City Council Appoints New Leadership to Committee on Land Use

The New Year brought new leadership to City Council committees and subcommittees. On January 11, 2018, new City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, announced the New York City Council committee chairs and leadership. City Council has 35 standing committees, which including the Committee on Land Use and Committee on Housing and Buildings.


CityLand’s Top Ten Stories of 2017

Welcome to CityLand‘s sixth annual top ten stories of the year! We have selected a range of our most popular and prominent stories, and guest commentaries concerning New York City land use in 2017. Our 2017 coverage was highlighted by articles concerning the approval of construction safety training for construction workers, proposals for the creation of more affordable housing, neighborhood rezonings, the protection of landmarks, and a guide on tort liability for injuries involving … <Read More>


CityLaw Profile: Jumaane Williams, Council Member and Chair of Housing and Buildings Committee

Jumaane Williams, with a strong background as a community organizer, was elected to the City Council in 2009 to represent the 45th Council District which covers the Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, and parts of Midwood and Canarsie neighborhoods of Brooklyn. In his work prior to and as a City Council Member, Jumaane Williams has displayed a passion for community issues like combating gun violence, youth development, tenant advocacy and affordable housing. He plans to run … <Read More>


Affordable Housing Law Upheld

Association of developers and contractors of affordable housing claimed that local law on prequalification and disclosure violated their constitutional rights. On September 24, 2012, the City Council passed Local Law 44, which required the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to create a public website disclosing the scope and location of publicly-funded affordable housing projects as well as complaints about developers, contractors and subcontractors involved in the project. The website must also list which … <Read More>


How Small is Too Small: the Trivial Doctrine in New York Law

How small is too small when it comes to trip hazards on New York City sidewalks? New York courts, grappling with this issue for over 125 years, have declined to advance a standard based solely on the size or dimensions of the defect or hazard and instead have opted to evaluate each slip, trip and fall case on the merits under a totality of the circumstances test. The result is that it is difficult for … <Read More>


Mayor Bill de Blasio Signs into Law Domestic Violence Housing Discrimination Ban and Green Construction bills

New York City Council Member and Deputy Leader Jumaane Williams sponsored both bills, which were signed alongside a green building construction bill sponsored by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.  On March 28, 2016, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law two major pieces of legislation, sponsored by New York City Council Member and Deputy Leader Jumaane Williams, respectively titled the Domestic Violence Housing Discrimination Ban and the Green Construction bills. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito … <Read More>