Council Member Ben Kallos. Image Credit: William Alatriste for the City Council.

Ten bills will be aired for public opinion to place restrictions on and revamp the processes of the Board of Standards and Appeals. On December 6, 2016, Council Member Ben Kallos introduced five new bills regarding the oversight and operations of the Board of Standards and Appeals at the City Council’s stated meeting. The Board of Standards and Appeals, which was originally created to be an independent board tasked with granting “relief” from the zoning code, is empowered by the Zoning Resolution and primarily reviews and decides applications for variances and special permits. (more…)

Former Commissioner William J. Bratton

On Friday October 7, 2016, the Center for New York City Law at New York Law School hosted the 137th CityLaw Breakfast. The event speaker was Former Commissioner of the NYPD, William J. Bratton. The event was specially sponsored by Tonio Burgos and Associates. (more…)

Ross Sandler

The procurement policy board, which makes the contracting rules for the City of New York, recently adopted rules that will make it easier for the City to manage how it purchases goods and services. The most important rule in terms of large purchases will allow the City to award competitively-bid contracts for goods and services based on price plus previously announced best value considerations. Before, contracts for goods and services had to be awarded solely on price. The second rule affects small purchases. The new rule ups the dollar limitation for micro purchases from $5,000 to $20,000, which will ease the City’s burdens when making small dollar purchases. The third change is actually a series of changes all designed to speed up the huge volume of human service contracts entered into by the City. (more…)