Policy

Giving citizens a (virtual) voice: How NYC can strengthen public input post-pandemic

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

February 26, 2021

Giving citizens a (virtual) voice: How NYC can strengthen public input post-pandemic

By Karen Zabarsky

Nearly a year into the pandemic, decision-making in our cities has taken center stage. Locally grown proposals by council people, small business owners, and neighbors have proven the ability to cut through red tape and innovate quickly to solve problems. Outdoor dining structures and pedestrian-only streets were implemented at a rate thought impossible before. At the same time, top-down mandates about public safety and use of funds have been at best called into question, and at worst, completely fumbled. Slow action and political quibbles have left many critical decisions out of public hands. In the face of many more important decisions to come about our city, it is high time to address a challenge that has plagued us long before the pandemic — the lack of substantial public input into big decisions.
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This website wants to centralize vaccine appointments for the entire country

A screenshot from VaccineFinder on 2/25/21 at 10:31am

February 25, 2021

This website wants to centralize vaccine appointments for the entire country

Finding a vaccine appointment in New York has not been easy, to say the least. Providers are scheduling through various websites, most of which require you to fill out a pre-screening form every time you want to check availability. So unless you get lucky or are able to sit behind the computer all day, it can feel like a daunting process. That's why here in New York City, a local software engineer built a website called TurboVax that updates all availabilities in real-time. I personally have used this site to schedule for friends, and it's a life-saver. What about everywhere else, though? VaccineFinder, a CDC-backed website run by epidemiologists and software developers at Boston Children’s Hospital, is hoping to create a "centralized online portal where the public can search for nearby vaccination locations with doses on hand," according to the New York Times. But is this really feasible?
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Policy

Preservationists fight to save the impressively-intact Art Deco lobby of the McGraw-Hill Building

Photo credit: Lynn Farrell on behalf of the Art Deco Society of New York

February 24, 2021

Preservationists fight to save the impressively-intact Art Deco lobby of the McGraw-Hill Building

By Devin Gannon

An effort to preserve one of New York City's best examples of Art Deco design is underway. The owner of the McGraw-Hill Building at 330 West 42nd Street has tapped MdeAS Architects to redesign and modernize the structure's exterior, including new doors and signage. But after renderings from the architects surfaced on Twitter this month that showed what looked to be the 1931 lobby of the Hell's Kitchen building devoid of its iconic alternation blue-green steel bands and other signature elements designed by Raymond Hood, preservationists and architectural groups sprung into action.
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Policy

New data estimates 6.2% of NYC COVID cases are the UK variant

COVID-19 testing site sat the Highbridge Recreation Center in Manhattan on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office via Flickr

February 24, 2021

New data estimates 6.2% of NYC COVID cases are the UK variant

A report released on Monday by the NYC Department of Health shows that 6.2 percent of new COVID cases in NYC are the B.1.1.7 variant (more commonly known as the UK variant), an increase from 2.7 percent in January. The estimate is based on 45 identified variant cases of the 724 specimens sequenced the week of February 8-14. The week prior, it was actually 7.4 percent. On their website which has been updated to include data on variant cases, the NYC DOH says that the UK strain is "more transmissible than other variants and may cause more severe illness."
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Trump-operated ice rinks in Central Park to stay open for rest of season

Photo of the Wollman Rink by bekhap on Flickr

February 22, 2021

Trump-operated ice rinks in Central Park to stay open for rest of season

By Devin Gannon

Two ice rinks in Central Park that are operated by the Trump Organization will now remain open for the rest of the season instead of shuttering early as originally planned. The Trump Organization announced it would close Wollman Rink and Lasker Rink on Sunday after city officials requested the company cease operations on February 26, ahead of the contract's April expiration. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the termination of the agreements with former President Donald Trump's company for the ice rinks and two other city concessions following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. In a reversal, the city on Sunday said the rinks can stay open for the remainder of the season.
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Policy

FEMA community-based vaccination sites open in Brooklyn and Queens this week

Photo by Jules Antonio on Wikimedia

February 22, 2021

FEMA community-based vaccination sites open in Brooklyn and Queens this week

By Devin Gannon

Two coronavirus vaccination sites run by the state with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open in Queens and Brooklyn on Wednesday, with appointments set aside for residents of specific ZIP codes. Appointment slots opened over the weekend for vaccinations at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights and York College in Jamaica, starting this Wednesday. According to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, there are many appointments still up for grabs.
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Policy

