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.