Policy

Hochul wants to put an NYPD officer on every overnight NYC subway train

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 15, 2025

Hochul wants to put an NYPD officer on every overnight NYC subway train

A uniformed police officer would be on every subway train between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. under a proposal introduced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday. During her State of the State address, the governor proposed new safety measures for the subway, including increased NYPD patrols, new protective barriers on platforms, modern fare gates, and expansion of mental health resources. Two officers will be on patrol overnight every night for six months on each train; according to Politico, the state will cover the cost.
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Hochul pitches funding incentives to ease New York’s housing crisis

Credit: Darren McGee/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

January 15, 2025

Hochul pitches funding incentives to ease New York’s housing crisis

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul is again proposing a series of financial incentives to boost housing production across New York. During her State of the State address on Tuesday, Hochul outlined several initiatives to confront the housing crisis, including the first-ever revolving loan fund to boost mixed-income rental housing development and doubling the tax credits available for low- and middle-income housing projects. The governor has already announced a proposal to curb private equity firms and hedge funds from buying single-family homes.
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Policy

City approves gate for Village townhouse to keep ‘Sex and the City’ fans out

66 Perry Street in 2022. Photo by Jim.henderson on Wikimedia

January 14, 2025

City approves gate for Village townhouse to keep ‘Sex and the City’ fans out

By Devin Gannon

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday approved an application to install a gate at the foot of a townhouse in the Greenwich Village Historic District. Not just any home, the property, located at 66 Perry Street, appeared as Carrie Bradshaw's apartment on the HBO show "Sex and the City." Despite being off the air for 20 years, the show's popularity continues today, leading tourists and TikTokers to visit the front stoop at all hours and film themselves on the famous steps. When a chain and a "no trespassing" sign at the base of the stoop failed to stop the mayhem, the brownstone's owner, Barbara Lorber, asked the LPC to approve a new gate for the landmarked property and commissioners agreed.
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After one week of congestion pricing, MTA data shows less traffic and faster bus commutes

MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber with the final Congestion Relief Zone sign unveiled at Broadway & West 62nd Street on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, hours before the Central Business District Tolling Program goes into effect. Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 14, 2025

After one week of congestion pricing, MTA data shows less traffic and faster bus commutes

By Aaron Ginsburg

In its first week, New York City's congestion pricing program has reduced both traffic and the number of vehicles entering Manhattan's busiest areas, according to early data released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The agency on Monday released preliminary data for week one of congestion pricing that showed a 7.51 percent decrease in traffic and 219,000 fewer vehicles entering the tolling zone compared to the same period last year. Many drivers have reported faster trips, with bus routes crossing the East and Hudson Rivers saving up to four minutes.
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More NYC migrant shelters to close this year, including controversial Clinton Hill facility

An Asylum Seeker Application Center in Midtown, August 9, 2023. Photo by Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 13, 2025

More NYC migrant shelters to close this year, including controversial Clinton Hill facility

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Eric Adams last week announced the closure of more than a dozen emergency migrant shelters by June, including a facility in Brooklyn that housed roughly 3,500 people and led to protests by residents. The closures come as the number of asylum seekers in the city's care has decreased for 27 straight weeks and is currently at its lowest point in 18 months.
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Policy

‘QueensLink’ receives $400K grant to study reactivation of abandoned railway

All images courtesy of QueensLink

January 10, 2025

‘QueensLink’ receives $400K grant to study reactivation of abandoned railway

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to reactivate a deserted railway as the first north-to-south subway line in Queens just got a financial boost from the federal government. The nonprofit group behind QueensLink, a proposal extending the M train from Rego Park to the Rockaways along the abandoned Rockaway Beach Branch with accompanying bike paths and trails, received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as part of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. The funds would pay for a study measuring the impacts of the project, which the group hopes could bring more support for QueensLink; it is currently competing against a separate project to build a linear park on the same railway.
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Adams sets goal of 100K new homes in Manhattan over the next decade

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 9, 2025

Adams sets goal of 100K new homes in Manhattan over the next decade

By Aaron Ginsburg

To further address New York City's critical housing shortage, Mayor Eric Adams has set an ambitious target of adding 100,000 new homes to Manhattan over the next decade. During his 2025 State of the City address on Thursday, the mayor said he aims to review zoning across the borough to unlock potential housing sites for development, using the tools included in the recently passed "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity." Dubbed the "Manhattan Plan," the new initiative includes the Midtown South rezoning, which is expected to create 10,000 new homes.
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Policy

Hochul wants to curb private equity firms buying single-family homes in New York

Photo by Niv Rozenberg on Unsplash

January 9, 2025

Hochul wants to curb private equity firms buying single-family homes in New York

By Aaron Ginsburg

To address the rising cost of housing across New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to limit purchases of single-family homes by private equity firms and hedge funds. As part of her 2025 State of the State, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed legislation discouraging institutional investors from purchasing large numbers of single- and two-family homes and requiring a 75-day waiting period before these investors can place bids on real estate. Additional measures include increased funding for innovative homebuilding, down-payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, and the introduction of an affordable homebuyer tax incentive.
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Policy

