HDC: Proposed Legislation Would Undermine the Landmarks Preservation Commission

Since its adoption in 1965, the New York City Landmarks Law has been amended several times. In 1973, the Landmarks Preservation Commission was allowed to designate landmarks as part of its regular schedule rather than having to wait three years between designation hearings, as had previously been the case, and also gained the ability to designate publicly owned parks and publicly accessible interiors as landmarks. In 1997, the agency gained the ability to enforce the … <Read More>


Council approves Waterfront planning legislation

New law requires DCP to file waterfront plan every 10 years. On October 7, 2008, the City Council passed a local law requiring the Department of City Planning to file a waterfront plan with the Mayor, the Council, the Public Advocate, the Borough Presidents, and the community boards by December 31, 2010, and to repeat the filing not less than every ten years thereafter. The purpose of the plan is to take into account the … <Read More>


New York’s Green Light Law Hits Flashing Yellow

By Stephen Louis

On September 21, 2007, New York Governor Elliot Spitzer and Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner David Swarts announced administrative changes that would allow applications for driver licenses without regard to immigration status. After a long and winding road, undocumented immigrants began to legally obtain driver’s licenses in New York in 2019, after the “Green Light Law” was passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo. But it now faces <Read More>


NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update 06/09/25

This week- Newburgh State VRA Challenges Moves to Court of Appeals While Another Moves to A Hearing;State VRA Preclearance Updates Upcoming Events, Around the Nation: VRA Section 2 Private Rights of Action Rehearing Requested, Arkansas & Wisconsin Congressional Litigation

By Jeff Wice, Esha Shah, Jarret Berg and Alexis Marking

LITIGATION

Westchester County: Serratto et al. v. Town of Mount Pleasant (N.Y. Voting Rights Act)

On June 4th, the state supreme court approved the parties’ joint … <Read More>


NY Elections, Census, and Redistricting Update 05/27/25

This week- Newburgh VRA Case Action Stayed, NYC Mayoral Case May be Discontinued, Appellate Divsion to Hear Appeal in Voting Machines challenge, State Senate & Assembly to Consider Election Law Bills, Around The Nation: Louisiana, Upcoming Events

IN MEMORY OF CHARLES B. RANGEL, A MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM NEW YORK (1971-2017)- LONGTIME DEAN OF THE NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE “LION OF LENOX AVENUE”

by Jeff Wice, Jarret Berg, and Alexis Marking


NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update 05/12/25

This week- Appellate Court Upholds Even Year Elections Law, Newburgh State VRA Case, NYC Mayoral Litigation, State Budget, Senate Acts on Legislation, VRA Preclearance Update, Alabama Redistricting. Upcoming Events

By Jeff Wice, Jarret Berg, and Alexis Marking

LITIGATION

The Appellate Division (Fourth Department) has a reversed a lower court ruling and determined that the state can move most local elections to even year voting (when federal and state candidates appear on the ballot. The court <Read More>