Professor Annette Gordon-Reed, speaking at the 169th CityLaw Breakfast. Image Credit: CityLand

Annette Gordon-Reed, our friend and colleague for 17 years at New York Law School, has just published On Juneteenth (Liveright 2021), a personal and readable story of her growing up in Texas in the 1970’s.  Gordon-Reed grew up in Conroe, Texas where her family regularly celebrated Juneteenth. Gordon-Reed was the first Black child to integrate a White elementary school in her city. Through her personal story Gordon-Reed annotates and re-calibrates the conventional story of slavery in the United States, and the history of Texas as taught in her public school and as portrayed in novels and movies.

Riders use the new bike path on the Brooklyn Bridge. Image Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

The new bike lane is the first reconfiguration of the Brooklyn Bridge since 1950. On September 14, 2021, the new two-way protected bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge was completed and open for use. The new bike lane provides protection for cyclists and pedestrians, who now have exclusive access to the promenade where the bike lane previously was located. For CityLand’s prior coverage of this project, click here. 

Image credit: New York City Council.

The bill furthers the City’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions citywide. On August 26, 2021, the City Council voted to approve a bill that requires the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to report the greenhouse gas emissions for NYCHA’s buildings. Int. 2283-A, sponsored by Council Member Helen Rosenthal, aims to promote transparency and further the City’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions citywide. The bill helps strengthen the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions established in Local Law 97 of 2019, which established greenhouse gas emission limits for existing buildings.

Image Credit: NYC DOB.

Violations for illegal conversions or violations associated with injury or death will not qualify. On September 1, 2021, the Department of Buildings announced the first homeowner relief program in New York City to help property owners of one- and two-family houses. The program’s goal is to help small property owners avoid fines by giving them time to fix DOB violations. The program has education initiatives for homeowners about their legal requirements as property owners without imposing large fines.

Image Credit: NYC DOT.

On February 3, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Hank Gutman as the new Commissioner of the Department of Transportation. With only eleven months left in the de Blasio Administration, Gutman has set ambitious goals. His past experiences make it likely that he will achieve his goals.

Michael Arad speaking at the 173rd CityLaw Breakfast. Image Credit: CityLand.

Today, September 10, 2021, Michael Arad, the Lead Designer of the 9/11 Memorial, spoke at the 173rd CityLaw Breakfast. Mr. Arad spoke on “the Design and Construction of the National 9/11 Memorial: Absence and Loss in the Life of New York City.” Professor Ross Sandler, Director of the Center for New York City Law, provided opening remarks, and Dean Anthony W. Crowell participated in a discussion with Mr. Arad after his talk. This Breakfast was sponsored by ConEdison, Greenberg Traurig, and Verizon. This was the seventh virtual CityLaw Breakfast as in-person events are not feasible at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.