An overhead view of the vacant disputed property. Image Credit: Google Maps

City claimed condemned property designated as wetlands was overvalued at $10 million. In 1985, seven acres of property covering six blocks in the Oakwood Beach section of Staten Island was donated to a yeshiva. The yeshiva’s plans for the property included development of a school and synagogue. Due to fiscal setbacks and a freshwater wetland designation, the yeshiva in 1991 sought and the City approved a hardship exemption in development of the planned school and synagogue. The yeshiva never actually began development on the property. (read more…)

Billboards on Citi Field as seen from a highway. Image Credit: Google Maps

Advertising companies sought to erect outdoor billboards in the Willets Point neighborhood. Mucho Media and other property owners in Queens’ Willets Point neighborhood sought to construct large advertising billboards on their property. For safety and aesthetic reasons, the City denied or ordered the removal of billboards in the Willets Point neighborhood. These actions were pursuant to the City’s zoning law that prohibits commercial billboards within two hundred feet of an arterial highway. (read more…)

Intersection of Sunrise Highway and Old Sunrise Highway. Image Credit: Google Maps

Motorcyclist was killed when he made contact with another vehicle, lost control, and skidded approximately 95 feet until he struck a guardrail. On a clear dry afternoon Vincent Iovine drove a motorcycle east on Sunrise Highway in Nassau County traveling at a speed of 62 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone. At the same time, Guadalupe Carranca had stopped her car at a stop sign on Old Sunrise Highway. Carranca intended to turn right onto Sunrise Highway. As Carranca attempted to merge directly into the left-turn lane of Sunrise Highway, she crossed over three lanes of traffic and then over a solid white line. Before Carranca could successfully complete the merge, Iovine’s motorcycle collided into Carranca’s vehicle. Iovine lost control of the motorcycle, skidded about 95 feet, and made contact with a guardrail. Iovine died from the injuries. (read more…)

Sodium warning label. Image Credit:

In the twentieth century, primary causes of death and disability in America changed from communicable diseases to chronic diseases. This shift was in part due to the successes of public health as better sanitary conditions and immunizations reduced the burden of communicable diseases.  The shift, however, was also due to changes in lifestyle and longer life expectancies that caused the rates of chronic diseases to increase. (read more…)

Broadway Hotel and Hostel in Manhattan. Image Credit: CityLand

Broadway Hotel sued New York City claiming the Airbnb law was unconstitutional. The City served a summons on the Broadway Hotel on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for illegal transient occupancy. The New York City Airbnb law prohibited a class A dwelling from renting out rooms on a temporary basis. The City alleged that the Hotel was a Class A dwelling and was therefore prohibited from renting out rooms on a temporary basis for any period less than 30 days. (read more…)

Image Credit: CityLaw

Jeremy Travis, Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice at Arnold Ventures and Former President of John Jay College of Criminal Justice spoke at this morning’s 160th CityLaw Breakfast at New York Law School. Travis was  introduced by Professor Ross Sandler, Director of the Center for New York City Law, with remarks by Dean Anthony W. Crowell. Travis spoke on “Crime and Justice Trends: the New York City story 1981-2018.” (read more…)