Council Member Calls for Designation of Jackie Robinson’s Former Brooklyn Home

Council Member seeks full Council support and support of online petition.  On April 29, 2014, City Council Member Jumaane Williams of Brooklyn introduced Resolution 209 calling upon the Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate 5224 Tilden Avenue in Brooklyn an individual city landmark.   The two story residence served as the home to Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers.


New York State’s New System for Tracking Prescription Drugs

prescriptions_finalOn June 19, 2012, one lone gunman entered a small pharmacy in Medford, Long Island.  Seven gunshots later, four people lay dead—killed at close range without signs of resistance.  Three days later, David Laffer and his wife, Melinda Brady, were arrested.  Laffer was charged with first-degree murder.  Melinda Brady, driver of the getaway car, was charged with third-degree robbery. 


James S. Oddo: New Borough President Ready to Work Hard and Deliver Results

James S. Oddo, republican and former Council Member was sworn in as Staten Island’s new Borough President on January 1, 2014.

Borough President Oddo was born and raised in Dongan Hills, Staten Island, and bought his first house only a few blocks away from where he grew up. As the youngest of four boys, Oddo values the sacrifices his parents made. Oddo watched his father, a motorman, leave early and get home late to … <Read More>


Wide Support Expressed for Designation of Former Tammany Hall [Update: City Council Land Use Committee Voted Unanimously for Designation]

Speakers largely emphasized the role of Tammany in New York City’s social and political history. On June 25, 2013, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing on the potential designation of the former Tammany Hall, at 100 East 17th Street off of Union Square, as an individual City landmark. Landmarks calendared the building on May 14, 2013. The building was Tammany’s second headquarters, replacing a meeting hall on 14th Street. Built at the height … <Read More>


Top Ten CityLand Stories of 2013

Welcome to CityLand‘s second annual top ten stories of the year! We have selected the most popular and interesting stories, guest commentaries and profiles concerning NYC land use in 2013. In only our second year transitioning to an online publication, readership has dramatically increased. We look forward to continuing to provide in-depth coverage of the latest land use projects, cases, and legislation in 2014.  We at CityLand thank you for your support and wish … <Read More>


Instant Run-off Voting: End High Cost, Low Turnout Run-Off Elections

A runoff election held weeks after a primary election always results in depressingly low voter turnout.  Citizens Union supports instituting an instant runoff voting system where voters rank their preferred candidates on the day of the primary rather than needing to return to cast another ballot on a subsequent election day two to three weeks later.  This would ensure that the winning candidate enjoys broad electoral support, as well as avoiding the logistical and financial … <Read More>