Mayor Appoints Lisa Zornberg as New City Hall Chief Counsel

Lisa Zornberg speaks at her appointment as the incoming City Hall Chief Counsel. Image Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.On July 26, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment of Lisa Zornberg as the new City Hall chief counsel. Zornberg will serve as chief counsel to both Mayor Adams and City Hall, and will oversee the following agencies: he Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, the Mayor’s Office of Labor Relations, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, the Mayor’s Office of Risk Management and Compliance, the New <Read More>


New York is Sticking to its Guns by Prohibiting Firearms in Times Square

Times Square’s “gun-free” status remains a contentious issue in the face of legal challenges, but the City is determined to forge ahead. Earlier this summer, the United States Supreme Court struck down New York’s concealed carry permitting requirements, which has resulted in an ongoing legal battle as the city and state try to find a balance between constitutional rights and public safety.


City Completes Drinking Water Upgrades for City Island Residents

Two new water mains were placed under Eastchester Bay. On July 20, 2022, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala and NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley announced the completion of a $34 million project dedicated to upgrading the drinking water for City Island, Bronx residents. The project began in 2019 and was substantially completed in December 2021 through the funding of the Department of Environmental Protection … <Read More>


Assault Rifles and The Impact of New York State’s SAFE Act (REPRINTED FROM 2018)

***THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY RAN FOUR YEARS AGO IN CITYLAW*** The SAFE Act, the acronym for the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act – New York State’s January, 2013 omnibus gun control law – provides an excellent opportunity to assess the potential impact of maximally politically feasible gun control, an exercise all the more relevant in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas.  The SAFE Act did not have to be negotiated or compromised.  … <Read More>


City Announces Completion of Renovations of Nine Public Housing Developments

The project was possible through a conversion to a federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program. On May 20, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams joined U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chair Greg Russ and NUCHA resident association leaders to announce the completion of renovations and restorations to nine NYCHA developments across Brooklyn.


City Planning Holds Public Hearing for Permanent Open Restaurants Program, Launches Design Public Engagement Process

Many residents and community board members complained of quality of life issues, including noise, trash, cigarette smoke, and loss of parking. On October 6, 2021, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for the Permanent Open Restaurants program. The Permanent Open Restaurants program will formalize a process for restaurants to operate sidewalk or roadway cafes in a shortened process. The proposed permanent program follows the popularity of the temporary open restaurants program, which was … <Read More>