NYS Unified Court System Logo Image Credit: NY Courts

REBNY, Legal Aid and all parties united against evictions during Corona outbreak. On March 15, 2020, the New York State Court System issued an indefinite moratorium on eviction proceedings, effectively allowing many people and families throughout the state to stay in their homes and off the streets or in shelters. Tenant advocates and numerous elected officials argued housing insecurity and homelessness will only exacerbate the COVID-19 threat. The proceedings which a New York City Housing Court might now hear, will be limited to landlord lockouts, serious housing code violations and repair orders. Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks’ memorandum also limits other types of “non-essential” proceedings to assure the operation of the courts in the safest possible manner for the public and court employees.

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Construction begins on Bedford Green House II in Fordham Heights. The project is one of ten to receive a part of an over $390 million investment from the state to preserve affordable and supportive housing statewide. Image Credit: HPD.

On January 19, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that over $390 million was awarded through bonds and subsidies for affordable and supportive housing statewide. With additional private funding, over $600 million is expected to be invested to preserve over 1,600 units in ten projects across the state, including four projects within New York City. The four New York City projects are Bedford Green House Phase II in Fordham Heights in the Bronx; Shepherd Glenmore in East New York, Brooklyn; Crotona Belmont Senior Housing in East Tremont in the Bronx; and River View Towers in Hamilton Heights, Manhattan.  (more…)

Raven Hall. Image Credit: The Office of Governor Kathy Hochul/HPD.

The new building is 500 feet from the beach and boardwalk. On March 30, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced the completion of a new affordable and supportive housing development in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The mixed-use development, called Raven Hall, has 216 affordable apartments and ground floor retail. It is located at 2006 Surf Avenue. The development team consists of Georgica Green Ventures, LLC and New Density Housing and was created as part of the State’s efforts to increase affordable housing statewide.  (more…)

Prison gerrymandering manipulates the boundaries of electoral districts by inflating the districts with incarcerated individuals who have no real relationship to the districts where the prisons are located. Incarcerated individuals in New York are not allowed to vote. As a result, in districts with prisons and large prison populations the votes of the voters who can vote become more powerful compared to the vote of the voters in districts without a prison population. At the same time, the districts which include the actual residences and homes of the incarcerated individuals have less political representation. This dilutes their political influence as those districts become underrepresented compared with districts with incarcerated persons. (more…)

DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman speaking at the 174th CityLaw Breakfast. Image Credit: CityLand.

Today, October 29, 2021, Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman spoke at the 174th CityLaw Breakfast. Commissioner Gutman spoke on “Reimagining How Freight Moves in New York City.” Professor Ross Sandler, Director of the Center for New York City Law provided opening remarks. This Breakfast was sponsored by ConEdison, Greenberg Traurig, and Verizon. This was the eighth virtual CityLaw Breakfast as in-person events are not feasible at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (more…)