Policy

As part of a larger plan to create much-needed affordable housing, Mayor Eric Adams has expressed his support for converting hotels to residential units. In the first such attempt by his administration, Adams announced on Monday plans to convert what had been an illegal hotel at 258 West 97th Street on the Upper West Side into 80 new units of housing primarily for formerly homeless and low-income New Yorkers.
More on illegal hotels and new housing

NYC commits $75M to Fair Fares program, makes it a permanent part of budget

Photo by Asael Peña on Unsplash

February 15, 2022

NYC commits $75M to Fair Fares program, makes it a permanent part of budget

Funding for New York City's Fair Fares program, which offers a 50 percent discount on subway and bus trips for low-income New Yorkers, has been secured annually for the first time ever. Mayor Eric Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams on Monday announced an agreement to baseline $75 million in funding for the program for the upcoming fiscal year 2023 budget. Fair Fares was originally funded at $106 million in 2020, but pandemic-related budget cuts reduced funding for the program to just over $40 million.
Details here

New York City’s housing experts have a wish list for Mayor Adams

Mayor Eric Adams announces his housing leadership team in the rotunda at City Hall on Sunday, January 30, 2022. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office via Flickr.

February 14, 2022

New York City’s housing experts have a wish list for Mayor Adams

Shortly after taking office last month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams introduced the team that will take the lead on affordable housing strategy, headed by Jessica Katz as the city’s chief housing officer. The announcement came not a moment too soon; rents and home prices continue to rise beyond the reach of many, while homelessness and eviction threats are a growing concern. In a city where the topic of housing is never far from view every day, New Yorkers are looking to the new mayor to address the issues they feel must change. 6sqft asked individuals and organizations involved in the city's housing and real estate sectors to offer an important "wish list" item they would like to see Adams address during his time in office.
A housing wish list from NYC to Mayor Adams, this way

NYC cultural landmarks and public libraries will distribute free at-home Covid testing kits

Image courtesy of Gerardo Romo/NYC Council Media Unit on Flickr

February 14, 2022

NYC cultural landmarks and public libraries will distribute free at-home Covid testing kits

The NYC Test & Trace Corps has partnered with 14 city cultural sites and 27 branches of the city's public libraries to hand out free at-home covid-19 testing kits. Starting on February 14, libraries across the city's three branches and cultural sites will be conducting weekly walk-up distributions of the free kits, which will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis with a limit of one per person.
Find out more about free at-home test kits

New York lawmakers call for investigation into soaring ConEd bills in NYC

Photo by Dimitry Anikin on Unsplash

February 10, 2022

New York lawmakers call for investigation into soaring ConEd bills in NYC

New York City residents are outraged after receiving electricity bills with astonishing price spikes, some by 300 percent of their normal rate. After receiving hundreds of calls from concerned New Yorkers over their skyrocketing electricity bills, elected officials are calling on the state's Public Service Commission (PSC) to launch an investigation into the sudden price increase among ConEd customers.
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Policy

Hochul lifts New York’s indoor mask mandate

Photo: Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

February 9, 2022

Hochul lifts New York’s indoor mask mandate

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced New York will be following in the footsteps of New Jersey and California and dropping its indoor mask mandate. The mandate, which required all businesses to verify proof of full vaccination or require mask-wearing, was set to expire on Thursday. Masks will still be required in schools, childcare centers, health care facilities, and public spaces like subways, trains, buses, and airports.
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Policy

MTA to roll out fare-capping pilot program for OMNY this month

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 8, 2022

MTA to roll out fare-capping pilot program for OMNY this month

In an effort to get riders back on the New York City subway system, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has introduced a pilot fare-capping program that they believe will be "more affordable, more flexible, and more fair." Starting on February 28, subway or bus riders who use the OMNY contactless payment system 12 times within a seven-day period will be automatically upgraded to an unlimited pass for the rest of that week. The fare-capping program will last for at least four months.
See more here

New Jersey will end mask mandate in schools in March

Image courtesy of Josue Lora/NJ Governor’s Office on Flickr

February 7, 2022

New Jersey will end mask mandate in schools in March

New Jersey's school mask mandate that's been in effect since September 2020 will end March 7, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday. The state mandate required all students, staff, and visitors to wear face coverings while inside New Jersey school facilities. School districts can choose to keep the mandates in place, but the statewide requirement will be lifted. The mandate's removal comes as positive tests and hospitalizations have dropped significantly statewide and the rate of vaccinations continues to rise.
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Policy

