Housing and Homelessness
Shelter beds in the Bronx

Council Bill Could Force NYC to Report Actual Homeless Shelter Census—Eventually

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Since Jan. 1, City Limits has been publishing more accurate homeless shelter census figures after a Council bill to force the city to publish a true number failed last year. The total commonly cited by city officials excludes thousands of people staying in shelters run by agencies other than the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), failing to count more than 15 percent of the actual population.

Art at the Limits

The Art Treasures Behind NYC’s School Doors

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With pieces dating back to the early 20th century, the city’s public schools are home to almost 2,000 works encompassing realistic murals depicting the city’s history, giant pieces on exterior walls, playground installations that teach children about sound, fanciful fences and wall installations with nooks and crannies for students to explore. Faith Ringgold, Keith Haring, Romare Bearden and Carrie Mae Weems are among the many prominent artists represented.

CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS
debris piled up outside of flooded homes in Queens

Opinion: Which NY Communities Are Most Susceptible to Climate Change Harms? Weigh In By Aug. 5

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“New Yorkers now have the opportunity—and responsibility—to help the state move toward true climate justice by submitting input on how to allocate $300 billion for “disadvantaged communities.” Public participation has so far been abysmal: Only four people testified at New York City’s earlier in-person hearing. But it’s not too late: The comment period is open until July 7.”

Health and Environment

Homeless Hotel Residents Brace for Next Move as NYC Weighs Changes to COVID Protections

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The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is re-evaluating its guidelines for sheltering older homeless adults and people with significant health problems that make them especially vulnerable to COVID-19, who can under the current rules access private or semi-private rooms. More than 170 such residents being housed at a Radisson Hotel in lower Manhattan will need to move out by early next month.

Development
Brooklyn's Barclays Cente

When Developers Promise Community Benefits, Who Holds Them Accountable? 

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One big problem with Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs), experts say, is that they’re not laws, but rather private contracts between a developer and community groups. And if those groups aren’t around to hold a developer accountable—or the developer isn’t around and there’s no successor clause—there’s little anyone else can do to enforce an agreement.

Una Ciudad sin Límites

Presupuesto de la ciudad mantiene $4 millones de dólares para impulsar la comunicación con las familias inmigrantes en las escuelas de Nueva York

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Según el Departamento de Educación, el 43 por ciento de los estudiantes de la Gran Manzana hablaban un idioma distinto al inglés durante el año escolar actual. El programa de Comunicación con las Familias Inmigrantes (Immigrant Family Engagement), que había sido presupuestado para un solo año, fue renovado en el presupuesto de 2023, pero no se amplió a los 6 millones de dólares solicitados por los defensores.