Mayor Bill de Blasio signing legislation into law with Council Member Jumaane Williams standing to his right. Image credit: The Office of Council Member Jumaane Williams

New York City Council Member and Deputy Leader Jumaane Williams sponsored both bills, which were signed alongside a green building construction bill sponsored by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.  On March 28, 2016, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law two major pieces of legislation, sponsored by New York City Council Member and Deputy Leader Jumaane Williams, respectively titled the Domestic Violence Housing Discrimination Ban and the Green Construction bills. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito sponsored a bill aimed at increasing eco-friendly, City-owned buildings, which was signed on the same day at Council Member Williams’ bills.

The Domestic Violence Housing Discrimination Ban—Intro 832-A—prohibits landlord, real estate agents, and others engaged in the housing market to refuse to sell, rent, lease, or otherwise provide housing accommodations to a person on the basis of his or her status as a domestic violence, stalking, or sex offense victim, regardless of whether such victimization is actual or perceived.  The Ban amends the New York City Human Rights Law, which is one of the most expansive municipal Human Rights code in the Nation. The Ban addresses on a local level a widespread issue currently facing cities and states across the country, as 11 percent of evictions nation-wide are driven by discriminatory purposes against domestic violence victims.

The Green Construction bill—Intro 721-A—revises the City’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, green building standards, by updating the mandatory minimum energy efficiency levels for certain types of capital projects. The Green Construction bill raises the mandatory LEED level from a version three level of Certified or Silver to a version four level of Gold.  Additionally, the bill provides for stronger reporting requirements and more expansive certification requirements.

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito sponsored a bill—Intro 701-A—signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio alongside the two sponsored by Council Member Williams, which mandates the design and construction of City-owned buildings meet higher energy-reduction target levels.  The bill regulates equally the construction of new buildings, additions built onto existing buildings, and substantial reconstruction work done on existing buildings where the building envelope is substantially affected.

Council Member and Deputy Leader Jumaane Williams characterized his Domestic Violence Housing Discrimination Ban as furthering the City’s “responsibility” to protect these victims.  “Too often, victims of domestic violence are evicted or prevented from renting apartments simply because they have been abused – this is not only wrong, it’s horrifying,” said Council Member Williams.

Council Member Williams, who is also the Chair of the City Council Housing and Buildings Committee, noted the City’s “need to grapple with the increasing amount of new construction as climate change worsens.”  “Now, city-owned buildings will be required to meet stricter, expanded green building standards,” said Council Member Williams.

City Council: Intro 832-A, Intro 701-A, Intro 721-A (March 28, 2016).

By: Jessica Soultanian-Braunstein (Jessica is the CityLaw Fellow and a New York Law School Graduate, Class of 2015)