Policy

NYC sues Trump administration over ‘unconstitutional’ housing grant conditions

Credit: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

May 5, 2025

NYC sues Trump administration over ‘unconstitutional’ housing grant conditions

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New York City, joining seven other local governments, sued the Trump administration last week over new conditions related to federal housing grants. Filed on Friday, the lawsuit challenges the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) over provisions prohibiting grant recipients from using funds for programs related to diversity, equity, "gender ideology," and immigration. The cities argue that the new conditions imposed on the HUD grants are unconstitutional and an overreach of the executive branch.
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New York to open 24/7 homeless outreach centers in subway stations

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

May 2, 2025

New York to open 24/7 homeless outreach centers in subway stations

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New York will open a network of 24-hour "welcome centers" in the subway system, where social workers will help connect homeless New Yorkers with supportive services and shelter. As first reported by Crain's, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office plans to open up to five of these facilities in subway stations to assist people struggling with mental health issues who have taken up residence in the transit system. The initiative is part of a $40 million investment in the state budget to fund outreach teams to build relationships with the unhoused and connect them with aid.
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Rent Guidelines Board backs rent hikes between 1.75% and 7.75% for NYC’s stabilized apartments

Tenants called for a rent freeze during a preliminary vote by the Rent Guidelines Board on April 30. Photo courtesy of New York State Tenant Bloc.

May 1, 2025

Rent Guidelines Board backs rent hikes between 1.75% and 7.75% for NYC’s stabilized apartments

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Rent for nearly one million rent-stabilized apartments in New York City will likely rise again, as the city's Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) backs increases for the fourth straight year. In a preliminary vote on Wednesday, the nine-member board voted 5–4 in support of rent increases, ranging between 1.75 and 4.75 percent for one-year leases and 4.75 and 7.75 percent for two-year leases. The first public hearing on the proposed increases is scheduled for May 22, with a final vote expected in late June.
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NYC makes applying for affordable housing lotteries easier

Society Brooklyn in Gowanus has 45 apartments available through the housing lottery. Credit: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

April 29, 2025

NYC makes applying for affordable housing lotteries easier

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While the odds of winning an affordable housing lottery in New York City are generally low, now, at least, the paperwork will be easier. On Monday, the Department of Housing and Preservation and Development (HPD) announced it will require fewer documents from applicants to streamline the process for both renters and agents. And starting May 1, the city will allow landlords and brokers to advertise empty affordable housing units publicly, allowing applicants to directly apply for the apartments, instead of going through the city's Housing Connect system.
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MTA to test new fare gates at 20 subway stations this fall

Credit: MTA on Flickr

April 28, 2025

MTA to test new fare gates at 20 subway stations this fall

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Fare evaders at certain subway stations will soon encounter new gates designed to stop turnstile hopping. This fall, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will begin testing four modern gates at 20 stations across New York City, featuring elements that make it much harder for commuters to jump over. The gates are part of the agency’s broader effort to curb fare evasion across the public transit system, a metric that has dropped by 30 percent on the subway from the second quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, according to the MTA.
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Related modifies Hudson Yards casino proposal to include 4,000 housing units

Renderings courtesy of Related Companies and Wynn Resorts

April 28, 2025

Related modifies Hudson Yards casino proposal to include 4,000 housing units

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Related Companies is more than doubling the number of housing units in its $12 billion Hudson Yards casino proposal ahead of an important City Council vote. After feedback from the community, the developer announced plans to replace a 1,400-foot-tall office tower with two residential buildings, which would increase the projected housing from 1,500 units to 4,000 total units on the site. As reported by Crain's, the change seeks to address critics of Related's efforts to modify the terms of a 2009 rezoning, which originally called for over 5,000 new homes on the site.
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NYC Council approves legislation regulating helicopter trips after deadly crash

Photo by SnippyHolloW on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0

April 25, 2025

NYC Council approves legislation regulating helicopter trips after deadly crash

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The New York City Council this week passed legislation regulating certain helicopter flights, two weeks after a tourist flight crashed, killing six people. Sponsored by Council Member Amanda Farías, Intro 26-A prohibits helicopters that do not meet stringent federal noise standards from operating for non-essential purposes out of city-owned heliports. The ban would take effect in 2029.
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NYC could landmark five Garment District skyscrapers ahead of Midtown South rezoning

On left: Lefcourt Clothing Center, photo by Eden, Janine, and Jim on Flickr; On right: Barbey Building and Fashion Tower, courtesy of Landmarks Preservation Commission

April 24, 2025

NYC could landmark five Garment District skyscrapers ahead of Midtown South rezoning

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Several notable skyscrapers in the Garment District are up for landmark status. The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday voted to calendar five buildings in Midtown that are architecturally notable, as well as significant to the history of the neighborhood. The potential landmarking comes as Mayor Eric Adams' plan to rezone Midtown South, which would allow for up to 10,000 new homes, enters public review.
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NYC’s plan to add 14,700 new homes to Long Island City enters public review

