Policy

New Year’s Eve fireworks in Central Park and Prospect Park canceled this year because of drought

Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park. Photo courtesy of Andrew Gardner

December 4, 2024

New Year’s Eve fireworks in Central Park and Prospect Park canceled this year because of drought

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's parks will be unusually quiet this New Year's Eve. Due to the ongoing drought, firework shows will not take place in Central Park or Prospect Park this year, as first reported by the New York Times. Running non-profit New York Road Runners said City Hall and the Parks Department instructed them to forgo this year's fireworks display during the annual New Year's Eve race in Central Park. In Prospect Park, the traditional fireworks show has been swapped for a drone light show, featuring images of iconic NYC landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
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Policy

Last of NYC’s outdoor dining sheds must come down by Friday

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

November 27, 2024

Last of NYC’s outdoor dining sheds must come down by Friday

By Aaron Ginsburg

The last of New York City's street dining sheds must be removed by Friday under the city's new seasonal guidelines. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday reminded restaurants that November 29 is the last day to remove outdoor roadway dining sheds; businesses that fail to comply face fines of up to $1,000. While sidewalk dining setups that abide by the program's rules can operate year-round, roadway dining will return with the new season, starting April 1, 2025.
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‘City of Yes’ gets key Council approval after $5B deal reached

Credit: Tommy Kwak on Unsplash

November 22, 2024

‘City of Yes’ gets key Council approval after $5B deal reached

By Aaron Ginsburg

The City Council moved Mayor Eric Adams' "City of Yes" housing proposal forward on Thursday after securing $5 billion in funding and making several changes to the original plan. The Council's zoning subcommittee and land use committee voted in favor of the text amendment with modifications to keep some parking requirements and restrict accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in some neighborhoods. The latest version keeps the mayor's plan largely intact but will reduce the number of projected new homes from 109,000 over the next 15 years to 80,000.
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MTA to offer free shuttle buses, discounted LIRR rides during Rockaway A line shutdown

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

November 15, 2024

MTA to offer free shuttle buses, discounted LIRR rides during Rockaway A line shutdown

By Aaron Ginsburg

Rockaway residents won't be left stranded this winter while the A and S subway lines undergo rehabilitation. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced a substitute service plan to ensure reliable transit options for Rockaway residents while the MTA conducts vital resilience upgrades to the A and S lines. The plan includes two free shuttle buses, heavily discounted Long Island Rail Road fares, and a free Rockaway subway shuttle train serving all stations on the peninsula between Far Rockaway and Rockaway Park.
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Congestion pricing to start in January with $9 toll, Hochul announces

Photo by Pranay Pareek on Unsplash

November 14, 2024

Congestion pricing to start in January with $9 toll, Hochul announces

By Aaron Ginsburg

Congestion pricing will resume by early January with a lower toll of $9, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, in an attempt to save the program before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The new plan, which cuts the toll by 40 percent from the original $15 fee, is fast-tracked for implementation and has been approved by the MTA board. Hochul abruptly paused the program in June, weeks before it was scheduled to begin, citing inflation and economic conditions. The fee will go into effect starting the morning of Sunday, January 5.
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NYC Council votes to end forced broker fees

Council Member Chi Ossé held a press conference before the City Council voted on the FARE Act. Photo credit: Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit on Flickr

November 13, 2024

NYC Council votes to end forced broker fees

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City renters may soon no longer have to pay a broker fee when leasing an apartment. The Council on Wednesday voted to approve the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act, which shifts the payment of broker fees to the party who hired the broker, typically landlords or the management company. The bill was passed with a veto-proof majority of 42-8.
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Deal reached to build 355-unit development across from Brooklyn Botanic Garden

962-972 Franklin Avenue. Streetview © 2024 Google.

November 12, 2024

Deal reached to build 355-unit development across from Brooklyn Botanic Garden

By Devin Gannon

Several years and project iterations later, a new mixed-use building will rise across from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Developer Continuum Company and Council Member Crystal Hudson reached a deal to develop a 10-story project with 355 apartments, 30 percent of which will be income-restricted, at 962-972 Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights. The revised rezoning proposal, approved by the City Council's subcommission on zoning on Tuesday, features additional changes to the roof slope to minimize shadows on the garden's rare plant collection.
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Prospect Park wildfire scorches two acres amid record-breaking dry spell

Images courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

November 11, 2024

Prospect Park wildfire scorches two acres amid record-breaking dry spell

By Aaron Ginsburg

More than 100 firefighters battled a brush fire in Prospect Park on Friday night that charred two acres of greenery, occurring during one of the longest dry spells in New York City's history. The blaze, which broke out in the Nethermead near the Prospect Park Boathouse, was reported around 6:40 p.m., according to AMNY. After the fire, Mayor Eric Adams banned grilling in city parks as the five boroughs remain under a drought watch.
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Policy

