On July 20, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams, Department of Parks & Recreation (Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue, and Department of Transportation (Transportation) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced a $40 million investment to improve public spaces and street safety along Fulton Street and across Downtown Brooklyn—the borough’s largest economic hub. The project, which is part of Mayor Adams’ $375 million investment in improving public spaces citywide, aims to support Brooklyn’s economy by delivering streetscape improvements, transportation and public … <Read More>
Mayor
Mayor Announces Expansion of “Big Apple Connect” to 17 New NYCHA Developments
On August 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams and Office of Technology and Innovation Commissioner Matthew Fraser announced the expansion of “Big Apple Connect” to 17 new public housing developments across Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. The Big Apple Connect program provides NYCHA residents with a free bundle of high-speed internet, including equipment, basic cable TV service, and common area Wi-Fi hotspots. The program aims to enhance digital equity by enabling New Yorkers to have access … <Read More>
Mayor Announces Successful Enforcement Action and Agreement with Four Landlords Over Lead Safety Violations
On August 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced the successful enforcement against safety violations found in over 5,000 apartments through an agreement between the city and four landlords that have resulted in almost $500,000 in civil penalties, and required the landlords to resolve all outstanding violations and comply with Local Law 1, the New York City Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act.
Changes to Trash Set-Out Times Show Early Positive Impact on Rat Activity
On July 25, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams, Sanitation Department (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and Director of Citywide Rodent Mitigation Kathleen Corradi announced that changing to later trash set-out times have had a positive impact on reducing rat activity citywide. Compared to the same period in 2022, the number of 311 calls made about rat activity citywide decreased by 20 percent from May to mid-July 2023, and the City’s four rat mitigation zones—Bronx Grand Concourse, Harlem, … <Read More>
Mayor Appoints Lisa Zornberg as New City Hall Chief Counsel
On July 26, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment of Lisa Zornberg as the new City Hall chief counsel. Zornberg will serve as chief counsel to both Mayor Adams and City Hall, and will oversee the following agencies: he Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, the Mayor’s Office of Labor Relations, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, the Mayor’s Office of Risk Management and Compliance, the New … <Read More>
Mayor and DOB Announce Overhaul of Sidewalk Construction Shed Rules
Sidewalk sheds stay up for an average of over 500 days, but some stay up for several years. On July 24, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo announced “Get Sheds Down,” an overhaul of the rules relating to sidewalk construction sheds (scaffolding). While the sheds are required for construction, facade inspections, and repairs, existing laws often enable property owners to leave up the construction sheds for a long time, and … <Read More>