All images courtesy of DCP

April 22, 2025

NYC’s plan to add 14,700 new homes to Long Island City enters public review

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New York City has launched the public review for a Long Island City rezoning plan that could bring roughly 14,700 new homes to the Queens neighborhood. Certified by the Department of City Planning on Monday, the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan looks to rezone a 54-block stretch along the waterfront that has largely remained industrial to allow for more homes, including at least 4,000 income-restricted units. The proposal would mark the most housing units created from a rezoning in 25 years, according to the city.
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Trump threatens federal funds for NYC transportation projects over congestion pricing

Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash

April 22, 2025

Trump threatens federal funds for NYC transportation projects over congestion pricing

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President Donald Trump's administration ramped up its threats to New York and set a new deadline to end congestion pricing over the weekend. In a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the state needs to end New York City's congestion pricing program or risk losing federal funding for transportation projects. Duffy's letter came one day after his previous April 20 deadline to stop the program; Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have said the tolls will continue until a judge rules otherwise.
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NYC suspends most composting fines just weeks after enforcement began

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 21, 2025

NYC suspends most composting fines just weeks after enforcement began

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Just a few weeks after fines began for buildings failing to comply with the composting program, New York City is temporarily changing the rules. Curbside composting became mandatory in October, but enforcement didn't begin until April 1. Now, as Hell Gate reported, the city will only fine buildings with more than 30 units that get more than four warnings from the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), letting a majority of buildings off the hook through the end of the year.
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Trump administration says it will take over Penn Station reconstruction project from MTA

Penn Station 33rd Street entrance. Photo courtesy of D. Benjamin Miller on Wikimedia Commons

April 17, 2025

Trump administration says it will take over Penn Station reconstruction project from MTA

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President Donald Trump's administration said it was taking over the reconstruction of Penn Station from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Gov. Kathy Hochul. In a statement released on Thursday, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that Amtrak, which owns Penn Station, would spearhead the overhaul instead of the state agency.
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Amtrak, NJ Transit reveal progress in fixing equipment that caused outages last summer

Credit: David Wilson on Flickr

April 16, 2025

Amtrak, NJ Transit reveal progress in fixing equipment that caused outages last summer

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Amtrak and NJ Transit say they’re making significant progress on infrastructure improvements to avoid the breakdowns and delays that plagued the rail lines last summer. At a working summit on Tuesday, rail officials announced that more than $12 million in upgrades and repairs have been completed, including the inspection and repair of overhead wires that power both rail companies’ trains. The improvements target key "hot spots" near Penn Station and in Secaucus, New Jersey, where trains frequently break down.
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Under new NYC law, charging an illegal broker fee could result in $750 fine

Photo by Daryan Shamkhali on Unsplash

April 16, 2025

Under new NYC law, charging an illegal broker fee could result in $750 fine

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When a new city law banning forced broker fees takes effect this June, landlords and brokers who charge tenants a fee could face fines starting at $750. As first reported by Crain's, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) on Monday proposed penalties for violating the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act, which was passed by the City Council last year and shifts the payment of broker fees to the party who hired the real estate agent. The law is set to take effect June 11, unless a lawsuit by a real estate lobbying group blocks implementation.
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Forest Hills Stadium summer concerts back on following deal with residents

Photo courtesy of Chris Lavado

April 15, 2025

Forest Hills Stadium summer concerts back on following deal with residents

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The shows at Forest Hills Stadium will go on this season, as neighborhood residents and venue officials have reached a deal in their long-running dispute. On Monday, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced that Tiebreaker Productions, the stadium's concert partner, has agreed to hire private security to patrol the privately owned streets around the venue—satisfying demands from the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation (FHGC), which in March blocked the city from accessing those roads. Last month, the venue had reportedly been denied amplification permits, putting the entire concert season at risk.
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City Planning Commission advances $12B Hudson Yards casino plan

Renderings courtesy of Related Companies and Wynn Resorts

April 14, 2025

City Planning Commission advances $12B Hudson Yards casino plan

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A $12 billion proposal to bring a casino complex to Hudson Yards just cleared a key step in the approval process. On Wednesday, the City Planning Commission (CPC) voted 9-2 to advance Related Companies and Wynn Resorts' "Hudson Yards West" plan, which calls for a resort and casino, a 5.6-acre public park, a public school, office space, and hundreds of new affordable homes atop the site’s undeveloped western rail yards. The proposal seeks to amend a 2009 plan that envisioned a primarily residential neighborhood with more than 5,000 new homes—a figure that has since been reduced to just over 1,500.
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NYC helicopter company shuts down after deadly Hudson River crash

The National Transportation Safety Board team surveyed the wreckage recovered from the Bell 206 L-4 helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River on April 10 near Jersey City. Photo via NTSB on Flickr

April 14, 2025

NYC helicopter company shuts down after deadly Hudson River crash

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The New York City helicopter company involved in the deadly crash on the Hudson River last week is shutting down immediately. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Sunday announced that New York Helicopter Tours will cease operations after a helicopter operated by the company rapidly descended into the river on Thursday, killing all six people on board.
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NYPD to launch unit targeting ‘quality-of-life’ issues

