NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update Week of 3/31/25

This week: More on Census Data & New York Growth; VRA Preclearance Submissions; Who Votes in New York City?; Illinois State Legislative Map Challenge

by Jeff Wice & Alexis Marking

CENSUS DATA

More on How New Census Data Reveals Growth in New York State

April 1 marks the halfway point between Census 2020 and Census 2030. We thought we’d take a deeper dive into recent data released by the U.S. Census Bureau this week.

The … <Read More>


‘If You Build It, They Will Come’: City’s Chief Public Realm Officer Outlines Progress, Priorities

By Mark Chiusano

Ya-Ting Liu was appointed New York City’s inaugural chief public realm officer two years ago this month. How has the realm changed so far during her tenure? 

That was the subject of Liu’s talk at New York Law School’s 196th CityLaw Breakfast on Wednesday, during which she described well-used public space as “the secret sauce of cities” and how she thinks pedestrians should be “the main character” in New York City design. … <Read More>


NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update 12/23/24

 

By Jeff Wice & Alexis Marking

This week- NY May Lose Two More Congressional Districts, State VRA Appeal Hearing, Nassau Trial Progresses, Harvard Law Supports Even Year Elections in NYC, NYC Matching Funds Released, Understanding Census Data, Michigan State VRA Fails, January 28 Census Conference

REAPPORTIONMENT

New York Projected to Lose Two Congressional Districts After 2030

After several years of historically low growth caused in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation’s population increased … <Read More>


City Planning Data Shows Lower Storefront Vacancy Post-Pandemic

On November 15, 2024, Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick released new data showing the city’s storefront vacancy rate is down to 11.1 percent. This marks the fourth straight quarter of declining vacancy.

In comparison, a survey of 24 corridors across the city during summer 2020 showed inactivity rates of over 30 percent. Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island all have borough-wide vacancy rates below nine percent, although some higher vacancy rates persist, … <Read More>


Can Alternate Side Parking Be Fixed?

By Mark Chiusano

There are countless ways to demonstrate the forever-controversial nature of alternate side parking (ASP) in New York City, but only one involves Mayor Ed Koch’s voice whining from a mechanical street sweeper.

That was the gimmick the then-mayor unveiled in 1988 to encourage illegally parked cars to move, so the street sweepers could clean. “Get it outta here,” his tape-recorded voice implored. 

It’s just one example of how alternate side parking – … <Read More>