Image Credit: NYC DOT

One year ago, in January 2020, the Expert Panel assigned by Mayor Bill de Blasio to study the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway issued its Final Report. Mayor de Blasio in 2019 appointed the seventeen-person Expert Panel* of which I was a member, following the angry rejection of New York City DOT’s plan for reconstructing the section of the BQE adjacent to Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo and Downtown Brooklyn. City DOT presented its plan publicly September 2019. The plan caused immediate outrage. (more…)

A dedicated bus lane. Image Credit: NYC DOT

The nine projects will benefit almost 750,000 daily riders. On June 8, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced nine busway and dedicated bus lane projects across the City. As the City begins to reopen, and commuters return to work, the new bus options are intended to increase bus speeds and address vehicular traffic concerns.  (more…)

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson at the Council Stated Meeting. Image Credit: John McCarten

The Speaker’s bill looks to change the way the entire city shares the streets. On October 30, 2019, the City Council approved Intro 1557-A, a five-year comprehensive plan for city streets, sidewalks and pedestrian spaces. The bill was approved by a vote of 35 in favor to 9 opposed with two abstentions. The bill was first introduced by Speaker Corey Johnson on May 29, 2019, heard by the Committee on Transportation on June 12, 2019, and later amended and approved by the Committee on October 29, 2019.

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Brian Huseman, VP of Public Policy at Amazon testifies at City Council Amazon HQ2 Oversight Hearing on January 30th. Image Credit: Emil Cohen/ New York City Council

The new headquarters would have brought at least 25,000 jobs in exchange for nearly $3 billion in tax incentives. On February 14, 2019, Amazon announced the company was canceling its plans to open a new headquarters located in Long Island City, Queens after political pressure from local and state lawmakers. (more…)

On Friday, October 13, 2017, the Center for New York City Law at New York Law School hosted the 146th CityLaw Breakfast. The event speaker was the First Deputy Mayor of New York City Anthony Shorris.

First Deputy Mayor Shorris was introduced by Professor Sandler, the Director of the Center for City Law, and Anthony Crowell, Dean and President of New York Law School. Professor Sandler introduced Shorris as both a progressive and a budget expert.

First Deputy Mayor Shorris began his lecture by reflecting on his long career in City government. Shorris says he has found meaning in the hard work of making change. He believes in the mission of government to improve people’s lives. Shorris spoke of the importance of localities standing up to federal policy—he noted that to deal with cynicism of government, City Hall should not argue with the opposition, but prove them wrong through policy. (more…)