Hybrid hearings will allow members of the public to either attend public meetings in person or virtually. However, the state of emergency will keep meetings virtual for now. Image Credit: CityLand

Community boards often do not have the same resources as City agencies to have hybrid hearings. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many changes on how state and city governments conducted business, including public hearings. New York’s Open Meetings Law was originally designed to promote transparency, requiring hearings to be held in person and open to the public, with notice about how to participate. After meetings went virtual due to the pandemic, discussions began about how the open meetings law should better reflect modern circumstances.

Changes to zoning restrictions may enable more bars and restaurants to have live bands and dancing. Image Credit: CityLand/Cassidy Strong.

On Wednesday, June 1, Mayor Eric Adams announced his plans for three citywide zoning text amendments aimed to bolster small businesses, expand affordable housing, and reduce carbon usage in the interest of sustainability. The first of these, “Zoning for Economic Opportunity,” aims to remove red tape for small businesses and includes removing restrictions on dancing that survived the Cabaret Law’s repeal.

Crotona Park Turf Field Ribbon Cutting.
Image Credit: Daniel Avila / NYC Parks

The refurbished field will also be the site of ongoing youth soccer programming supported by the project’s sponsor, the UAE embassy. On Friday, May 20, 2022, the NYC Parks Department celebrated completion of the refurbishment of the Crotona Park soccer field in the Crotona Park East neighborhood of the Bronx. The project was originally announced by NYC Parks and Congress Member Ritchie Torres on December 7, 2021.

Governor Kathy Hochul signs the Hotel Conversion bill into law. Image Credit: (Darren McGee- Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

The new legislation allows hotels to house residents on a more permanent basis, specifically addressing the lack of available housing in New York City. On June 7, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law New York State Senate Bill S4937C. This affordable housing law allows hotels that are already authorized as Class B hotels to rent rooms for permanent residence purposes. State Senator Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Steven Cymbrowitz sponsored this bill.

Image credit: New York City Council.

The bill is a part of the Council’s response to the Twin Parks tragedy this past January. On June 2, 2022, the City Council voted to approve Int. 208-A, a bill that requires increased inspections for self-closing doors in multiple dwelling buildings. The bill is sponsored by Council Member Nantasha Williams. Int. 208-A is the most recent in a series of bills passed by the City Council in response to the tragic Twin Parks fire in January 2022, in which 17 people were tragically killed by smoke inhalation from a fire that spread due to the failure of a self-closing door.

HPD and FDNY Officials share fire safety tips with the public as part of their new campaign. Image Credit: HPD.

The initiative includes in-person events and an online marketing campaign. On May 18, 2022, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the FDNY launched a joint fire safety campaign. This new initiative follows through on Mayor Adams’ March executive order, which called for strengthening the City’s fire safety enforcement and outreach efforts in the wake of the Twin Parks building fire.