NYLS students and alumni ask Mayoral Candidate Art Chang questions about technology and policy in one of NYLS’s several mayoral candidate forums. Image Credit: CityLand

Links to watch previous events are provided below. On June 22, 2021, New York City will hold its next primary election to help determine who will be the City’s next Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate, City Council and Borough Presidents. Early voting begins on Saturday June 12th and lasts through Sunday June 20th. (read more…)

Photo Credit: NYC.gov

NOTE: This CityLaw article was previously published on CityLand on March 8, 2021 and is being reposted ahead of the NYC Primary election on June 22, 2021. For more information about the election and where to vote visit www.voting.nyc.

Registered voters in the Democratic and Republican parties will, on June 22, 2021, be asked to participate in one of the most important primary elections in New York City’s history—with an entirely new voting system. New York City’s June primary elections will be the first major test of ranked-choice voting. Rather than voting for one favored candidate to win the party nomination, voters will be asked to rank up to five candidates on the ballot in order of preference. (read more…)

161-15 Rockaway Boulevard. Image Credit: Google Maps

DOB inspector found blockage on stairwell leading to street exit. On December 3, 2019, a Department of Buildings inspector visited a construction site in an office building located at 161-15 Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. Upon examination of the second-floor jobsite, the inspector found that the landing separating the two flights of an exit stairwell was being partially blocked by large plastic containers designed to hold construction materials and refuse. The stairwell in question led to a door with an all-caps exit sign. The door led out to 145^th Road, a roadway just off the Belt Parkway. Unable to find anyone at the worksite, the inspector posted a summons on the front door of the building. (read more…)

280 Mulberry Street. Image Credit: Google Maps.

Tenant advertised apartment for transit use on Airbnb; building owner charged. On May 2, 2019, Building Inspector Botticelli, in response to a complaint, visited 280 Mulberry Street, Manhattan, owned and operated by 280 Mulberry Realty, LLC. Inspector Botticelli was given access to apartment 2E by four guests from France staying there who had gained access to the apartment by making a reservation on Airbnb.com from April 26 – May 6, 2019. The tenant of apartment 2E, Alex, had listed the apartment with Airbnb but was not present. Inspector Botticelli, in a test after his visit, made a reservation of his own from May 29th – 30th, 2019. Based on the information, Inspector Botticelli served summonses against 280 Mulberry Realty, charging the illegal conversion of apartment 2E from a permanent residence into a multi-purpose dwelling unit, and for various additional safety violations. (read more…)

13-15 Christopher Street. Image Credit: Google Maps

Tenant used property as an illegal short-term rental. On April 12, 2019, the owner purchased a single-family dwelling with a rear building at 13-15 Christopher Street in the West Village in Manhattan.  The tenant had been advertising the property on Homeaway.com, a vacation rental website owned by the Expedia Group. At the time of the purchase, the owner claimed not to have knowledge of the illegal transient use. On May 10, 2019, Buildings issued a transient use summons against the owner for the front building—a different building at the same address. Subsequently on July 3, 2019, a Department of Buildings officer observed that the owner’s rear building was occupied by six short-term guests. The officer issued four summonses to the owner charging an Aggravated I penalty for a recurring condition. (read more…)