NYC to add 200 more NYPD officers to subway

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 7, 2025

NYC to add 200 more NYPD officers to subway

By Aaron Ginsburg

While crime in New York City dropped by three percent in 2024, city officials are adding 200 police officers to the subway system following a series of high-profile incidents. In a Monday press conference, Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the move, aimed at making riders feel safe after a string of shocking crimes, including the death of a woman who was set on fire in Brooklyn last month. While the mayor argues that positive crime statistics have been overshadowed by high-profile incidents, he said the administration's priority is to now make New Yorkers feel safe.
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Citi Bike increased its prices this week

Credit: Elvert Barnes on Flickr

January 7, 2025

Citi Bike increased its prices this week

By Aaron Ginsburg

Citi Bike is starting 2025 with another price increase, marking the fourth consecutive year the service has raised its rates. The bike-share service, which is operated by Lyft, raised its fees on Monday, with prices increasing from 24 cents to 25 cents per minute for Citi Bike and Lyft members, and from 36 cents to 38 cents per minute for non-members. The price of single ride passes and day passes will also rise to $4.99 and $25, respectively, effective February 3.
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Congestion pricing is in full effect: Here’s what to know

By Aaron Ginsburg

After years of preparation and a stunning last-minute reversal by Gov. Kathy Hochul, congestion pricing officially went live on Sunday. The controversial program now charges drivers a base fee of $9 when entering Manhattan below 60th Street—40 percent cheaper than the original $15 toll that was initially planned before the governor abruptly paused the program in June, just weeks before its scheduled start. Here’s everything you need to know about congestion pricing, from what to expect at the tolls to the capital improvements your money will fund.
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NY comptroller audit finds gaps in MTA’s extreme weather preparedness

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 6, 2025

NY comptroller audit finds gaps in MTA’s extreme weather preparedness

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new audit by the state comptroller highlights safety weaknesses in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's extreme weather preparedness. In an audit released Thursday, New York Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli alleges that inspections and maintenance of flood protection equipment, particularly in the MTA's Bridges & Tunnels and bus operations, are not always on schedule and that protocols for responding to extreme weather events like flooding and tornadoes are insufficient.
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R train late-night service in Brooklyn suspended for two weekends starting Friday

Image via WikiCommons

January 3, 2025

R train late-night service in Brooklyn suspended for two weekends starting Friday

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklynites who take the R train will need to find a different way home late at night on two weekends starting Friday. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday announced it will be partially suspending R line service between 36th Street and 95th Street stations from 11:30 p.m. on Friday, January 3, to 5:30 a.m. on Monday, January 6, and again from 11:30 p.m. on Friday, January 10, to 5:30 a.m. on Monday, January 13. Free shuttle buses will serve the affected stations during this period.
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Congestion pricing to begin this weekend following ruling in NJ lawsuit, MTA says

Photo courtesy of strolicfurlan on Flickr

December 31, 2024

Congestion pricing to begin this weekend following ruling in NJ lawsuit, MTA says

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York State will proceed with congestion pricing as planned on Sunday, following a federal judge's ruling on New Jersey's lawsuit against the program. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Monday confirmed that the program will go into effect after Judge Leo M. Gordon determined the state had met all necessary requirements to launch the plan. However, the ruling ordered federal transportation officials to review certain aspects of the program, with a New Jersey lawyer arguing this prevents the program from starting.
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NYC welcomed 65 million tourists in 2024, second most in city history

Image courtesy of Daniel Gillaspia on Flickr

December 23, 2024

NYC welcomed 65 million tourists in 2024, second most in city history

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City welcomed nearly 65 million visitors this year, the second-highest total in its history. Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Tourism + Conventions President and CEO Julie Coker on Friday announced a new end-of-year tourism forecast, revealing a 3.5 percent increase in visitors from 2023 and projecting a return to pre-pandemic levels in 2025. NYC remains the most-visited large city in the United States, with the forecast highlighting the city’s near-complete economic and tourism recovery following the pandemic.
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‘Black market’ NYC restaurant reservations banned by state law

Image via WikiCommons

December 20, 2024

‘Black market’ NYC restaurant reservations banned by state law

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday signed legislation that bans the "predatory black market" practice of third-party reservation services arranging and selling reservations at sought-after New York City restaurants. The law targets services that use bots to acquire the most sought-after reservation times on platforms like Resy, which have "wreaked havoc" through no-shows and last-minute cancellations and make dining inaccessible to regular New Yorkers who don’t want to pay extra.
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Hochul deploys 250 more National Guard troops to patrol NYC subway during holiday season

Photo credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

December 19, 2024

Hochul deploys 250 more National Guard troops to patrol NYC subway during holiday season

