On October 7, 2021, the City Council voted to approve a new zoning text amendment that would help make public transportation more accessible. The Elevate Transit: Zoning for Accessibility text amendment allows the MTA to leverage private development in order to add elevators or other station access to New York City Transit, Staten Island Railway, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Stations across the city. 

The bill furthers the City’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions citywide. On August 26, 2021, the City Council voted to approve a bill that requires the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to report the greenhouse gas emissions for NYCHA’s buildings. Int. 2283-A, sponsored by Council Member Helen Rosenthal, aims to promote transparency and further the City’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions citywide. The bill helps strengthen the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas … <Read More>

The bills encourage people to seek shelter by providing pet-friendly options. On August 26, 2021, the City Council passed two bills aimed to help accommodate pets in homeless shelters. Both bills were sponsored by Council Member Stephen Levin.

The bill reduces or eliminates some fines. On June 17, 2021, the City Council voted to pass a bill that reduces fines and allows opportunities to remedy certain violations for 185 civil penalties. Int. No. 2233-A, sponsored by Council Member Vanessa Gibson, provides civil penalty relief from 185 different sanitation, health, transportation, consumer affairs, noise control and buildings violations.

The increased voucher amounts help take advantage of decreased rents. On May 27, 2021, the New York City Council passed legislation that increases the number of apartments available to homeless New Yorkers and helps move more New Yorkers out of shelters and into permanent housing.  The legislation, titled Int. 146-C, requires the City to pay higher rates to homeless New Yorkers receiving rental assistance vouchers and eliminates the program’s previous five-year cap for vouchers. … <Read More>

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.