By Mark Chiusano
New York City’s parks are touchstones for all residents – including candidates for mayor.
Among those 30,000 acres are “where my kids learned to walk,” said Comptroller Brad Lander, and where State Senator Zellnor Myrie biked and got a “reprieve” from his asthma. Former comptroller Scott Stringer’s children practically “live in the parks,” he said, summing up the prevailing view: “The way our parks will go will define how our city goes.”… <Read More>
By Jim Caras
This month the Mayor releases his Preliminary Budget, marking the start of the City’s annual budget process for the 2026 fiscal year that begins July 1, 2025. The City Charter, in Chapter 10, requires the Mayor to propose a budget and the City Council to adopt a budget for each fiscal year. The City budget is a vitally important document that sets the City’s spending priorities by determining funding levels for various … <Read More>
On September 26, 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the creation of the GreenHOUSE Fund to improve compliance with Local Law 97 for owners of buildings with affordable housing. Since 2019, Local Law 97 has required the majority of buildings over 25,000 square feet to meet new energy-efficient and greenhouse gas emissions requirements. The City’s ongoing climate goals include having the largest buildings produce zero emissions by 2050 and improving air quality.
On June 18, 2024, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar the Jacob Day Residence at 50 West 13th Street in Greenwich Village for future designation. The residence was the home and place of business of Jacob Day, a prominent Black caterer and property owner who advocated for the abolition of slavery and for voting rights and economic opportunities for African Americans. The three-story row house was built in the Greek Revival style in 1846.
By Assemblymember Harvey Epstein and Senator Cordell Cleare
The next innovation in the pursuit of permanently affordable housing for New Yorkers can be found amongst the glistening luxury high-rise condominiums. These high-rise condominium complexes will also include the next wave of cooperatively-owned and community-controlled affordable homeownership opportunities in New York City — social housing in the sky — if our bill, the recently updated Martin Act amendment (S3566A/A6921A), becomes law.
On July 18, 2023, Deborah Marton, Executive Director of the Van Alen Institute, was unanimously elected President of the NYC Public Design Commission (PDC). Marton, who served as a PDC Commissioner since 2020, will build on former PDC President Signe Nielsen’s legacy by reviewing City-owned property designs and advocating for innovative, sustainable, and equitable public spaces and civic structures citywide.