NYC commission withholds support for Hochul’s plan to rebuild Penn Station

Rendering courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

February 2, 2022

NYC commission withholds support for Hochul’s plan to rebuild Penn Station

Gov. Kathy Hochul's massive redevelopment plan of Penn Station hit a roadblock last week. The City Planning Commission said it will withhold support for Hochul's new transit hub due to uncertainties over funding and a lack of improvement to transit and the public realm. Before the city recommends its full support, the project's planners must resolve these issues, as the commission wrote in a letter to the Empire State Development Corporation.
Details here

NYC-area transit agencies seek ways to restore ridership post-Covid

New York City-area transit agencies are looking for ways to restore public transit ridership to the levels they were before the pandemic. The MTA, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NJ Transit, the city's Department of Transportation, and the Partnership for NYC announced on Monday the fourth round of the Transit Tech Lab, a program that aims to find solutions to problems facing the city's public transportation system. The agencies put forth two challenges; the first is a solution to help the public transit system recover from Covid-19 and restore its ridership to pre-pandemic levels. The second is a sustainability challenge, looking for innovations that will better prepare the transit system against extreme weather conditions while leaving less of a carbon footprint.
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NYC offers free, same-day home delivery of antiviral Covid treatment pills

Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 31, 2022

NYC offers free, same-day home delivery of antiviral Covid treatment pills

Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday announced oral antiviral pills are now available for free same-day, at-home delivery for eligible New Yorkers. Oral antiviral pills–as well as monoclonal antibodies–have been shown to be effective in preventing hospitalization and death from Covid. The medication will be available for people who test positive for the virus, have mild or moderate symptoms, and have a doctor's prescription; due to a limited supply, the city is prioritizing those who are at elevated risk for severe illness from the virus.
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Policy

New York requests additional $1.6B in federal rent assistance

Photo by Jonathan Riley on Unsplash

January 28, 2022

New York requests additional $1.6B in federal rent assistance

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday the state has requested an additional $1.6 billion from the United States Department of Treasury to help fund the state's Emergency Rental Assistance program. Although $1.4 billion has been distributed to New Yorkers struggling to pay rent due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are nearly 174,000 tenants whose applications to the state's program have not yet been fulfilled, according to the governor.
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Policy

New York’s mask mandate is reinstated, for now

Photo: Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

January 26, 2022

New York’s mask mandate is reinstated, for now

New York's mask mandate has been reinstated after an appeals court judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a ruling from a lower-court judge that struck down the policy. One day prior, Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Thomas Rademaker said Gov. Kathy Hochul's mask requirement, which applies to all indoor public places in the state that do not require proof of vaccination, was unconstitutional.
Details here

Policy

Hochul outlines replacement for New York’s expiring 421-a tax break program

Billionaires’ Row. Photo: © 6sqft

January 20, 2022

Hochul outlines replacement for New York’s expiring 421-a tax break program

As part of her State of the State address delivered earlier this month, Gov. Kathy Hochul promised to replace the 421-a tax abatement program with a new "effective" credit. Set to expire in June, 421-a gives New York real estate developers who construct new residential buildings a property tax exemption in exchange for designating a portion of the homes as affordable. As part of her executive budget, Hochul on Wednesday outlined her plan for a replacement program called "Affordable Neighborhoods for New Yorkers." While the new program calls for the units built to be more affordable, much of the structure of the existing tax abatement remains in place.
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Policy

NYC pledges to make 1,000 intersections safer for pedestrians

Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 19, 2022

NYC pledges to make 1,000 intersections safer for pedestrians

Last year, New York City experienced the highest level of traffic fatalities in over a decade, a majority of which took place at street intersections. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced a plan to better protect pedestrians, including improving the design of 1,000 intersections across the city, constructing 100 raised crosswalks annually, and enforcing a new traffic rule that requires drivers and cyclists to fully stop for pedestrians when traffic controls are not in place.
Get the details

New York lawmakers propose heat sensor requirement after deadly Bronx fire

Image courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 18, 2022

New York lawmakers propose heat sensor requirement after deadly Bronx fire

After the fire that claimed 17 lives at a Bronx apartment building last week, elected officials are brainstorming strategies to prevent future tragedies. Rep. Ritchie Torres and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Monday announced new legislation requiring the installation of heat sensors at federally-owned housing developments. Supported by Mayor Eric Adams, sensors monitor the heat levels within buildings, alerting authorities when they reach unsafe conditions. The monitors can also keep track of when temperatures drop lower than the legal limit.
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Policy

Adams vetoes measure that would increase fines for non-artist residents in upzoned Soho-Noho

