NYCCFB Chair Rick Schaffer. Image Credit: CityLand

Today, Friday, March 11, 2022, Frederick P. Schaffer, Chair of the NYC Campaign Finance Board, spoke at the 177th CityLaw Breakfast on “Increasing Voter Turnout in City Elections.” Professor Ross Sandler, Director of the Center for New York City Law provided opening remarks. Dean Anthony W. Crowell asked additional questions at the end of the Q&A session. This Breakfast was sponsored by ConEdison, Greenberg Traurig, and Verizon. This was the eleventh virtual CityLaw Breakfast as in-person events are not feasible at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (more…)

An example of the redistricting map from the 2012-2013 Districting Commission that outlines changes to district map boundaries. The new Commission will prepare the same ahead of the next Council elections in 2023. Image Credit: NYC Districting Commission.

The Commission will help with the redesign of the City Council district boundaries. On March 7, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced his seven appointees to the New York City Districting Commission. The Commission is responsible for redrawing council district boundaries as required every ten years by the City Charter following the national census. The redistricting helps the City Council reflect changes in demographics and population.  (more…)

Mayor Adams announces changes to the City’s COVID-19 protocols in Times Square. Image Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office.

The announcements come after data supports that New York City is currently experiencing low level spread of COVID-19. On March 4, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced changes to the City’s COVID-19 protocols in response to the decline of COVID-19 cases citywide. The changes go into effect today, Monday, March 7th. (more…)

Rendering of 1377 Sutter Avenue. Image Credit: NYC CPC.

All the building’s units will be income restricted. On March 2, 2022, the City Planning Commission voted to approve an application that would facilitate the development of a five-story mixed-use building at 1377 Sutter Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn. The project site currently contains two underutilized non-conforming commercial buildings. (more…)

1214 Dean Street (center) will be converted to affordable housing as part of the settlement. In 2020, tenants faced an illegal lockout during the eviction moratorium. Image Credit: NYC DCP.

The property will be turned over to the City to be converted to affordable housing as part of the settlement. On February 23, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced that a settlement had been reached between the City and Gennaro Brooks-Church and Loretta Gendville, the owners of 1214 Dean Street in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The settlement comes after tenants were illegally evicted in 2020 and the couple operated illegal short-term rentals across nine buildings for four years. The settlement totals $2.25 million, and is the City’s first ever enforcement of the Unlawful Eviction Law. (more…)