Mayor Appoints City’s First “Rat Czar” to Handle Rodent Mitigation

On April 12, 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams appointed Kathleen Corradi as the City’s first-ever citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation, also known as the “Rat Czar.” Corradi is tasked with working and coordinating with multiple city agencies, community organizations, and private entities to achieve the City’s goal of reducing the rat population and improving the health issues related to rodents.



Proposed Council Bill to Increase Penalties for Sidewalk Parking in Manufacturing Districts

New penalties will range from $500 to $1,000. On February 2, 2023, Council Member Alexa Avilés introduced bill number 0900-2023 in the NYC Council. The bill proposes to increase penalties for illegal sidewalk parking by covered businesses in certain manufacturing (M1) zoning districts and arranged for bollards to be installed within selected areas of these zoning districts.


Landmarks Calendars Former Segregated School Building in Chelsea

On February 14, 2023, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar the former Colored School No. 4 as an individual landmark. The former school, located at 128 West 17th Street in Chelsea, Manhattan, is the only surviving school building that exclusively served African American students in Manhattan in the second half of the 19th century. The building serves as a significant reminder of racially segregated education in New York City, and the accomplishments of notable <Read More>