Advisory commission will conduct comprehensive review of property tax system. On May 31, 2018, Mayor De Blasio announced the formation of an advisory commission to develop recommendations to reform the City’s property tax system. The reform aims to make the property tax system simpler, clearer, and fairer, as well as ensure that there is no reduction in revenue used to fund essential City services. The property tax system has not had an in-depth review by … <Read More>
Search Results for: CityLaw Profile
Council Speaker Candidates Remark on Goals to Bring “Good Government” to the City Council
The Speaker panel covered the issue of bringing transparency, accountability, and reform to the New York City Council. On November 21, 2017, Citizens Union held a public forum on good government with the candidates running to be the next City Council Speaker. The candidates on the panel were Council Members Robert E. Cornegy Jr., Corey Johnson, Mark Levine, Donovan Richards, Ydanis Rodriguez, Jimmy Van Bramer and Jumaane D. Williams. … <Read More>
Panel Discusses Right to Counsel for Eviction Cases in NYC Housing Court
On November 2, 2017, the Impact Center for Public Interest Law and the Center for New York City Law hosted a discussion on the newly enacted local law which will insure that all low income persons facing eviction will have counsel in Housing Court. Professor Andrew Scherer, Policy Director of the Impact Center, moderated the panel featuring: Marika Dias, Director of Tenant Rights Campaign at Legal Services NYC (LSNYC); Carmen Vega-Rivera, Tenant Leader of … <Read More>
Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Building 77 Opens After $185 Million Renovation
The building is expected to expand the City’s manufacturing industry and create more middle class jobs. On November 9, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio opened Building 77, one of the central buildings within the Brooklyn Navy Yard Industrial Park. The building and its $185 million renovation is a part of a billion dollar investment financed by Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, the Mayoral City Capital, the City Council, and the Brooklyn … <Read More>
Council Eases ULURP Requirements for Certain Government Officials
City Council passed a bill that would exempt certain government entities from pre-application requirements for zoning text amendments. On August 24, 2017, Council Member Margaret Chin introduced Int. No. 1685, exempting certain government officials from the Department of City Planning’s “time-consuming” pre-application process. “This bill would allow Borough Presidents, Mayoral Agencies and the Land Use Committee of the City Council to file applications for zoning text amendments without filing a pre-application statement.” The bill … <Read More>
Mayor Announces Permanently Car-Free Prospect Park
Prospect Park’s entire loop drive will be permanently car-free as of January 2, 2018. On October 23, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans for the closure of Prospect Park’s East Drive to vehicles. The announcement follows the success of the Park’s car-free summer when East Drive was closed from July 17 to September 11. After Labor Day weekend, a petition with over 1,100 signatures to continue the car-free program was received. The Park’s … <Read More>