Council approves Waterfront planning legislation

New law requires DCP to file waterfront plan every 10 years. On October 7, 2008, the City Council passed a local law requiring the Department of City Planning to file a waterfront plan with the Mayor, the Council, the Public Advocate, the Borough Presidents, and the community boards by December 31, 2010, and to repeat the filing not less than every ten years thereafter. The purpose of the plan is to take into account the … <Read More>


Council Introduces Bill to Study Business Start-Up Costs for M/WBEs

On October 10, 2024, Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse introduced Int. 1082, legislation mandating the NYC Commissioner of Small Business Services to conduct a study and report on the fees and costs required to start and maintain small businesses in New York City – with particular focus on certified minority- or women-owned businesses (M/WBEs). The bill defines small business to cover those that meet the size standards under the code of federal regulations, are not a franchise … <Read More>


What is the Future of Outdoor Dining in New York City?

 

By Mark Chiusano

The outdoor dining setup at Artesano on Chambers Street had some of the soaring dignity of its location. Patrons savoring the high-end Peruvian food could look through an arched, see-through roof at the classical limestone exterior of the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, topped by the towering gilded statue “Civic Fame.”  

It did not feel like eating in the street. It was an “extension of our restaurant,” said Roman Cervantes, a <Read More>




NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update 09/16/24

 

 

 

 

 

By Jeff Wice with Ahmed Hussein, Jordan Karpoff & Alexis Marking

REDISTRICTING & VOTING RIGHTS ACT LITIGATION

Orange County:Clarke et al. v. Town of Newburgh

In January, three Black and three Hispanic residents of Newburgh filed this lawsuit, claiming the town’s at-large election system for Town Board elections has prevented Black and Hispanic residents from electing candidates of their choice, thus violating the N.Y. Voting Rights Act.