Policy

NYC will legalize e-bikes and e-scooters

Photo by Thomas Loizeau on Unsplash

June 26, 2020

NYC will legalize e-bikes and e-scooters

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The New York City Council voted on Thursday to legalize electric bikes and scooters citywide and create a pilot program that would bring a shared e-scooter program to neighborhoods underserved by public transit. State lawmakers approved the legalization of e-bikes and e-scooters statewide in April, leaving the decision to local officials on how to regulate the vehicles.
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Crown Heights subway stations to be renamed in honor of Civil Rights icon Medgar Evers

Photo of Franklin Avenue Station © 6sqft

June 25, 2020

Crown Heights subway stations to be renamed in honor of Civil Rights icon Medgar Evers

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Two subway stations in Brooklyn will be renamed after Medgar Evers College and the Civil Rights activist for whom the historic black college is named. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced that Franklin Avenue and President Street stations in Crown Heights will formally be renamed this fall, with MTA maps and signage updated this summer. The new stations--Franklin Avenue-Medgar Evers College and President Street-Medgar Evers College--aim to honor the contributions of the institution ahead of its 50th anniversary.
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New York reopening guide: What’s open and what you need to know

Photo by Victor He on Unsplash

June 24, 2020

New York reopening guide: What’s open and what you need to know

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In early May, Governor Cuomo revealed that businesses across New York would reopen in four phases. He divided the state into 10 regions and created seven metrics that would determine when a region could begin the process. As of Monday, New York City finally entered phase two, which permits outdoor dining, in-store retail, hair salons, playgrounds, and more. To help make all the transitions a bit easier, we've put together a guide that breaks down what exactly is being monitored to determine reopening, what businesses are allowed to reopen in each phase, and other important info like transportation and testing.
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NYC beaches will open for swimming July 1

Photo of Coney Island by Dan DeLuca on Flickr

June 24, 2020

NYC beaches will open for swimming July 1

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Swimming will be allowed at New York City beaches starting July 1, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday. Although Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the green light for state beaches to reopen last month in time for Memorial Day Weekend, the mayor had said the city was "just not ready" to handle the crowds of beachgoers, particularly on public transit. But with the city now in phase two of reopening, the ocean is no longer off-limits, as the Wall Street Journal first reported.
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New Jersey will open indoor dining and outdoor amusement parks ahead of July 4th weekend

Photo of the Seaside Heights boardwalk by SurFeRGiRL30 via Flickr cc

June 23, 2020

New Jersey will open indoor dining and outdoor amusement parks ahead of July 4th weekend

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Yesterday, Governor Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey will allow indoor dining and casinos to begin operating at 25-percent capacity on July 2. Today, he said on Twitter that outdoor amusement parks, including rides on the boardwalk, and outdoor water parks, can open on this date with 50-percent capacity. Playgrounds can reopen with no limitations. The governor's decision comes after he allowed beaches to open ahead of Memorial Day Weekend and restaurants to open for outdoor dining on June 15, but some are concerned about taking the next step prior to the busy July 4 weekend.
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NYC creates a task force to crack down on illegal fireworks

Photo by Alexander Kagan on Unsplash

June 23, 2020

NYC creates a task force to crack down on illegal fireworks

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"It is not just a quality of life problem and a noise problem," said Mayor de Blasio in his press conference this morning, discussing the issue of illegal fireworks, "but it can also be dangerous." For these reasons and after a protest outside Gracie Mansion last night, he announced that the city has created an illegal fireworks task force, which will consist of members of the Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the FDNY, and the NYPD, all of whom will "go to the root cause" of the problem, which is those who are selling and profiting from the fireworks. As the New York Times reported over the weekend, the city is currently receiving 80 times as many firework complaints than usual.
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Manida Street in the Bronx becomes NYC’s 150th historic district

Streetview of 842 Manida Avenue, Map data © 2020 Google

June 23, 2020

Manida Street in the Bronx becomes NYC’s 150th historic district

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The Bronx has gained a new historic district, making it the 150th district to be landmarked in New York City. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the Manida Street Historic, a block of semi-attached brick homes in Hunts Points. Residents first pushed for the South Bronx street to be recognized in 2010, as development began to accelerate in the neighborhood. "This gem of a district is a complete district that still exists and is not only a reminder of the 20th-century residential development of the South Bronx, but it’s also a reflection and testament to the commitment of its current community," LPC Chair Sarah Carroll said on Tuesday.
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Macy’s July 4th fireworks will last for three days across NYC

Photo by John Saeyong Ra via Flickr cc

June 23, 2020

Macy’s July 4th fireworks will last for three days across NYC

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After Macy's announced yesterday that their annual July 4th Fireworks display in NYC would go on despite the pandemic, headlined by John Legend, Mayor de Blasio said in his press conference today that the show will take on a new life this year. There will be five-minute "brief but mighty" bursts of fireworks throughout the five boroughs from June 29th through July 1st, culminating in a finale on Saturday, July 4th, which will be televised from the top of the Empire State Building. On their website, Macy's says they "expect to announce details of the reimagined event soon."
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Theodore Roosevelt statue will be removed from NYC’s Museum of Natural History

