Image credit: NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.

On March 20, 2023, the Parks Department announced that 240 new “second shift” employees had been recently hired to address park cleanliness issues on evenings and weekends. The new deployment of workers will operate on Thursdays through Sundays during evening hours to address trash, litter and graffiti at certain hotspots around the city. The staff’s efforts to clean up trash and litter will also serve as part of the city’s efforts to push back against pests like rodents.  (more…)

Mayor Adams and other officials break ground on the new Gowanus Canal overflow tank project. The site, in the background, has been cleared ahead of the excavation and construction. The project will create overflow tanks to prevent sewage entering the canal, and will include public waterfront open space. Image Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

On March 15, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Administrator Lisa F. Garcia celebrated the groundbreaking for the first of two underground storage tanks that will protect the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. The two tanks will collect sewer overflow during storms and prevent that overflow from entering the Gowanus Canal. The project will also include the creation of 3.6 acres of new public waterfront space.  (more…)

Mayor Eric Adams. Photo Credit: facebook.com/NYCMayor

On March 10, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment of Nestor Davidson as the new chair of the New York City Rent Guidelines Board. The Rent Guidelines Board is responsible for establishing rent adjustments for the over one million dwelling units subject to the Rent Stabilization Law. The Board consists of nine members who are all appointed by the Mayor.  (more…)

Mayor Eric Adams and Council Member Gail Brewer at the Mayor and District Attorney Bragg’s joint announcement for combating illegal smoke shops. Image Credit: Caroline Willis / Mayoral Photo Office.

On January 18th, 2023, the New York City Council’s Committee on Health held an oversight hearing to discuss the surge of unlicensed smoke shops citywide and related safety issues. The oversight hearing was held jointly with the Committee for Consumer and Worker Protection and the Committee for Oversight and Investigations. (more…)

The ribbon cutting for 90 Sands. Image Credit: HPD.

The former Jehovah’s Witnesses hotel has been converted into nearly 500 affordable and supportive housing units. On November 3, 2022, Mayor Adams, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) joined nonprofit Breaking Ground to celebrate the opening of 90 Sands, a former hotel converted into 491 affordable and supportive housing units in Dumbo, Brooklyn. (more…)