Mayor Adams Signs Two Economic Recovery Bills

The two City Council measures will create a small business portal and require additional commercial property registration, respectively. On October 18, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams signed two bills, Intro 116 and Intro 383, to promote the city’s economic recovery. Intro 116 will help small business owners with City administrative needs and Intro 383 provides the city with more data about the extent of commercial vacancies citywide.


Landmarks Calendars Julius’ Bar for Consideration as an Individual Landmark

The bar played a role in establishing LGBTQ+ social spaces and stopping discrimination from the State Liquor Authority. On September 13, 2022, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar Julius’ Bar for consideration as an Individual Landmark. Julius’ Bar, located at 159 W 10th Street at the corner of W 10th Street and Waverly Place in Greenwich Village, is a notable part of the city’s LGBTQ+ history. The site is located within the Greenwich Village <Read More>


Mayor’s Office, SBS Launch Equitable Cannabis Industry Initiative

“Cannabis NYC” intends to boost the city’s economy while rectifying harm caused to Black and brown communities under cannabis prohibition. On August 22, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams and Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kevin D. Kim announced the launch of Cannabis NYC. The initiative will support entrepreneurs and employees as the industry develops, providing the city’s first-ever technical assistance for cannabis license applicants and additional business services.


City Council Holds Hearing for Creation of “One-Stop Shop NYC Business Portal”

The New York City Council Committee on Small Business held a public hearing on a proposed digital portal to centralize the information and paperwork necessary to open and run a small business. On June 9, 2022,  the New York City Council’s Committee on Small Business held a public hearing on a proposed bill that would require the City to create and maintain the, “One-Stop Shop NYC Business Portal.” The Portal would be an on-line hub … <Read More>


Assault Rifles and The Impact of New York State’s SAFE Act (REPRINTED FROM 2018)

***THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY RAN FOUR YEARS AGO IN CITYLAW*** The SAFE Act, the acronym for the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act – New York State’s January, 2013 omnibus gun control law – provides an excellent opportunity to assess the potential impact of maximally politically feasible gun control, an exercise all the more relevant in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas.  The SAFE Act did not have to be negotiated or compromised.  … <Read More>


Proposed Zoning Changes Cut Remnants of Cabaret Law “Foot” Loose

On Wednesday, June 1, Mayor Eric Adams announced his plans for three citywide zoning text amendments aimed to bolster small businesses, expand affordable housing, and reduce carbon usage in the interest of sustainability. The first of these, “Zoning for Economic Opportunity,” aims to remove red tape for small businesses and includes removing restrictions on dancing that survived the Cabaret Law’s repeal.