BJ New Beauty Queen salon. Image Credit: Google Maps.

Nail salon violated health code by staying open for business in a Covid Red Zone. BJ New Beauty Queen Nail Spa, Inc., located at 968 McDonald Avenue, Brooklyn, was within a Covid “Red Zone.” A Covid Red Zone is an area where non-essential businesses must close due to a high infection rate. Despite the mandatory order to close, BJ New Beauty Queen remained open for business. The Department of Finance issued a summons amounting in a $15,000 fine for violating the Red Zone requirements.

A Parks employee holds a small bag of mulch at a previous Mulchfest. Image Credit: Parks Dept.

In 2020, the Parks Department broke a record with over 50,900 trees mulched. Today, December 26, 2022, the Parks Department launches this year’s “Mulchfest,” where New Yorkers can mulch their live Christmas trees at locations in all five boroughs. The mulch can be used for gardening and to improve soil fertility. The mulch helps retain moisture, adds nutrients, and keeps roots warm. The mulch Parks collects is used to help city trees and community gardens citywide.

Scaccia Realty. Image Credit: Google Maps.

New York City excused for default on a lawsuit regarding water allowance arrears. A&F Scaccia operates a concrete manufacturing plant at 104-17 148th Street in Jamaica, Queens. Between 2007 and 2015, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection charged A&F Scaccia Realty Corp. for low-estimated water readings due to a broken water meter on their commercial property. On discovery of the error, the DEP reassessed the concrete company’s water usage in 2016 and charged A&F Scaccia for $88,000. The fine reflected two years of unpaid usage fees for the access to the NYC’s water supply.

Image credit: New York City Council.

On December 21, 2022, the City Council voted to approve three bills that would improve transparency with the Parks Department’s capital projects process and utilize small or micro spaces that can be used for beneficial green space. All three bills were sponsored by Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Chair of the Council Committee on Parks and Recreation.

Breaking ground at Logan Fountain. Image Credit: HPD.

On December 14, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul announced the start of construction of Logan Fountain, a new mixed-use development in East New York that will bring affordable, supportive transitional housing and retail space to the site of a defunct gas station. The new development will be located at 265 Logan Street. 

Image Credit: NYC HPD

On December 9, 2022, city officials celebrated the opening of the Tree of Life affordable housing development with representatives from First Jamaica Community and Urban Development Corporation, Bluestone Organization and other project partners. The Tree of Life development is located at 89-46 164th Street.