After many closures last year, the holiday season welcomes back guests and spectators to New York City with some limitations. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly shaped holiday festivities citywide last year, with the cancellation of many live in-person events, restrictions to televised-only events, and closures of many beloved shows and attractions that draw thousands of visitors to New York City each year. After significant progress has been made in the fight against COVID-19, New York City … <Read More>
Search Results for: COVID-19 Restrictions
COMPLETE VIDEO: 175th CityLaw Breakfast featuring Georgia Pestana, New York City Corporation Counsel
Today, November 12, 2021, New York City Corporation Counsel Georgia Pestana spoke at the 175th CityLaw Breakfast. Ms. Pestana spoke on “Practicing Law During the Pandemic: Crisis, Challenges & Opportunities.” Professor Ross Sandler, Director of the Center for New York City Law provided opening remarks. After the talk, President and Dean of New York Law School Anthony W. Crowell and Professor Michael J. Pastor, Director of the James Tricarico Jr. Institute for the Business of … <Read More>
City Planning Holds Public Hearing for Permanent Open Restaurants Program, Launches Design Public Engagement Process
Many residents and community board members complained of quality of life issues, including noise, trash, cigarette smoke, and loss of parking. On October 6, 2021, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for the Permanent Open Restaurants program. The Permanent Open Restaurants program will formalize a process for restaurants to operate sidewalk or roadway cafes in a shortened process. The proposed permanent program follows the popularity of the temporary open restaurants program, which was … <Read More>
Community Boards Share Many Concerns Over Permanent Open Restaurant Program
Community boards in support and against the application had concerns about quality of life issues and community board involvement in future reviews. Last year’s Open Restaurants program was established to allow restaurants to operate sidewalk or roadway cafes without the extensive approval process to provide safe outdoor dining options during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the program was enabled through an emergency executive order that temporarily suspended the sidewalk café application process, a permanent program would … <Read More>
Permanent Open Restaurant Program Proposal Continues Through Public Review Process
Over 11,000 restaurants are currently participating in the Open Restaurant Program. Earlier this year, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced four citywide zoning amendment proposals to support small businesses, create more grocery stores and improve accessibility in transit. One of the proposals, the permanent open restaurant zoning text amendment, seeks to establish a permanent open restaurant program by removing the geographic restrictions on where sidewalk cafes can be located.
City Council Passes Three Bills for Tenants Rights to Counsel and Privacy
Free representation in housing court for low income tenants will now be available citywide. On April 29, 2021, the City Council passed three bills advancing tenants rights. Two of the bills focus on expanding the right to counsel in housing court for tenants citywide and an outreach program to notify tenants of their rights. The third bill focuses on tenant data privacy. All three bills were sponsored by Council Member Mark Levine.