Photo Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 11, 2025

NYPD to launch unit targeting ‘quality-of-life’ issues

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A new NYPD division focused on quality-of-life issues like illegal parking, noise complaints, and homeless encampments will begin work across New York City next week. Starting Monday, the new units, called "Q Teams," will begin work in five precincts and a public housing development, covering neighborhoods like the South Bronx, Far Rockaway, Coney Island, Union Square, and East New York. Officers will respond to a growing number of 311 complaints, even as major crime declines. Some New Yorkers fear the units will unfairly target low-income communities, drawing comparisons to Giuliani-era street crime squads that harassed Black and Latino men, as the New York Times reported.
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Saks Fifth Avenue drops casino proposal

Image courtesy of Warren LeMay on Flickr

April 11, 2025

Saks Fifth Avenue drops casino proposal

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Saks Fifth Avenue has folded its bid for a gaming license, ending the company's plan of adding a casino atop its Midtown flagship store. As first reported by Crain's, the department store withdrew its bid for one of three coveted downstate gaming licenses expected to be awarded by the end of the year, with a Saks spokesperson saying the company is now "focused on other strategic priorities." In recent months, minimal communication between Saks’ parent company, Saks Global, and those involved in the casino process had suggested that the retailer was abandoning its proposal.
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Council approves bill to double number of public bathrooms in NYC

The Beaux Arts-style public bathroom in Bryant Park is one of the city’s nicest. Photo by SnowFire via Wikimedia Commons.

April 11, 2025

Council approves bill to double number of public bathrooms in NYC

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Finding a public bathroom in New York City may get a bit easier, thanks to new legislation passed this week. The City Council on Thursday voted to approve a bill expanding public restroom access across the five boroughs by doubling the current number of facilities from roughly 1,100 to 2,120 over the next decade. NYC currently has among the fewest public restrooms per capita in the country, with around one bathroom for every 7,800 residents. Proponents of the legislation aim to raise that number to one restroom for every 2,000 residents.
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Tenant group pushes for rent freeze for NYC’s stabilized apartments

New York State Tenant Bloc launched in January to counter the real estate lobby. Photo courtesy of New York State Tenant Bloc

April 10, 2025

Tenant group pushes for rent freeze for NYC’s stabilized apartments

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Tenant advocates are pushing for a rent freeze for New York City's one million stabilized apartments as new data shows that landlords' income has increased as renters continue to struggle with the rising cost of living. The Rent Guidelines Board officially kicked off its annual review of economic conditions for both landlords and tenants to determine adjustments for rent-stabilized apartments. In 2024, the board voted to raise rent for the third consecutive year.
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NYC seizes building from negligent landlord for first time in seven years

Streetview of 2205 Davidson Avenue, Map data © 2024 Google

April 10, 2025

NYC seizes building from negligent landlord for first time in seven years

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New York City has taken ownership of a building from a negligent landlord for the first time in over seven years. After a decade of organizing by tenants against landlord David Kornitzer, the city has foreclosed on the 49-unit building at 2201–2205 Davidson Avenue in the University Heights section of the Bronx, as first reported by Gothamist. Kornitzer had racked up numerous housing violations and financial penalties, owing the city $28 million in back taxes, emergency repairs, and other fees as of February.
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Trump cancels $325M in disaster prevention funds for New York

East Elmhurst, Queens, was flooded by torrential rains brought on by Hurricane Ida in 2021. Photo by Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of the Governor on Flickr

April 8, 2025

Trump cancels $325M in disaster prevention funds for New York

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Projects that would protect vulnerable New York City neighborhoods from flooding and intense storms are at risk after President Donald Trump's administration announced plans to cut federal funding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) canceled more than $325 million in grants to New York State that would go toward critical infrastructure and community resilience projects, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. A majority of the projects impacted are designed to help New York City prepare for weather disasters like flooding and extreme rainfall.
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NYC’s congestion pricing could continue into the fall

Credit: Jorge Ramírez on Unsplash

April 8, 2025

NYC’s congestion pricing could continue into the fall

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President Donald Trump's administration and New York transit officials reached a deal to allow the city’s congestion pricing program to continue until at least mid-summer and likely through the fall, according to new court filings. Both parties will present their arguments under a newly determined timeline expected to extend until at least October as part of a lawsuit filed by the MTA against the federal government. The Trump administration originally gave the state until March 21 to end the program but granted a 30-day extension one day before the deadline.
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NYC metro area could lose 80,000 homes to flooding by 2040

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

April 7, 2025

NYC metro area could lose 80,000 homes to flooding by 2040

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More than 80,000 homes in New York City’s low-lying neighborhoods and surrounding suburbs are at risk of being lost to flooding in the next 15 years, according to a new report. Released Monday by the Regional Plan Association (RPA), the report warns that the region's housing shortage could reach 1.2 million homes by 2040, as heightened flood risks render large portions of land across the five boroughs undevelopable. While Long Island is projected to face the most significant impact overall, waterfront neighborhoods in southeast Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island are among the most vulnerable.
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