Massive Empire Station Complex project that will revamp Penn Station area moves forward

Rendering of new entrance on 8th Avenue to Penn Station via Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

February 19, 2021

Massive Empire Station Complex project that will revamp Penn Station area moves forward

By Devin Gannon

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to build an interconnected public transportation hub and revitalize Penn Station took a major step forward this week. The Empire State Development's Board of Directors on Thursday adopted the General Project Plan (GPP) and certified the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Empire Station Complex project, which would link an upgraded Penn Station, the newly opened Moynihan Train Hall, and a tentative new terminal one block south of Penn Station. The board also set a public hearing on the project for March 23, followed by a 30-day public comment period.
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Coney Island amusements can finally reopen in April

Photo by sebastien cordat on Unsplash

February 17, 2021

Coney Island amusements can finally reopen in April

By Devin Gannon

Looking ahead to warmer months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said outdoor amusement parks, indoor family entertainment centers, and overnight summer camps in New York will be allowed to reopen. If the state's coronavirus positivity rate continues to trend downward, indoor entertainment centers can reopen starting March 26 at 25 percent capacity, outdoor amusement parks and rides on April 9 at 33 percent capacity, and eventually, overnight summer camps in June.
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Policy

NYC releases vaccination data by ZIP code

Map shows the percentage of residents who received at least one dose of the vaccine by ZIP code as of Feb. 16, courtesy of NYC Health

February 16, 2021

NYC releases vaccination data by ZIP code

By Devin Gannon

New York City neighborhoods that have experienced the highest infection rates of COVID-19 are now seeing the lowest rates of vaccination, according to new data released by the city. For the first time, the city on Tuesday published a map of vaccination rates by ZIP code. According to the data, Staten Island and Manhattan have the highest vaccination rates, while "the South Bronx, parts of Central Queens, and Central Brooklyn lag behind," Dr. Torian Easterling, the city's First Deputy Health Commissioner, said.
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Policy

NYC subway to restore some overnight service

Photo: Patrick Cashin / MTA New York City Transit

February 16, 2021

NYC subway to restore some overnight service

By Devin Gannon

Overnight subway service in New York City will partially resume this month following more than nine months of closure. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Monday plans for a phased reopening of the subway starting February 22, which includes closing the system for cleaning from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. instead of from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Cuomo last May ordered the closure of 24/7 service, a first for the system, as part of a rigorous coronavirus disinfection plan and an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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Popular Articles

New York stadiums and arenas can reopen February 23 with COVID-19 testing

Photo by Ajay Suresh on Flickr

February 10, 2021

New York stadiums and arenas can reopen February 23 with COVID-19 testing

By Devin Gannon

Large stadiums and arenas in New York can welcome back fans and audiences starting February 23, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. Venues that reopen must operate at 10 percent capacity and with coronavirus testing requirements in place. According to the governor, this could apply to sports, music, and performance venues. The Barclays Center has already been approved to reopen for a Brooklyn Nets game against the Sacramento Kings on February 23.
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NYC sees end-of-year residential sales surge, especially in Brooklyn and Queens

Photo by Jeffrey Blum on Unsplash

February 10, 2021

NYC sees end-of-year residential sales surge, especially in Brooklyn and Queens

By Devin Gannon

After three consecutive quarters of decline, the total residential sales volume and residential transactions in New York City during the final quarter of last year increased considerably. According to a new report released this week by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), total sales increased to $9 billion in Q4 2020 from $6.5 billion in Q3, a roughly 40 percent increase in sales volume. Notably, the outer boroughs drove the surge in sales, with a sales volume increase of 90 percent in Brooklyn and 69 percent in Queens during this period.
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Mapping the NYC landmarks and historic districts related to Black history

Screenshot courtesy of NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

February 10, 2021

Mapping the NYC landmarks and historic districts related to Black history

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday released an interactive story map that explores significant buildings, districts, and sites in New York City that are related to Black history and culture. The project highlights 75 individual landmarks and 33 historic districts associated with African American figures and historical events across the five boroughs dating to before the Civil War up to today, from the African Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan to the East 25th Street Historic District in Flatbush.
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New Yorkers with underlying health conditions eligible for COVID vaccine as of February 15

