City Celebrates Groundbreaking for Animal Care Center in Baychester

On May 18, 2023, Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley, Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan, and Animal Care Centers of NYC Chief Executive Officer Risa Weinstock joined community members and advocates to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new Animal Care Center at 2050 Bartow Avenue in the Baychester section of the Bronx. The Animal Care Centers are overseen by the Department of Health and operated by Animal Care Centers of <Read More>


HPD Releases Request for Proposals to Find Tenant Organizing Groups for Partners in Preservation Program

On March 22, 2023, the Department of Housing, Preservation and Development (HPD) announced the release of a request for proposals (RFP) for tenant organizing groups to expand the Partners in Preservation program. The program preserves rent-regulated housing units and supports tenant organizers who work with the agency and tenants to fight harassment, displacement, and poor living conditions. 


City Expands “Big Apple Connect” Program Bringing Free Internet and TV to NYCHA Developments

On March 23, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced the expansion of the “Big Apple Connect,” the nation’s largest municipal broadband program that provides free internet and basic cable TV service to NYCHA developments. The program, launched last fall, is designed to help bridge the “digital divide”; according to cable service providers, between 30 to 40 percent of NYCHA residents are not subscribed to a broadband service.


Parks Adds “Second Shift” Dedicated Staff to Address Park Cleanliness on Evenings and Weekends

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 <Read More>


Dept. of Finance Announces Notice of Property Value Sessions for Each Borough

The first session is tonight in Brooklyn, with additional sessions to follow. On February 3, 2023, the NYC Department of Finance announced a citywide series of Notice of Property Value (NOPV) information sessions. Property owners received a Notice of Property Value from Finance in January. The Notice of Property Value provides information about market and assessed value and other relevant information so that owners can review the information ahead of the finalization of the assessment <Read More>


Dept. of City Planning Releases New FRESH Program Report

On February 1, 2023, the Department of City Planning updated the progress of the Food Retail Expansion to Support Health program with a new report, “FRESH By the Numbers.”. The Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (“FRESH”) program gives property owners the ability to construct slightly larger buildings in certain districts if the building includes a FRESH supermarket. The program targets neighborhoods that often lack access to fresh produce and other groceries, which <Read More>