Street cuts in Staten Island. Image credit: Staten Island USA.
Street cuts are still a problem in City streets undermining repaving efforts. On July 27, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a pilot program to prevent so-called “street cuts” on freshly paved streets. The pilot will mandate interagency cooperation and coordination to prevent fresh asphalt being marred with street cuts. According to Staten Island USA, street cuts are the name given to the patch job done in the wake of underground work performed by developers, plumbing contractors, gas and electric utilities, cable operators and other entities that wish to, or need to work below the streets. The announcement follows the “Pave Baby Pave” campaign launched in 2014 that has helped repave many City streets. (read more…)
Image credit: Department of Homeless Services.
Old rental assistance programs will be combined into one. On July 18, 2018, the de Blasio Administration announced the new City Fighting Homelessness & Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) program, which will replace the Living in Communities, the Special Exit and Prevention Supplement, and the City Family Eviction Prevention and Exit Plan Supplements programs, creating one unified rental assistance program. The new CityFHEPS program will simplify the rental assistance process making it easier for New Yorkers in need to get back on their feet and remain in their homes. The new program will also give landlords a simpler process to participate. The proposed rule was published for public comment on Friday, July 20, 2018. (read more…)
Rendering of new 40th Precinct Station House. Image credit: Mayor’s Office.
New NYPD facility hopes to bring the community and the police department together. On July 10, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the start of construction for the new state-of-the-art facility for the 40th Precinct Station House. The new precinct will be located at 567 East 149th Street, at the corner of St. Anne’s Avenue in the South Bronx. The project will cost $68 million and is projected to be completed in spring 2021. The 40th Precinct Station House was designed by a firm in the Department of Design and Construction’s Design and Construction Excellence program. (read more…)
Image credit: New York City Council.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council, in creating competing charter revision commissions, avoided endorsing the central reason why the City could benefit from charter revision: ending term limits for council members. Term limits arguably may have had a healthy impact on the mayoralty, but not so with the council. Two four-year terms for council members resulted in instability of council membership and leadership and a lack of institutional discipline that has produced a council weaker than it should be. (read more…)
Mayor Bill de Blasio holds a press conference on the future of NYCHA in the Blue Room at City Hall on Monday, June 11, 2018. Image credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
Consent decree seeks to create a common game plan to funding to ameliorate problems at the New York City Housing Authority. Public housing has been under the public eye in the last few years due to allegations of mismanagement from its leadership. On June 11, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference on the future of public housing in New York City. The Mayor announced that the City agreed to a settlement, memorialized in a consent decree, with the Manhattan United States Attorney to provide funds and allow federal monitoring for the improvement of the safety and quality of life of NYCHA residents. (read more…)
