by Jeff Wice & Alexis Marking
REDISTRICTING
Onondaga County: County Legislative Map Challenge Moves To Trial
Background: After months of delay, the challenge to the 2021 Onondaga County legislature’s redistricting map is finally moving to trial later this month. In Ryan et al v. McMahon, the plaintiffs are challenging the GOP-drawn map over violations of the new criteria included in the state Municipal Home Rule Law.
In the litigation, the county defendants … <Read More>
By Jeff Wice and Alexis Marking
EARLY VOTING
N.Y.S. Court of Appeals to Hear Early Voting Challenge Appeal Tomorrow
The state’s highest court will hear arguments tomorrow at 11:00 AM in Stefanik v. Hochul, an appeal challenging the state’s new law permitting voters to mail-in their ballots during the early voting periods. You can watch the oral arguments here: https://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/live.html
BALLOT PROPOSALS
Equal Rights Amendment Back on New York’s November Ballot
On Tuesday, … <Read More>
General contractor with riggers license violated multiple Building Code provisions on construction job where worker fell from unpermitted scaffolding. Wayne Bellet contracted to perform brick façade work on a six-story building located at 880 St. Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. Bellet commenced the brick façade work after his subcontractor constructed a 50-foot-tall supported scaffold and Bellet. On June 22, 2019, a worker fell off the supported scaffold at the location and died.
Two condominiums adjacent to Franklin Place, a mid-block alley in lower Manhattan, asked that Franklin Place be designated as a fire apparatus access road in order to prohibit parking next to condominiums. The Franklin Place Condominium, joined by the 55 White Street Condominium, filed an article 78 petition seeking to compel the New York City Fire Department to declare Franklin Street a fire apparatus access road and to install “No Parking” signs. Franklin Place is … <Read More>
The Department of Education refused to renew a Universal P-K contract due to health and safety violations. The New York City Department of Education contracted with the Modern Organization & Human Development Center to provide Universal Pre-K services at 4718 Farragut Road, in Brooklyn.
Loft occupant moved out prior to applying for protected status. Frank Hughes was a resident at 401 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, a commercial building with several residential units. In 2012, Hughes and other residents of the building applied to the New York City Loft Board for Loft Law occupant protection status, which referred the applications for an OATH hearing. The 401 Wythe Avenue residents sought Loft Law status because lofts in split commercial/residential buildings … <Read More>