Hochul considers resuming congestion pricing after Trump win

Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

November 11, 2024

Hochul considers resuming congestion pricing after Trump win

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul is reportedly exploring ways to revive congestion pricing before President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to eliminate the plan, takes office. As first reported by Politico, the governor's office has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation about potentially lowering the proposed toll from $15 to $9 and whether this change would require another lengthy environmental review process.
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NYC issues drought watch following second-longest dry spell on record

Photo courtesy of Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

November 8, 2024

NYC issues drought watch following second-longest dry spell on record

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has issued a drought watch amid its second-longest dry spell on record. Mayor Eric Adams and the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala on Sunday issued a citywide drought watch, instructing city agencies to update water conservation measures and prepare to implement them, while urging the public to conserve water as much as possible. The announcement follows a historically dry October, marked by the second-longest rainless streak in city records dating back to 1869.
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Policy

Popular Articles

Hochul shows no signs of resuming congestion pricing before Trump takes office

Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

November 7, 2024

Hochul shows no signs of resuming congestion pricing before Trump takes office

By Aaron Ginsburg

Transit advocates are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to fund congestion pricing before the inauguration of Donald Trump, who has promised to terminate the program during his first week in office. During a press conference on Wednesday, Hochul said she could only provide updates on MTA funding later this year and did not address the fate of congestion pricing, while still acknowledging the limited time before Trump takes office.
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Abortion rights protected in New York constitution, Adams’ ballot proposals pass

Credit: Nick Fewings on Unsplash

November 6, 2024

Abortion rights protected in New York constitution, Adams’ ballot proposals pass

By Aaron Ginsburg

A proposition to enshrine abortion rights in New York passed on Tuesday, according to election results published by the Associated Press. New Yorkers also voted to approve four of the five proposals that change the City Charter pushed for by Mayor Eric Adams, who called the polls an "overwhelming success" for his administration.
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Policy

The A train won’t run in the Rockaways for 4 months starting in January

Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

November 5, 2024

The A train won’t run in the Rockaways for 4 months starting in January

By Aaron Ginsburg

The A train will shut down in the Rockaways for four months starting in January to strengthen infrastructure against extreme weather. From January 17 to May 19 next year, the A train will not run at all between Howard Beach-JFK Airport to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street or Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue in both directions. During this period, the Rockaway Park Shuttle, which normally runs to Broad Channel, will instead operate between Rockaway Park and Far Rockaway, with no shuttle service running at all during the first week of the closure
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106 years ago, New York women voted for the first time

Suffragists marching, probably in New York City in. New York, 1915. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress

November 5, 2024

106 years ago, New York women voted for the first time

With New Yorkers and the nation showing up to the polls in record numbers this year, it's hard to imagine a time when women could not vote. About 106 years ago today, Catherine Ann Smith was among the first women to vote in the state of New York, as the New York Times previously reported. Smith joined Mary Waver at the front of the line, both casting their ballots in the early hours of November 5, 1918.
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NYC Council responds to ‘City of Yes’ with housing plan that goes beyond zoning

Credit: Diane Picchiottino on Unsplash

November 4, 2024

NYC Council responds to ‘City of Yes’ with housing plan that goes beyond zoning

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Council has released a housing plan as a counter-proposal to Mayor Eric Adams' "City of Yes" plan. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams last week announced "City for All," which pairs the zoning changes of the mayor's plan, currently under review by the Council, with several measures and funding demands to ensure affordability for renters and homeowners.
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Updated Midtown South rezoning plan could create nearly 10,000 new homes

8th Avenue below 40th Street. Photo © Ondel Hylton

November 1, 2024

Updated Midtown South rezoning plan could create nearly 10,000 new homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

New zoning tools will allow the city to build bigger apartment buildings in Midtown Manhattan, doubling the new housing units permitted under a proposed rezoning. The Department of City Planning on Thursday released an updated draft of the Midtown South rezoning plan to incorporate floor area ratio (FAR) caps of 15 to 18, enabled by the state's recent repeal of the 12 FAR cap. This change allows larger developments and roughly 9,700 new homes, up from a previous estimate of 4,000, in a 42-block area of Midtown where housing development has been largely prohibited.
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MTA moves forward with design of Interborough Express project