Photo from the opening of COVID-19 Vaccination Site at St. Luke’s Church in the Bronx, via Governor Cuomo’s office/Flickr

February 8, 2021

New Yorkers with underlying health conditions eligible for COVID vaccine as of February 15

Governor Cuomo announced on Friday, that beginning Monday, February 15th, New Yorkers of any age 16+ with certain comorbidities and underlying health conditions will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination. This includes conditions such as moderate to severe asthma, pregnancy, heart disease, and type 1 or 2 diabetes.
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Policy

NYC restaurants can expand indoor dining capacity to 35% next week

Photo by Marcus Herzberg from Pexels

February 8, 2021

NYC restaurants can expand indoor dining capacity to 35% next week

By Devin Gannon

New York City restaurants can expand indoor dining capacity from 25 to 35 percent starting February 26, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday. "That will be consistent with New Jersey," the governor said during a press conference, referring to the 35 percent capacity. After closing indoor dining in December, Cuomo said city restaurants could serve customers inside again on February 12, citing the end of the "post-holiday" surge of coronavirus cases. The governor last week also extended the closing times for bars, restaurants, and other businesses from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
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Citi Field’s mass vaccine site opens this week for TLC drivers, food delivery workers, and Queens residents

Mayor de Blasio with Mets owner Steve Cohen and Mr. and Mrs. Met. Photo credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

February 8, 2021

Citi Field’s mass vaccine site opens this week for TLC drivers, food delivery workers, and Queens residents

The Mets will join the Yankees in offering their stadiums to serve as mass COVID vaccination sites. Just as Yankee Stadium is earmarked for Bronx residents, Citi Field's appointments will be set aside 50 percent for drivers with TLC licenses and food delivery workers and 50 percent for Queens residents, Mayor De Blasio announced today in a press conference. The Flushing, Queens site will open this Wednesday, February 10th at 10:00am.
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Policy

See the mass vaccination site now open at Yankee Stadium for Bronx residents

Photo by Daniel Vargas on Unsplash

February 5, 2021

See the mass vaccination site now open at Yankee Stadium for Bronx residents

By Devin Gannon

As of today, the mass coronavirus vaccination site is open at Yankee Stadium. Appointments are reserved for Bronx residents only who meet phase 1a and 1b eligibility requirements, and the site will operate every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Gov. Mayor Bill de Blasio, wearing a Yankees cap (he's a vocal Red Sox fan), was at the stadium and spoke with Yankees president Randy Levine, manager Aaron Boone, and legendary player Mariano Rivera, all of whom encouraged people to sign up for vaccines. As of today, 13,000 of the 15,000 available appointments through next week had been filled.
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Policy

NYC seeks new operators for Central Park ice rink and carousel after canceling Trump contracts

Photo of The Wollman Rink by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

February 5, 2021

NYC seeks new operators for Central Park ice rink and carousel after canceling Trump contracts

By Devin Gannon

New York City on Friday issued two requests for proposals to operate an ice rink and carousel in Central Park formerly run by the Trump Organization. Following the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city would terminate agreements with former President Donald Trump's company for the operation of the Wollman and Lasker Rinks, the Central Park Carousel, and the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. The city's Parks Department this week announced it is looking for new companies to operate and manage the Wollman Rink and the Carousel.
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Policy

NJ loosens COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings, lifts restaurant curfew

Photo of Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten by cogito ergo imago on Flickr

February 3, 2021

NJ loosens COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings, lifts restaurant curfew

By Devin Gannon

Starting Friday, New Jersey restaurants and bars can serve more customers and stay open later. Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday signed an executive order relaxing some coronavirus restrictions for indoor gatherings, pointing to a decrease in new daily cases and hospitalizations across the state. Under the order, which goes into effect ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, indoor dining capacity can increase from 25 percent to 35 percent and the 10 p.m. curfew at restaurants will be lifted.
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19th-century abolitionist home in Downtown Brooklyn is now a city landmark