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

January 18, 2022

Adams vetoes measure that would increase fines for non-artist residents in upzoned Soho-Noho

Mayor Eric Adams last week vetoed legislation that would increase fines for residents illegally occupying artist housing in Soho and Noho, a measure passed by the City Council last month alongside the approved neighborhood rezoning. Sponsored by former Council Member Margaret Chin, the bill would increase penalties on non-artist residents of the Joint Living Work Quarters for Artists (JLWQA) zone, which was created in the 1970s to allow artists to legally live in the once manufacturing-heavy area, with fines starting at $15,000 for those without proper certification.
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Policy

The number of sidewalk sheds in NYC has tripled over past two decades

Image courtesy of Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

January 13, 2022

The number of sidewalk sheds in NYC has tripled over past two decades

Temporary sidewalk sheds are legally required to be installed at any construction site to protect pedestrians from falling debris. While they are seen as a safety necessity, the structures are eyesores that block sunlight and slow foot traffic. In New York City, the total number of sidewalk sheds has tripled over the past two decades, a new report released this week by the Independent Budget Office found. Looking at data from the Department of Buildings, the report found Manhattan was home to the most sidewalk sheds but noted the outer boroughs are starting to catch up.
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Policy

New York’s eviction moratorium will end this week, Hochul confirms

Image courtesy of Mari Small on Unsplash

January 12, 2022

New York’s eviction moratorium will end this week, Hochul confirms

New York's eviction moratorium will not be extended after it expires this weekend, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday. In the meantime, the state’s rent-relief portal will be reopened to give aid to New Yorkers facing eviction. The freeze on evictions was established at the beginning of the Covid pandemic by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to give relief to struggling New Yorkers. Over the past two years, it has been extended multiple times, with Hochul extending it to January 15 during her first week in office.
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Policy

NY lawmakers introduce ‘Dark Skies Act’ to protect migrating birds and limit light pollution

Photo by Carlos Oliva from Pexels

January 10, 2022

NY lawmakers introduce ‘Dark Skies Act’ to protect migrating birds and limit light pollution

Every year in New York City, tens of thousands of migratory birds are killed after being drawn from their flight paths by the city’s artificial light. To combat this, State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Patricia Fahy last week introduced the “Dark Skies Act,” a bill that aims to prevent the deaths of migratory birds and reduce light pollution. The bill would require the majority of non-essential outdoor lights to be turned off, covered, or switched to motion sensor activation after 11 p.m. Alternatively, lights could be set to shine downwards.
Details this way

NYC bodegas launch campaign against corporation-backed 15-minute grocery delivery

Photo by Clément Falize on Unsplash

January 10, 2022

NYC bodegas launch campaign against corporation-backed 15-minute grocery delivery

New York City bodegas and delis are fighting back against 15-minute delivery startups. A group representing local grocers, the Save Mom-and-Pop Business Coalition, rallied on Sunday with elected officials, calling out the venture capitalist-backed services they say threaten the city's small businesses. The rally took place outside of Stop 1 Deli, a Lower East Side bodega located directly across the street from GoPuff, one of the delivery services in question. Delivery services like GoPuff have moved into large spaces on commercial strips, morphing them into warehouses stuffed with groceries and other goods.
See more here

Adams, Hochul will increase police presence in NYC subway system to combat homelessness and crime

Image courtesy of Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

January 7, 2022

Adams, Hochul will increase police presence in NYC subway system to combat homelessness and crime

Commuters will soon see more New York City police officers riding the subway, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday. Hochul and Adams on Thursday laid out a new initiative to tackle homelessness by deploying teams of specially trained Safe Options Support officials. These "SOS" teams will consist of mental health professionals who will work with the city's outreach teams to assist homeless New Yorkers. To combat crime in the subway system, Adams has ordered the mobilization of more officers who will patrol stations and board trains to make visual inspections.
Find out more

Photo via Flickr

January 6, 2022

Hochul’s sweeping New York recovery agenda addresses affordable housing crisis, homelessness

In her first State of the State address Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a sweeping agenda that would address housing affordability, equity, and stability by growing the state's affordable housing stock and expanding the housing supply. She also proposed a set of initiatives to address homelessness and housing instability. Hochul called the state's housing needs "a complex challenge that requires an all-levers approach."
See Hochul's housing proposals

Hochul wants to make to-go cocktails legal again in New York

Photo of New Yorkers drinking on St. Mark’s Place by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

January 5, 2022

Hochul wants to make to-go cocktails legal again in New York