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

October 30, 2024

MTA moves forward with design of Interborough Express project

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Interborough Express, a proposed public transit connection between Brooklyn and Queens, is one step closer to becoming a reality. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the preliminary engineering and design phase of the 14-mile light rail line and began an environmental review with the federal government, according to Bloomberg. The initial phase is expected to take roughly two years to complete.
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Jaywalking is now officially legal in New York City

Credit: Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

October 30, 2024

Jaywalking is now officially legal in New York City

By Aaron Ginsburg

Jaywalking—a habit of many New Yorkers—is now officially legal in New York City. After the City Council passed a bill decriminalizing the act, New Yorkers can now legally cross the street at any point, regardless of the traffic signal and in or outside the crosswalk. The bill, adopted as a law last week, aims to address racial disparities in enforcement. According to Brooklyn Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, the bill’s sponsor, 90 percent of jaywalking tickets in 2023 were issued to Black and Latino residents, as reported by the Guardian.
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‘Smart Curbs’ program to optimize curb space on the Upper West Side

Images courtesy of NYC DOT

October 29, 2024

‘Smart Curbs’ program to optimize curb space on the Upper West Side

By Aaron Ginsburg

The streets of the Upper West Side will soon better suit community needs as part of a new initiative by the Department of Transportation. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Monday announced the launch of the agency's "Smart Curbs" pilot program on the Upper West Side, which will modernize the streets by adding neighborhood loading zones, bike corrals, and other amenities and policies to create cleaner, more vibrant, and less congested public spaces from West 86th to West 72nd Streets, between Broadway and Central Park West.
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A guide to voting in the 2024 election in NYC

Photo by John Morton on Flickr

October 24, 2024

A guide to voting in the 2024 election in NYC

With Election Day less than two weeks away, it's time to make a plan to vote. This year, it's easier than ever to vote in New York, with new laws allowing mail-in ballots for all voters and later registration deadlines. On Tuesday, November 5, New Yorkers can cast their votes for the 47th president of the United States, federal and state representatives, other local offices, and six ballot proposals. Ahead, here's everything you need to know about where, when, and how to vote, so you can participate in the democratic process with confidence.
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NYC to quadruple number of red-light cameras by 2027

Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

October 24, 2024

NYC to quadruple number of red-light cameras by 2027

By Aaron Ginsburg

Drivers who blow through red lights beware: the number of cameras at New York City intersections will soon quadruple. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday signed a bill expanding red-light camera programs across the state, allowing the city to install cameras at 600 intersections by 2027, up from the current 150. Since their introduction 30 years ago, red-light cameras have reduced traffic violations at intersections by 73 percent, according to Hochul.
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City landmarks Village row house with deep ties to Black history and theater

The 13th Street Repertory Company. Photo (left): Courtesy of Village Preservation. Current view of the building (right): Courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

October 22, 2024

City landmarks Village row house with deep ties to Black history and theater

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Greenwich Village row house, dating back to before the Civil War and closely tied to Black history and one of the city's first "Off-Off-Broadway" theaters, is New York City's newest landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the Jacob Day Residence at 50 West 13th Street. The 1845 row house was home to Jacob Day, one of NYC's most successful 19th-century African American businessmen, and the 13th Street Repertory Company, one of the city's oldest Off-Off-Broadway theaters.
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See the plan to transform Fifth Avenue into premier, pedestrian-friendly corridor

Images courtesy of City Hall

October 17, 2024

See the plan to transform Fifth Avenue into premier, pedestrian-friendly corridor

By Aaron Ginsburg

Here's a peek at what a pedestrian-friendly Fifth Avenue could look like. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday revealed a proposed redesign of the iconic thoroughfare between Bryant Park and Central Park into a pedestrian-focused corridor by cutting the number of traffic lanes from five to three, nearly doubling the width of sidewalks, shortening crosswalks, and planting more than 200 trees. The $350 million project, the first major alteration to Fifth Avenue in its 200-year history, aims to turn the boulevard into a grand shopping street, akin to the Champs-Élysées in Paris and Ginza in Tokyo.
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City begins public review for Atlantic Avenue rezoning plan to create over 4,500 new homes

Rendering of Atlantic Avenue’s improved, and safer streets, courtesy of DCP

October 16, 2024

City begins public review for Atlantic Avenue rezoning plan to create over 4,500 new homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to create thousands of new apartments and add open space to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn is moving forward. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the start of the public review process for the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, a rezoning that could create roughly 4,600 new homes—1,440 of which will be permanently income-restricted and affordable—and 2,800 jobs along a 21-block stretch of Atlantic Avenue. The plan will also include traffic safety upgrades at intersections along the corridor to improve pedestrian safety, accessibility, and visibility.
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