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced that an additional 250 National Guard troops will patrol the New York City subway system during the holiday season, bringing the total count to 1,000 troops following their initial deployment in March. News of additional troops comes even as subway crime is down 10 percent since March, according to the governor. There is currently no planned end date to withdraw the extra troops.
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Image via WikiCommons

December 17, 2024

Breuer Building up for individual, interior landmark designation

By Aaron Ginsburg

The interiors of the Whitney Museum's former Brutalist home may be preserved ahead of a planned renovation. The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar the Breuer Building at 945 Madison Avenue for consideration as an individual and interior landmark. Calendaring comes as the auction house Sotheby's prepares to relocate its headquarters to the Marcel Breuer-designed building; news of a renovation set to begin next year prompted preservationists to urge the agency to landmark the interiors.
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James Whelan, President of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), at a rally opposing the FARE Act in June. Courtesy of REBNY

December 17, 2024

REBNY sues to block NYC broker fee law

By Devin Gannon

The Real Estate Board of New York sued the city on Monday to stop a new law that would shift the payment of broker fees from renters to landlords. The Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act, which requires the party who hired the broker to pay the fees, became law over the weekend and takes effect in six months. In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, REBNY argues the FARE Act violates brokers' rights to free commercial speech under the First Amendment and will lead to "higher rents, fewer properties advertised, and decreased overall transparency of the markets for consumers."
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Policy

MTA to start retiring subway trains with retro orange-and-yellow seats in 2025

Photo by David Goehring on Flickr

December 16, 2024

MTA to start retiring subway trains with retro orange-and-yellow seats in 2025

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City subway system's classic orange-and-yellow seat cars are entering their twilight years, set to begin gradually disappearing from the tracks in 2025. Starting next year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) plans to slowly retire the R46, R62, and R68 subway cars—part of the MTA's "B Division" fleet—known for their colorful L-shaped, back-to-back seating, according to PIX11. The outdated cars will be replaced with the new R211 cars, as outlined in an NYC Transit order form.
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Citi Bike to expand in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx next fall

Credit: Elvert Barnes on Flickr

December 16, 2024

Citi Bike to expand in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx next fall

By Aaron Ginsburg

Citi Bike is set for a major expansion, bringing the bike-share service to 900,000 more New Yorkers in the outer boroughs. Mayor Eric Adams on Friday announced that starting in the fall of 2025, Citi Bike will roll out to underserved neighborhoods like Brownsville and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, Norwood and Riverdale in the Bronx, and areas west of Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. The expansion will also add docking stations in high-demand areas to accommodate growing ridership.
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NYC has seized 73,000+ ‘ghost cars’ and illegal vehicles during Adams administration

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 12, 2024

NYC has seized 73,000+ ‘ghost cars’ and illegal vehicles during Adams administration

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is cracking down on cars with illegal plates and other untraceable vehicles. Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced that a new task force made up of the city's police department (NYPD) and Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has removed over 7,500 "ghost cars"—vehicles with forged or altered license plates that evade traffic cameras and toll readers—and 27,000 unregistered motorized vehicles in just 12 weeks. Since the start of the Adams administration, more than 73,000 ghost cars and illegal motorized vehicles have been seized.
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The duplex apartment in Paul Rudolph’s Modulightor Building may be landmarked

Exterior photo courtesy of the Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture; interior photo courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

December 12, 2024

The duplex apartment in Paul Rudolph’s Modulightor Building may be landmarked

By Aaron Ginsburg

A year ago, the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Modulightor Building, a Midtown East building designed by renowned architect Paul Rudolph, as a New York City landmark. Now, the agency will consider landmarking the interior of the building as well. On Tuesday, the agency voted to calendar a duplex apartment on the third and fourth floors of 246 East 58th Street designed by Rudolph. According to the commission, the apartment is a "complex, multi-layered late modern residential interior unlike any in New York City."
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Photo via Wikimedia

December 11, 2024

NYC to close 25 migrant shelters, including Floyd Bennett Field

By Aaron Ginsburg

The massive migrant shelter at Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field will close in January as the number of migrants entering New York City reaches its lowest point in 17 months. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced that the 2,000-bed Marine Park shelter, along with 24 other facilities, will shutter over the next two months as the number of asylum seekers in city shelters has declined for 22 straight weeks. The city wants to close the shelter, located on federal land, to prevent President-elect Donald Trump from revoking the facility’s lease in January or launching immigration raids once he takes office, the New York Times reported.
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Policy

NYC Council passes ‘City of Yes,’ paving the way for 82K new homes

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 6, 2024

NYC Council passes ‘City of Yes,’ paving the way for 82K new homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

The City Council on Thursday voted 31-20 to approve Mayor Eric Adams' landmark "City of Yes" housing proposal, marking a major step forward in addressing New York City's critical housing shortage. The final version of the plan largely resembles the mayor's original vision but includes amendments by the Council that lower the projected number of new homes from 109,000 to roughly 82,000 over the next 15 years. The plan also includes significant investments in affordable housing, homeownership, tenant protections, and sewer, street, and open space infrastructure development across the five boroughs.
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Policy

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