Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams celebrate the start of construction on the Starhill affordable housing development in Morris Heights. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

The mixed-use Bronx development will support adults experiencing homelessness through substance abuse treatment programs. On July 27, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul announced the start of construction for Starhill Phase I. This $189 million affordable housing development is located in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx and features ample supportive housing.

June is the city’s fifth consecutive month of continued private sector job growth. On July 22, 2022, the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced in its monthly Economic Snapshot that 22,100 private sector jobs were added in June in NYC.

Image credit: School Construction Authority.

Plumbing company claimed time extension due to delays. In May of 2012, the New York City School Construction Authority awarded BG National Plumbing & Heating Inc. a contract to perform accessibility and electrical upgrades for the New York City School Construction Authority. When it became evident that BG Plumbing could not meet the contractual deadline, BG Plumbing filed a notice of claim with the City alleging it was entitled to an extension because of certain delays and impacts on the project. BG Plumbing did not include a claim for monetary damages.  The School Construction Authority denied the extension and claim.

Sarah Carroll (left) has been reappointed as Chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Anthony Crowell (top right) and Gail Benjamin (bottom right) have been nominated for Commissioner positions with the City Planning Commission. Image Credits: LPC/New York Law School/NYC Charter Revision Commission.

Sarah Carroll will serve an additional seven years at Landmarks, while Gail Benjamin and NYLS Dean Anthony Crowell will join City Planning for five years. On August 5, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams nominated Sarah Carroll to continue as Chair of Landmarks Preservation Commission and nominated Gail Benjamin and Anthony Crowell to the City Planning Commission. Landmarks commissioners serve seven-year terms, while City Planning commissioners serve for five years.

Mayor Adams celebrates the change for speed cameras with pedestrian safety advocates on August 1, 2022. Image Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

Since the automated enforcement program launched in 2014, speeding violations dropped on average of 72 percent at camera locations. On August 1, 2022, all of the City’s speed cameras began operating 24/7/365. This change stems from June 24’s passage of a state law amending speed camera hours. The bill’s prime sponsors in the State Assembly and Senate were Assembly Member Deborah Glick and State Senator Andrew Gounardes, respectively.

The new Congressional Districts map for New York City. Click image to open map. Image Credit: New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment.

Litigation challenges to redistricting maps resulted in the need for a second primary. On August 23, 2022, there will be primary elections in New York for the U.S House of Representatives and New York State Senate. Early voting is open and will run through Sunday, August 21st. Absentee votes must be turned in by August 23rd.