Mayor Adams Signs Two Economic Recovery Bills

The two City Council measures will create a small business portal and require additional commercial property registration, respectively. On October 18, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams signed two bills, Intro 116 and Intro 383, to promote the city’s economic recovery. Intro 116 will help small business owners with City administrative needs and Intro 383 provides the city with more data about the extent of commercial vacancies citywide.


City Planning Commission Votes to Approve City of Yes for Economic Opportunity Amendment

On March 6, 2024, the City Planning Commission voted to approve the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity zoning text amendment. The amendment, the second of Mayor Eric Adams’ three City of Yes proposals, is a collection of eighteen changes to the zoning text designed to remove obstacles for small businesses looking to expand and create more vibrant streetscapes. 


Study Finds 2022 Fifth Avenue Holiday Open Streets an Economic Success

On October 10, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the ‘Open Streets’ holiday initiative along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan last holiday season was an economic success. During the initiative, the Department of Transportation and the Fifth Avenue Association created pedestrianized stretches of Fifth Avenue, Sixth Avenue, West 49th Street, and West 50th Street between 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm on select Sundays in December.


Mayor and City Planning Unveil Details for City of Yes for Economic Opportunity Zoning Text Amendment

The amendment is the second of three proposed zoning text amendments from Mayor Adams designed to address outdated zoning issues. On June 14, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of City Planning Director and City Planning Commission Chair Dan Garodnick revealed the “City of Yes for Economic Opportunity” zoning text amendment. The proposed amendment is part of Mayor Adams’ City of Yes zoning text amendments to modernize the zoning text and remove burdensome outdated provisions <Read More>


“Streets for Recovery” Report Details Success of Outdoor Dining on Open Streets

The report uses data aggregated by Department of Finance to highlight the economic benefits of open streets laws. On October 25, 2022, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the release of Streets for Recovery, a report on Open Streets policy developed in collaboration with Bloomberg Associates. This first-in-the-nation report uses Department of Finance data to highlight the economic benefits of Open Streets during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Zoning for Economic Opportunity Aims to Remove Zoning Obstacles for Certain Types of Businesses

On Wednesday, June 1, Mayor Eric Adams outlined his, City of Yes initiative. This initiative is the next phase of his, Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent,” plan to stimulate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. “City of Yes,” is built around a series of three as-yet-unwritten zoning text amendments to modernize and simplify zoning resolutions to encourage business growth, stimulate housing creation, and reduce the city’s carbon footprint.