Changes to Trash Set-Out Times Show Early Positive Impact on Rat Activity

On July 25, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams, Sanitation Department (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and Director of Citywide Rodent Mitigation Kathleen Corradi announced that changing to later trash set-out times have had a positive impact on reducing rat activity citywide. Compared to the same period in 2022, the number of 311 calls made about rat activity citywide decreased by 20 percent from May to mid-July 2023, and the City’s four rat mitigation zones—Bronx Grand Concourse, Harlem, … <Read More>


Mayor and DOB Announce Overhaul of Sidewalk Construction Shed Rules

Sidewalk sheds stay up for an average of over 500 days, but some stay up for several years. On July 24, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo announced “Get Sheds Down,” an overhaul of the rules relating to sidewalk construction sheds (scaffolding). While the sheds are required for construction, facade inspections, and repairs, existing laws often enable property owners to leave up the construction sheds for a long time, and <Read More>


DOT Announces Second Round of 2023 Open Streets

On June 26, 2023, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced a second round of 2023 Open Streets, which will add 13 new Open Street locations throughout the City. Open Streets is a program that temporarily transforms busy city streets into a car-free oasis for pedestrians, cyclists and children engaging in recreational activities. The Open Streets program encourages utilizing streets in new ways that make them more accessible and enjoyable for all New Yorkers.


Transportation Expands E-Scooter Share Program to Eastern Queens

On June 15, 2023, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced that the city’s popular Bronx e-scooter share program will expand to eastern Queens in 2024. The decision to expand the e-scooter share program follows the program’s early success, which saw over two million trips taken by 115,470 users in the Bronx since the program launched in August 2021.


NYCHA Announces Heating Improvements Made as Heating Season Closes

NYCHA sustained performance improvements and furthered investments in heating infrastructure over recent heating season. On May 31, 2023, the New York City Housing Authority (Housing Authority) announced that it had continued to improve the performance of heat and hot water systems for its residents, while also making significant investments in heating infrastructure during the 2022-2023 heating season, which runs from October 1 to May 31.