Image Credit: Small Business Services

New federal relief funds are available for minority-owned, female-owned, and other small businesses. On January 13, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Jonnel Doris launched Fair Share NYC. The campaign aims to support small businesses and to keep thousands of New Yorkers employed by connecting small business owners to federal relief funds.

Image credit: NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.

The entrances are part of a $40 million series of park improvement projects citywide. On January 27, 2021, the Parks Department cut the ribbon on two new completed entrances to Prospect Park along Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The new entrances are the first additional entrances added to Prospect Park since the 1940’s. NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been, Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo, Council Member Brad Lander, NY State Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon and Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue were present. 

Part of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, one of the four recipients of grants from the city. Image Credit: Google Maps

Four New York City leading scientific research facilities are receiving infrastructure grants to advance innovation and public health. On January 21, 2021, Mayor de Blasio announced that Columbia University, Montefiore-Einstein, the New York Stem Cell Foundation, and Rockefeller University are the four winners of $38 million in infrastructure grants for research and development departments. These grants come as a part of LifeSci NYC, a $500 million project with the goal of establishing New York City as a public health capital.

Holyrood Episcopal Church-Iglesia Santa Cruz, one of the three sites calendared by LPC on January 19th. Image Credit: LPC

The Equity Framework aims to increase diversity in New York’s landmarks and work within the Landmarks Preservation Commission. On January 19, 2021, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar three sites for designation as part of the agency’s launch of an equity framework designed to better represent New York City’s diversity and underrepresented populations. The three sites calendared for proposed designation are the Conference House Park Archeological Site in Tottenville, Staten Island, the Holyrood Episcopal Church-Iglesia Santa Cruz in Washington Heights, Manhattan, and 70 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. They are all cultural or historic sites that represent different populations across New York’s history.

Mayor Bill de Blasio. Image credit: CityLand

The fund currently has $210 million in lendable proceeds. On January 21, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio, along with the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Housing Development Corporation, Enterprise Community Partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and a coalition of public, private and philanthropic partners announced that the New York City Acquisition Fund (NYCAF) will exclusively serve Minority and Women-Owned Businesses (M/WBEs) and nonprofits to support affordable and supportive housing development. 

Bensonhurst Park Playground. Image Credit: NYC Parks/ Daniel Avila

The project cost $7.86 million. On January 7, 2020, the Parks Department announced the completion of the reconstruction of Bensonhurst Park Playground in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Bensonhurst Park is one of 26 parks crossed by the Belt Parkway, which divides the park into two sections. The playground portion of the park is located near the intersection of Bay Parkway and Cropsey Avenue.