New York Primaries 2025: What to Expect

On Tuesday, June 24 2024, New Yorkers will return to the polls to vote in the city’s primary elections. There will be citywide elections for Mayor, Public Advocate and Comptroller this year, as well as borough presidents and all City Council districts. 

New York is a closed primary state, so voters must register with a political party participating in the primary to vote. The deadline to register to vote, update your address or request <Read More>


Manhattan Borough President Candidates Debate Land Use Issues

By Ili Pecullan

Weighing in on land use decisions is one of the key responsibilities of a borough president in New York City, and several land use themes came up in a recent debate among the three Democrats running this year to become the next Manhattan Borough President.

The debate among Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Keith Powers, and Calvin Sun was hosted June 3 at New York Law School by its Center for New York City and <Read More>


DOB Celebrates 20th Anniversary and Return of Summer No-Penalty Inspection Program

On May 12, 2025, the Department of Buildings celebrated the return of the annual No-Penalty Inspection Program. Now in its 20th year, the summer program offers free safety inspections for homeowners, small business owners, and small landlords citywide. The visual inspections help owners address concerns about safety and conditions on their properties and guidance on how to begin fixing issues. 


Comptroller Audit Shows Racial Disparities in Building Code Enforcement

On April 21, 2025, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s Office released a new report that reveals substantial racial inequities in how the Department of Buildings enforces rules for owners of one- and two-family homes.

An audit of the top ten community districts for penalties showed that homeowners in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods incurred significant fines for building code violations. These penalties were often for unpermitted alterations and default judgments and usually stemmed from … <Read More>


City Announces Rule Changes for Unlawful Dumping on Parks Properties

On March 31, 2025, New York City Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue and other critical stakeholders announced the City has amended a rule to increase penalties for unlawful dumping on Parks properties. An amendment to Section 1-07 of NYC Parks rules, effective March 31, raises the prior $1,000 penalty for a first-time illegal dumping offense to $5,000. There is also a $10,000 fine for each subsequent illegal dumping violation occurring within twelve months of the initial … <Read More>