Policy

Mamdani creates NYC’s first office to prevent deed theft

Mayor Mamdani and Council Member Ossé. Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 24, 2026

Mamdani creates NYC’s first office to prevent deed theft

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Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday announced the creation of the city's first-ever Office of Deed Theft Prevention to crack down on scammers who take ownership of homes through fraud and deception. The new office comes just days after Council Member Chi Ossé was arrested after defending a Bed-Stuy homeowner facing eviction from a brownstone she has called home for six decades.
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Judge halts plan to move men’s homeless intake shelter to East Village after lawsuit

Streetview of 8 East Third Street © 2022 Google Maps

April 23, 2026

Judge halts plan to move men’s homeless intake shelter to East Village after lawsuit

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A state judge has paused Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plan to relocate a men's homeless intake shelter from the shuttered Bellevue facility in Kips Bay to the East Village after residents filed a lawsuit. Judge Sabrina Kraus issued the order on Wednesday, blocking the city from opening the intake center at 8 East Third Street on May 1 as originally planned and setting a May 7 court date for the administration and plaintiffs. Last month, Mamdani announced plans to close the Bellevue shelter, citing decades of neglect and deteriorating conditions, and to relocate its roughly 250 residents to existing shelters in the East Village.
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Brooklyn’s dangerous Linden Boulevard to get center-running bus lanes, pedestrian islands

Aerial view of Linden Boulevard. All images courtesy of DOT

April 22, 2026

Brooklyn’s dangerous Linden Boulevard to get center-running bus lanes, pedestrian islands

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Parts of Brooklyn’s Linden Boulevard, one of the borough’s most dangerous corridors, will be redesigned with center-running bus lanes and other safety upgrades by 2027. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday announced that the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) will begin installing the lanes later this year along the stretch between Fountain and Conduit Avenues in East New York. The changes aim to improve safety along the corridor, which saw more than 440 traffic-related injuries and one death between 2021 and 2025. Those crashes have been linked to the road’s current design, which encourages speeding, forces pedestrians to cross multiple lanes of traffic, and leaves buses stuck behind double-parked cars, according to amNY.
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NYC Council wants a ‘cultural passport,’ more public bathrooms, and Pelé Way for World Cup

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 20, 2026

NYC Council wants a ‘cultural passport,’ more public bathrooms, and Pelé Way for World Cup

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With the 2026 World Cup less than two months away, the New York City Council introduced a package of legislation last week to support local businesses during the nearly six-week tournament, which includes eight games at nearby MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. One of the proposed bills would create a "cultural passport program" to encourage those traveling to New York for the soccer matches to explore local businesses and institutions across the five boroughs; another would make a calendar of events to help visitors find festivals, parties, and cultural corridors tied to the participating teams. The new legislation comes as City Hall has restricted approving permits for large public events during the World Cup, as well as the 250th Anniversary of America on July 4.
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NYC plans to invest $4B from pension funds for affordable housing

New rental building The Ellery at 312 West 43rd Street was financed by the A.F.L-C.I.O Housing Investment Trust, which finances middle-income housing built by union employees. Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

April 20, 2026

NYC plans to invest $4B from pension funds for affordable housing

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New York City Comptroller Mark Levine plans to invest $4 billion from the city's public pension funds for affordable housing development. Levine on Thursday unveiled the "NYC Housing Investment Initiative," which will more than double the funds' current real estate portfolio and help finance thousands of new homes through mixed-income projects, office-to-residential conversions, and renovations, as first reported by the New York Times. The plan calls for roughly $1 billion in annual pension investments over the next four years.
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NYC announces 6 more districts to fully containerize trash by end of 2027

Photo Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 17, 2026

NYC announces 6 more districts to fully containerize trash by end of 2027

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New York City is expanding its trash containerization program, selecting additional districts in all five boroughs to fully adopt containerized trash collection by the end of next year. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday announced that the city’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will deliver at least one fully containerized community district in every borough by the end of 2027, with a target of citywide containerization by 2031. The districts will receive the city’s new Empire Bins, which will be collected by automated side-loading garbage trucks.
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72nd Street to get crosstown protected bike lane

72nd Street and Columbus before the redesign. Photo © Ondel Hylton

April 17, 2026

72nd Street to get crosstown protected bike lane

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The city will install a crosstown protected bike route that runs the entire length of 72nd Street in Manhattan. The Department of Transportation (DOT) this week unveiled plans for a two-way protected bike lane from Riverside Drive to York Avenue, connecting the Upper West Side and Upper East Side through Central Park. The transportation committee of Manhattan Community Board 7 on Tuesday passed a resolution in support of the West 72nd Street redesign, which could begin later this spring. DOT will present plans for the east side of the street to Community Board 8 this fall.
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Trump will release funds for Second Avenue Subway extension

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr cc

April 17, 2026

Trump will release funds for Second Avenue Subway extension

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The Trump administration on Thursday agreed to release nearly $60 million in federal funding for the Second Avenue Subway extension, ending a monthslong dispute that began during October’s government shutdown. According to the New York Times, in a letter filed in Federal Claims Court, a lawyer for the government said the administration would resume payments to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority after the agency sued in March over the withheld funding. The funds were initially held while the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) reviewed the MTA's race- and sex-based contracting requirements, which the agency now says have been satisfied.
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Mamdani proposes city-backed insurance program to cut costs for some NYC landlords

Credit: Jason Hawke CA on Unsplash

April 16, 2026

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

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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

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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

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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 will cost $150

Credit: Peyton Clough on Unsplash

April 15, 2026

NJ Transit tickets to World Cup matches at MetLife will cost $150

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With FIFA World Cup ticket prices already high, fans attending matches at MetLife Stadium this summer will face additional costs, as NJ Transit confirms round-trip rail tickets will cost $150. On Friday, the agency released its final transportation plan for the tournament, confirming earlier reports that rail tickets for the 18-mile trip to and from MetLife would cost more than $100. The tickets will go on sale May 13, with only 40,000 available for each match day and no additional tickets to be sold once the initial batch is gone.
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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Credit: NYC DOT on Flickr

April 6, 2026

Car-Free Earth Day returns with free events across NYC

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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

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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

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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.
drink in the veiw
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

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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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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

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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

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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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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

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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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