City to restart Flatbush Avenue redesign this month

A rendering of the Flatbush Avenue bus lane proposal at Flatbush Avenue and Prospect Place. Images courtesy of NYC DOT

April 9, 2026

City to restart Flatbush Avenue redesign this month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work to redesign Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue will resume this month, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Thursday. The project will create dedicated center lanes along the notoriously congested and dangerous corridor from Livingston Street to Grand Army Plaza, and is expected to speed up commutes for 132,000 daily bus riders, who currently travel at average speeds of under 4 miles per hour. Initial work on the four-phase project began last fall, but DOT suspended construction because of winter weather. Construction will restart at the end of April and continue into the fall of 2026, weather permitting.
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NJ Transit access to be restricted at Penn Station during World Cup

NJ Transit hall in Penn Station. Photo by Chris Rycroft on Flickr.

April 7, 2026

NJ Transit access to be restricted at Penn Station during World Cup

By Aaron Ginsburg

During FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium this summer, parts of Penn Station will be closed for several hours before matches to everyone but ticketholders. As first reported by NorthJersey.com, NJ Transit commuters will not be able to travel on New Jersey-bound trains from Penn for four hours before the start of the eight matches happening at MetLife. According to NJ Transit documents obtained and confirmed by the news website, World Cup attendees will have their tickets checked at entrances on 32nd and 33rd Streets, while Amtrak and Long Island Rail Road riders will be directed to other entrances.
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Car-Free Earth Day returns with free events across NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City’s annual Car-Free Earth Day returns later this month, turning streets across the five boroughs into car-free corridors for recreation and free programming. The event, set for April 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature several “signature locations” in each borough with activities focused on climate change and sustainability. Citi Bike will offer free one-day passes for its classic bicycles during the event.
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Congestion pricing funds major air quality upgrades at Bronx’s Hunts Point Market

Credit: Ray Raimundi/MTA on Flickr

April 2, 2026

Congestion pricing funds major air quality upgrades at Bronx’s Hunts Point Market

By Aaron Ginsburg

Diesel-powered refrigeration units that have long emitted air pollution in the Bronx will be replaced by cleaner models, funded by revenue from New York City’s congestion pricing program. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced 20 diesel-powered transport refrigeration units (TRUs) at the Hunts Point Produce Market will be replaced with cleaner diesel and hybrid units, which are projected to cut annual particulate matter emissions by 99.7 percent and nitrogen oxide by 66 percent. Replacing just one diesel-powered TRU with a newer model eliminates the equivalent particulate matter emissions of 330 truck trips per day on the Cross Bronx Expressway.
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Booze is back on board the Staten Island Ferry

Photo by Jesse R on Pexels

March 31, 2026

Booze is back on board the Staten Island Ferry

By Aaron Ginsburg

After a seven-year sober spell, Staten Island Ferry riders can once again booze on board. Last week, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that beer, hard seltzers, and canned cocktails will be sold on the ferry for the first time since 2019, alongside expanded snack options like pretzels and popcorn. The offerings debuted on the MV SSG Michael H. Ollis and are slated to roll out to the Sandy Ground and Dorothy Day ferries in the coming weeks.
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Landlord income up 6 percent as board considers rent adjustments for NYC’s stabilized apartments

Tenant advocates called for a rent freeze during the Rent Guidelines Board final vote on June 30, 2025. Photo courtesy of New York State Tenant Bloc.

March 27, 2026

Landlord income up 6 percent as board considers rent adjustments for NYC’s stabilized apartments

By Devin Gannon

The Rent Guidelines Board (RGB), the nine-member group that decides annual rent adjustments for New York City's one million stabilized apartments, kicked off its annual review of economic conditions for both landlords and tenants this week. During the first of many sessions before a final vote on rent changes this summer, the board on Thursday released a report detailing the 2024 incomes and expenses of the city's rent-stabilized housing stock. According to the data, the net operating income (NOI), or the amount of revenue landlords received after operating costs, rose 6.2 percent between 2023 and 2024 citywide, the third year in a row that NOI increased.
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Policy

Brooklyn Bridge to get separate bike and pedestrian entrances in Manhattan

The Brooklyn Bridge bike lane when it opened in 2021. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 27, 2026

Brooklyn Bridge to get separate bike and pedestrian entrances in Manhattan

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City this week launched another new street safety project ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer. Starting in April, the city will fully separate the cyclist and pedestrian entrances to the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan for the first time, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday. Dedicated cyclist and pedestrian entrances from Centre Street and Park Row will allow bike riders to access the bridge without cutting through crowds. Slated for completion in June, the redesign will also convert a left-turn bay on Centre Street between Chambers Street and the bridge entrance into a two-way protected bike lane.
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Mamdani launches new office to support NYC street vendors

Credit: Christoph Birken on Unsplash

March 27, 2026

Mamdani launches new office to support NYC street vendors

By Aaron Ginsburg

A longtime advocate for New York City’s street vendors will now represent the small businesses at City Hall. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday officially launched the Office of Street Vendor Services and appointed Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, co-director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, as its first executive director. As part of the Department of Small Business Services, the new office will conduct outreach to the city’s roughly 23,000 street vendors and educate them on local laws and the permitting process. Legislation reforming street vending that passed the City Council last year mandated the creation of the new office.
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Policy

