City Council Holds Hearing on Open Restaurants Plan

Open Restaurants Plan intended for Phase 2 start. On June 4, 2020, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the Open Restaurants seating program and the Council Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing held the public hearing on Intro 1957, a bill that would create the temporary outdoor dining space. The bill is sponsored by Council Member Antonio Reynoso and was introduced at the May 28th, 2020 Stated Meeting.


UPDATED: Construction Shutdown: Preserving Land Use Approvals

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive orders issued in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency halted non-essential construction throughout the City of New York. Many of the halted construction projects enjoyed land use approvals granted by City agencies, and the Governor’s orders did not toll the expiration dates of these approvals. (Update:) Subsequent to the construction shutdown, Mayor Bill de Blasio on April 29, 2020 issued an emergency executive order tolling the expiration dates … <Read More>


Citi and Mastercard Commits $1 Million to Expand Citi Bike Access for Essential Workers

The expansion will allow more essential workers to use Citi Bikes during the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 30, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, and Lyft announced that Citi and Mastercard had committed $1 million to expand the Citi Bike Critical Workforce Membership Program. The program was created by Citi Bike, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and the Department of Transportation to provide essential healthcare and transit workers a free one <Read More>


NYC Community Boards Adapt to Virtual Operations

Community Boards working to stay optimistic through adversity. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo shut down non-essential business throughout the state. The order effectively hamstrung the physical operation of many governmental and administrative offices. Community Boards, the closest representative body of a City district, have generally completed their many responsibilities through public assembly. Responsibilities include land use and zoning review, and other general community concerns such as traffic or deteriorating … <Read More>


OATH Extends Physical Closure and Continues Telephonic Hearings [UPDATED]

 

OATH to continue virtual operations as COVID pandemic lingers. On April 7, 2020, Chief Administrative Law Judge, Hon Joni Kletter issued an administrative order continuing the temporary suspension and modification of laws related to the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City. The order directs that the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings’, the body responsible for adjudicating for all City agencies, remain physically closed until at least May 4, 2020. The Office of Administrative … <Read More>


Landmarks Will Hold Public Hearings and Meetings Virtually

The decision to hold virtual hearings and meetings is in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.  On April 21, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission will begin holding virtual public hearings and meetings. Landmarks will be holding its hearings and meetings through Zoom, a video-conferencing application. Public hearings and meetings will also be live-streamed for the public on YouTube.