Governor Cuomo Extends COVID-related Eviction Moratorium Until January 1, 2021

The State has taken several actions to protect residential and commercial tenants. On September 28, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the statewide moratorium on COVID-19 related residential evictions will be extended through January 1, 2021. The moratorium has been in effect since March 20th and has been extended multiple times.


Mayor Signs Executive Order Supporting Minority and Women Owned Businesses

The City awarded over $3 billion in contracts to minority and women-owned businesses in FY19. The City is On July 28, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed Executive Order 59 to increase the City’s utilization of Minority and Women-Owned Businesses (M/WBEs), and also announced numerous programs with the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity that will connect Black and Latinx entrepreneurs to business opportunities.


City Announces Preliminary Plan for Upcoming School Year

The City’s plan offers three basic models schools can base their scheduling on to rotate students between in-person and remote learning. On July 8, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Education Chancellor Richard Carranza announced the City’s preliminary plan to reopen public schools in September. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have physically been closed since mid-March and operated remotely for the remainder of the school year. The “blended learning” approach will allow … <Read More>


Council Passes Legislation to Protect Not-For-Profits from Tax Lien Sales

Council backs not-for-profit sector with new legislation. On March 29, 2020, Local Law 42 of 2020 was adopted by the City without the Mayor signing it following unanimous City Council approval.  Local Law 42 was originally introduced as Int. No 245-of 2018 by Council Member Antonio Reynoso and was later amended twice. The new law creates an exemption for City tax lien sales of properties owned by not-for-profit organizations. The law also creates a not-for-profit … <Read More>


Mayor Adams Names Jessica Tisch as New NYPD Commissioner

On November 20, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment of Jessica Tisch as commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), effective November 25th. Tisch is the second woman to serve as NYPD Commissioner in the department’s 179-year history. The first, Commissioner Keechant Sewell, was also appointed under Mayor Adams; Tisch will be the fourth person to lead the NYPD since Adams took office in January 2022. Javier Lojan will serve as Acting … <Read More>


NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update 10/21/24

By Jeff Wice  & Alexis Marking

N.Y. VOTING RIGHTS ACT LITIGATION

Erie County: Young v. Town of Cheektowaga

In March,  one-time Town Board candidate Kenneth Young filed a lawsuit against the Town of Cheektowaga, alleging racially polarized voting and violations of the New York Voting Rights Act (NYVRA) in the Cheektowaga Town Board elections. Young claims that minorities cannot elect candidates of their choice under the town’s current at-large voting method and should adopt a … <Read More>