MTA launches new app with real-time subway and bus tracking

Images courtesy of the MTA

March 26, 2026

MTA launches new app with real-time subway and bus tracking

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has revamped its mobile app to provide more accurate, real-time information for subway and bus riders. The update, rolled out on Wednesday, allows riders to track trains and buses, receive service alerts, and connect with customer support agents available 24/7. It also introduces new features such as station wayfinding, transfer information, and the ability to save favorite subway lines and bus routes.
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Mamdani appeals housing voucher expansion, breaking campaign pledge

Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to the press during February’s state budget hearing. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 26, 2026

Mamdani appeals housing voucher expansion, breaking campaign pledge

By Aaron Ginsburg

After failing to reach a deal with housing advocates, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appealed a court ruling that ordered New York City to expand its housing voucher program, a move that departs from one of his key campaign pledges. Filed on Tuesday, the appeal puts Mamdani in the position once held by former Mayor Eric Adams, whose initial opposition sparked a legal battle that has stretched for nearly three years. In February, Mamdani indicated he no longer intended to support the program’s expansion due to the city’s projected $7 billion budget deficit, and after negotiations failed, his appeal now extends the legal battle indefinitely.
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Policy

New protected two-way bike lane will connect the Brooklyn Bridge and Union Square

Images courtesy of NYC DOT

March 26, 2026

New protected two-way bike lane will connect the Brooklyn Bridge and Union Square

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has begun a series of bike lane and pedestrian space upgrades that will add a safer link between the Brooklyn Bridge and Union Square. On Wednesday, DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn announced the start of work in Noho, the East Village, and Union Square, including a continuous north-south bike connection from the Brooklyn Bridge to Astor Place and Union Square. Officials say the most significant improvements will be completed before the FIFA World Cup in July, when the already busy area is expected to see a surge in visitors.
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NYC to fast-track affordable housing on city-owned land

The city-owned vacant lot at 784-800 Myrtle Avenue in Bed-Stuy will be fast-tracked for affordable housing. Streetview © Google

March 25, 2026

NYC to fast-track affordable housing on city-owned land

By Devin Gannon

New York City is launching another program aimed at speeding up the development of affordable housing across the five boroughs. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday launched the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track, which will include a roster of prequalified developers to be selected for projects on city-owned land, shortening the time it takes before construction can begin by eight months. The new initiative joins the Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP), which the city rolled out last month, in helping build more homes more quickly.
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NYC breaks ground on Bronx crosstown bus service upgrades around Yankee Stadium

Credit: NYC DOT

March 25, 2026

NYC breaks ground on Bronx crosstown bus service upgrades around Yankee Stadium

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has broken ground on a project that will improve crosstown Bronx bus service and enhance street safety near Yankee Stadium, ahead of baseball season’s opening day on Wednesday. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday announced the project, which will add westbound bus-only lanes, including converting the 161st Street underpass to bus-only use. The redesign will also include pedestrian safety upgrades and new amenities for bus riders, such as shelters, benches, and leaning bars, along with infrastructure to make boarding buses safer and more accessible.
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NYC tourism generated $84.7B in 2025 despite decline in international visitors

Credit: Jun Ren on Unsplash

March 24, 2026

NYC tourism generated $84.7B in 2025 despite decline in international visitors

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City’s tourism industry generated $84.7 billion in economic impact in 2025, despite a decline in international visitors amid ongoing immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYC Tourism + Conventions President and CEO Julie Coker released on Tuesday the city's annual tourism report, which found that the five boroughs welcomed 65 million visitors last year, a modest 0.7 percent increase from 2024. The report also found that the industry generated $55.6 billion in direct spending, $7.5 billion in tax revenue, and supported 397,000 jobs.
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March 24, 2026

MTA lot in Crown Heights to become 300-unit residential building

By Devin Gannon

New York is looking to transform a parking lot in Crown Heights owned by the MTA into the neighborhood's next residential development. The agency on Tuesday released a request for proposals seeking developers to build approximately 300 new housing units at 1119 Pacific Street, an underutilized lot used by New York City Transit as part of a cable shop. Approved by the City Council last year, the rezoning of the area has enabled the construction of new residential buildings in the formerly industrial area.
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NYC begins redesign of Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen

Images courtesy of NYC DOT

March 20, 2026

NYC begins redesign of Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen

By Aaron Ginsburg

Ninth Avenue in Hell's Kitchen will join a growing number of Manhattan corridors slated for redesigns, the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Thursday. The project will immediately begin along a stretch from West 34th to West 50th Streets, where pedestrian space will be expanded, the protected bike lane widened, and the bus lane extended and repainted to 50th Street. The improvements are expected to be completed ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer, when sidewalk overcrowding in the area is expected to increase.
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Prospect Park’s east side is getting a protected bike lane, pedestrian plaza

Rendering of Ocean Avenue perimeter, courtesy of Prospect Park Alliance.

March 20, 2026

Prospect Park’s east side is getting a protected bike lane, pedestrian plaza

By Devin Gannon

A connected bike lane around the entire perimeter of Prospect Park is closer to becoming a reality. The city on Friday broke ground on a $15.5 million project aimed at enhancing the eastern edge of the Brooklyn park along Ocean and Parkside Avenues, from Empire Boulevard to Parade Place. The project includes installing a sidewalk-grade, two-way protected bike lane that will connect to existing bike paths around the park and a new pedestrian plaza that will be home to the new Shirley Chisholm monument.
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