Photo by Mike Steele on Flickr

June 22, 2020

Theodore Roosevelt statue will be removed from NYC’s Museum of Natural History

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A statue of Theodore Roosevelt that depicts the former president on horseback flanked by a Native American man and an African man will be removed from the steps of the American Museum of Natural History, officials announced on Sunday. The decision to take down the statue, which local activists have requested for years, comes as a renewed discourse about racism and racist symbols continues to grow across the country following the death of George Floyd last month.
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Here are the five NYC streets getting a ‘Black Lives Matter’ mural

Photo by Anthony Quintano on Flickr

June 19, 2020

Here are the five NYC streets getting a ‘Black Lives Matter’ mural

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Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday unveiled the five streets that will be painted with a "Black Lives Matter" mural. The large artwork will be designed along Centre Street in Manhattan, Richmond Terrace on Staten Island, Joralemon Street in Brooklyn, 153rd Street in Queens, and Morris Avenue in the Bronx. Earlier this month, the mayor said the streets will also be renamed after the movement, in addition to the street painting. A similar mural dedicated to Black Lives Matter was painted on Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy last weekend.
Details here
New York bars violating reopening rules could lose liquor license or be forced to close, under new order

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

June 18, 2020

New York bars violating reopening rules could lose liquor license or be forced to close, under new order

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Any New York bar or restaurant found to be in violation of the state's reopening rules could now immediately lose their liquor license or be forced to shut down. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday signed two executive orders that would allow for officials to revoke liquor licenses if state guidelines are not followed. The governor's second executive order holds bars responsible for the area in front of their establishment. The mandates come after Cuomo said he would reverse the reopening of some regions if the state's guidelines were not followed. According to the governor, more than 25,000 complaints about businesses in violation of the reopening plan have been filed statewide since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with a majority of grievances made about restaurants and bars in Manhattan and in the Hamptons.
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NYC reveals outdoor dining plan ahead of Monday’s phase two reopening

Photo by Krisztina Papp on Unsplash

June 18, 2020

NYC reveals outdoor dining plan ahead of Monday’s phase two reopening

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New York City is officially entering phase two of reopening on Monday. The news has led to questioning of the de Blasio administration as to their plan for outdoor dining, with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and others rallying for immediate action yesterday. In his press conference on Thursday, the mayor laid out details of the city's Open Restaurants program that will allow restaurants to set up sidewalk seating and curb lane seating, convert adjacent parking spots into seating, utilize plaza seating through Business Improvement Districts, and, come July, add seating areas on streets currently closed to cars.
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NYC freezes rent for stabilized apartments

Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash

June 18, 2020

NYC freezes rent for stabilized apartments

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The Rent Guidelines Board on Wednesday voted to freeze rents for one year for rent-regulated apartments, offering tenants temporary relief in the current economic recession caused by the coronavirus. The nine-member board approved a measure that freezes rent for one-year leases and for the first year of two-year leases, which can increase 1 percent during the second year.
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NYC is ready to enter phase two on Monday
June 17, 2020

NYC is ready to enter phase two on Monday

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With this Sunday marks 14 days since New York City entered its first phase of reopening, the question posed to Mayor de Blasio has been whether or not the city will enter phase two this coming Monday. In his press conference this morning, the mayor said he believes it's more likely to occur in early July, as he wants to monitor the COVID testing rates in light of recent protests. However, in a press conference just a couple hours later, Governor Cuomo said the city will enter phase two on Monday. "The same metrics we use in New York City are the same metrics we've used in every region across the state, and they have all shown to be accurate and effective. We don't change the rules for New York City," he said, adding that the purpose of a phased approach is to allow local governments "to get their acts together."
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New York’s latest COVID antibody survey shows a rise in the Bronx and minority communities

Image by Scientific Animations via Wikimedia Commons

June 16, 2020

New York’s latest COVID antibody survey shows a rise in the Bronx and minority communities

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Today, Governor Cuomo released the results of the state's second-phase COVID antibody test, which randomly surveyed 12,000 people between May 1 and June 13. When the survey commenced, 12.3% of New York residents tested positive, compared with 13.4% on Saturday. The new results are more telling, however, when it comes to disparities in New York City. Though overall there was only a 1.6% increase (19.9% to 21.6%), the Bronx increased by 5% and Brooklyn and Queens by 2.1%. There are also disparities when it comes to race, as the Black and Latino/Hispanic communities have seen increases of 3.4% and 5% respectively.
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NYC rolls out revamped affordable housing lottery system