227 Duffield Street; Map data © 2020 Google

February 2, 2021

19th-century abolitionist home in Downtown Brooklyn is now a city landmark

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate a Brooklyn property that was home to known abolitionists, likely saving it from demolition. Harriet and Thomas Truesdell, members of the anti-slavery movement before the Civil War, lived at the Greek-Revival row house at 227 Duffield Street from 1851 to 1863. The commission recommended 227 Duffield for designation because it represents a rare surviving home to known abolitionists and marks Brooklyn's pre-Civil War abolitionist movement. The push for landmarking the site was accelerated in 2019 when a developer filed permits to raze the three-story structure and replace it with a much taller mixed-use building.
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NYC vaccination data shows ‘profound’ racial gaps

Vaccination center at NYCHA Van Dyke Houses in Brownsville, Brooklyn on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

February 1, 2021

NYC vaccination data shows ‘profound’ racial gaps

By Devin Gannon

Black and Latino residents in New York City have received far fewer doses of the coronavirus vaccine than white New Yorkers, according to preliminary data released by the city on Sunday. Of the roughly 300,000 city residents vaccinated with at least one dose, 48 percent of them were white, 15 percent Asian, 15 percent Latino, and 11 percent Black. Mayor Bill de Blasio called the racial disparities "profound," since Latino and Black residents make up 29 and 24 percent of the city's population, respectively.
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Policy

Starting March 15, wedding receptions in New York can resume with rapid COVID testing

Photo by Alasdair Elmes on Unsplash

January 29, 2021

Starting March 15, wedding receptions in New York can resume with rapid COVID testing

Anxious brides across the state just got some good news. Starting March 15th, wedding receptions in New York can take place with 50 percent of a venue's capacity, up to 150 people. These events will also require all guests to receive a rapid COVID test and be approved by the local health department, Governor Cuomo announced today. Currently, there is a maximum of 50 people allowed at weddings, with a six-foot distance required between guests.
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Policy

Preservationists, pols fight to save Washington Heights home with Underground Railroad ties

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. (1937). Riverside Drive, no. 857, at 159th Street, Manhattan, courtesy of the New York Public Library.

January 25, 2021

Preservationists, pols fight to save Washington Heights home with Underground Railroad ties

By Devin Gannon

Preservationists and local politicians are pushing the city to reverse their decision to not landmark a historic home with abolitionist history in Washington Heights. The two-story wood-frame home at 857 Riverside Drive in Upper Manhattan was owned by anti-slavery activist Dennis Harris who may have also been an Underground Railroad conductor. Despite a demolition permit filed by the current owner, the Landmarks Preservation Commission last November still rejected landmark status for the home because of the architectural alterations made to the original structure.
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NYC running out of COVID vaccines, reschedules 23,000 appointments

Dr. Michelle Chester of Northwell Health in Queens prepares to administer the first coronavirus vaccine in New York State; Photo: Scott Heins for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

January 20, 2021

NYC running out of COVID vaccines, reschedules 23,000 appointments

This past Friday, Mayor de Blasio began warning that New York City was likely to run out of COVID-19 vaccines in a week. And yesterday he confirmed these fears in his daily press briefing. "We will begin to run out on Thursday... And we will have literally nothing left to give as of Friday." The city did not receive any additional doses, and therefore, has cancelled 23,000 appointments and closed its 15 vaccination hubs. This comes as the state has more than 9,000 people hospitalized from the virus, the highest number since May 4.
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Policy

How Joe Biden will affect NYC’s renters, real estate, and recovery

Photo by Gage Skidmore on Flickr

January 20, 2021

How Joe Biden will affect NYC’s renters, real estate, and recovery

By Devin Gannon

After Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, his immediate focus will be getting the coronavirus pandemic under control and providing direct relief to Americans. In addition to immediate actions related to COVID-19, Biden's Day 1 housing priorities include extending the federal nationwide moratorium on residential evictions through the end of September and sending an additional $25 billion in rental assistance to states. Down the road, Biden has proposed fewer developer-friendly policies than his predecessor, including a repeal of the 1031 exchange and reform of the Opportunity Zone tax program. But overall, there is optimism among New York City real estate industry experts who see a Biden Administration as a way to restore stability and consumer confidence. With a pledge to defeat COVID-19 and send federal support to New York City, there's hope on the horizon for the city's recovery.
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