De Blasio Administration Bans Alcohol Advertisements on City Property

The ban was created to protect the health of New Yorkers. On April 30, 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an Executive Order that immediately banned all alcohol advertising on City property, including bus shelters, newsstands, phone booths, recycling kiosks and Wi-Fi LinkNYC kiosks. The administration sought the ban to protect New Yorkers from exposure to alcohol advertisements which can lead to an increased likelihood and quantity of alcohol consumption.


Charter Revision Commission Releases Preliminary Staff Report

Starting this week, public hearings are being held throughout the five boroughs to solicit feedback on the report’s recommendations. In April of 2018, the NYC Council created a Charter Revision Commission. The 15-member commission, which was granted a wide mandate to review the City Charter from top to bottom, is considering possible amendments to be placed on the November 5, 2019 ballot in New York City. The Commission’s focus has been on four areas … <Read More>


Council Member’s Legislation to Reveal Campaign Contribution Sources

Voters will receive the campaign contribution information in the CFB’s Voter Guides. On April 9, 2019, Council Member Ben Kallos introduced Introduction 1504 of 2019, a proposed bill that would reveal where politicians get their campaign contributions from and make this information more accessible to voters. To track the source of contributions, the bill would require campaign contributors to indicate their industry.


City Planning Certifies City Applications to Build Borough-Based Jails

The four jails are set to replace Rikers island by 2027. On March 25, 2019, the City Planning Commission certified the City’s application for four borough-based jails as a part of the City’s plan to shut down Rikers Island. The four jails – in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn – will have a total of 5,748 beds and a capacity of 5,000 inmates. The additional 748 beds will be used to account for taking … <Read More>


City Planning Releases Digital Mapping Tool for Applicants

The new free self-service map tool increases accessibility for the public and smaller owners and developers. On Thursday, April 11, 2019, the Department of City Planning Director Marisa Lago announced the release of a free, easy to use digital mapping tool that allows the public, smaller property owners and developers to build quality land use maps for their applications to the City Planning Commission for zoning changes. Prior to the release of this tool, creating … <Read More>


Private Development of City-Owned, Blighted Property to Bring 54 Units of Affordable Housing

The development seeks to activate the streetscape in the area by removing the existing dangerous condition posed by a long-abandoned railroad trench. On March 27, 2019, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on an application by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and developer Phipps Houses that will bring 54 units of affordable housing to the Melrose neighborhood of the Bronx. The application calls for the disposition of City-owned property, a rezoning, … <Read More>