Photo by Emiliano Bar on Unsplash 

June 16, 2020

NYC rolls out revamped affordable housing lottery system

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New York City's highly competitive online affordable housing lottery system is getting a revamp to make applying for the income-restricted apartments easier. The city's Housing Preservation and Development on Tuesday rolled out a new web portal that aims to be more user-friendly, allowing applicants to view available lotteries on their smartphones and upload required documents online.
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Seven New York regions will be in phase 3 this week, gatherings of up to 25 now allowed

Slide from Governor Cuomo’s 6.15.20 press presentation

June 15, 2020

Seven New York regions will be in phase 3 this week, gatherings of up to 25 now allowed

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Last week, five New York regions entered phase three of reopening, which includes indoor dining and personal care services such as nail salons, tattoo parlors, and massage parlors. In addition to the North Country, Mohawk Valley, Central New York, Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier, Governor Cuomo announced today that Western New York will enter phase three tomorrow and the Capital Region on Wednesday. He also modified phase three to increase gatherings from 10 to 25 people.
More details here

Photo by Daniel Lee on Unsplash 

June 11, 2020

Ahead of city’s phase two of reopening, REBNY releases safety guidelines for real estate brokers

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As New York City looks ahead to phase two of reopening, the city's leading real estate trade group released this week safety recommendations for brokers to follow when conducting deals. Following public health protocols, the six guidelines created by the Real Estate Board of New York encourage face masks and social distancing, virtual preliminary meetings, appointment-only showings, and electronic contracts. Plus, REBNY created a COVID-19 screening questionnaire for all parties attending in-person showings to sign.
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New York’s first guidelines for indoor dining include 50% capacity

Photo by Mike Von on Unsplash

June 11, 2020

New York’s first guidelines for indoor dining include 50% capacity

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As it currently stands, restaurants in New York are allowed to reopen for outdoor dining in phase two, which will likely occur in early July in the city, and for indoor dining in phase three, which probably won't be any sooner than late July. In his press conference yesterday, Governor Cuomo laid out the first guidelines for indoor dining. Most notably, and expectedly, they include a 50-percent occupancy limit and rules for table spacing and table barriers.
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NYC to launch new mobile COVID-19 testing program

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

June 5, 2020

NYC to launch new mobile COVID-19 testing program

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Getting tested for the coronavirus in New York City is about to get easier. Starting next week, the city will launch a mobile testing program that will bring testing "trucks" to different neighborhoods, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday. The news comes after the city expanded free COVID-19 testing for all New Yorkers, a part of the Test and Trace Corps that kicked off this week ahead of the city's phase one reopening on Monday.
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MTA calls on NYC to add 60 miles of bus lanes as city reopens

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

June 5, 2020

MTA calls on NYC to add 60 miles of bus lanes as city reopens

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With up to 400,000 New Yorkers expected to return to the workforce under the city's phase one reopening on Monday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to add 60 miles of dedicated bus lanes to alleviate crowding. In a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Sarah Feinberg, interim president of NYC Transit, wrote a "robust bus system will be crucial" for the city's rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
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All New York regions other than NYC will be in phase two of reopening next week

An aerial view of Buffalo, NY, part of the Western region. Photo by formulanone via Wikimedia Commons.

June 5, 2020

All New York regions other than NYC will be in phase two of reopening next week

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As of Wednesday, seven of New York's 10 designated regions were in phase two of the state's four-part reopening plan--Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier, Western New York (the Buffalo area), and the Capital Region. And yesterday, Governor Cuomo announced that the Mid-Hudson Valley is on track to enter phase two on Tuesday, June 9th and Long Island on Wednesday, June 10th. With state guidelines and social distancing measures in place, this allows office-based workers, real estate services, in-store retail shopping, outdoor dining, and some barbershop services to resume.
More details here
MTA says de Blasio’s subway plan would only serve 8 percent of riders

Photo: Patrick Cashin / MTA New York City Transit

June 4, 2020

MTA says de Blasio’s subway plan would only serve 8 percent of riders

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As the city prepares to enter phase one of reopening on Monday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority released this week its plan to return to "regular" service, which no longer means 24-hour service. Subways and buses will run more frequently starting next week, but the subway system will still shut down between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. for nightly disinfection. Mayor Bill de Blasio this week also released a plan for transit that calls for capacity limits and blocking off every other seat. But the MTA called the mayor's idea "utterly unworkable" and said his proposed capacity limits would allow the agency to serve just 8 percent of riders.
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New York restaurants can open for outdoor dining during phase two of reopening

Photo via Flickr cc

June 3, 2020

New York restaurants can open for outdoor dining during phase two of reopening

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With seven of 10 regions across the state now in phase two of the reopening plan, Governor Cuomo announced today that he was adding outdoor dining at restaurants to the list of businesses and operations allowed during this second stage. Restaurants in these regions can begin this tomorrow June 4th, as long as outdoor tables are spaced six feet apart, all staff wear face coverings, and customers also wear face coverings when not seated.
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