On March 23, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced the expansion of the “Big Apple Connect,” the nation’s largest municipal broadband program that provides free internet and basic cable TV service to NYCHA developments. The program, launched last fall, is designed to help bridge the “digital divide”; according to cable service providers, between 30 to 40 percent of NYCHA residents are not subscribed to a broadband service.
Parks Adds “Second Shift” Dedicated Staff to Address Park Cleanliness on Evenings and Weekends
On March 20, 2023, the Parks Department announced that 240 new “second shift” employees had been recently hired to address park cleanliness issues on evenings and weekends. The new deployment of workers will operate on Thursdays through Sundays during evening hours to address trash, litter and graffiti at certain hotspots around the city. The staff’s efforts to clean up trash and litter will also serve as part of the city’s efforts to push back against … <Read More>
HPD Celebrates Opening of New Residential Buildings with Affordable Housing on Bedford Union Armory Site in Crown Heights
On March 21, 2023, officials from the New York City Department of Housing preservation and Development (HPD), Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and Economic Development Corporation (EDC) joined development partners to celebrate the opening of 1101 and 1089 President Street in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. New residents moved into the new two affordable buildings that were part of the redevelopment of the Bedford Union Armory.
Mayor Signs E-Bike Fire Safety Bills, Announces E-Bike Safety Plan
On March 20, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new plan to address lithium-ion battery fires and powered mobility device safety. Following an increase in fires due to faulty or refurbished batteries, both the Mayor’s Office and City Council have worked to develop solutions to improve fire safety and reduce avoidable fires while promoting methods of micromobility that thousands of New Yorkers, including delivery workers, depend on daily.
Governor Announces Investment in Statewide Fair Housing Testing Program
On February 24th, 2023, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced a state-wide, $2.2 million investment in New York’s Fair Housing Testing Program. The expansion will be overseen and administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Fair and Equitable Housing Office. The purpose of the Fair Housing Testing Program is to increase investigations into housing discrimination and enhance education and outreach efforts for fair housing rights, including for individuals with a … <Read More>
Landmarks Calendars Fire Alarm Office in West Farms
On March 14, 2023, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar the Fire Alarm and Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office building located at 1129 East 180th Street in the West Farms section of the Bronx. The building has remained in use for over a century.