“The warranty of habitability is implied in all New York residential leases, which means that all landlords—including NYCHA—are responsible for making sure apartments are livable and safe, and prolonged gas, heat, and electricity outages run counter to that duty.”
ARTS and CULTURE
Opinion: Why NYC Needs a Five-Borough Cultural Festival
Eli Dvorkin and Winston Fisher |
“Creating a citywide cultural festival of global proportions would give locals and visitors a powerful new reason to explore the five boroughs each year, while sharpening the city’s creative edge amid an increasingly packed international calendar of must-do experiences.”
Government
Midtown Homeless Drop-In Center May Be Among City Budget Casualties
Patrick Spauster |
The city plans to close a longtime homeless services center called Mainchance, where locals go for food, support in their housing searches, and relief from the elements.
Brooklyn
Opinion: Clean Air Legislation Offers a Road to Justice for New York
Marcela Mitaynes and Elizabeth Yeampierre |
“Passing this legislation before the end of the session allows legislators to implement a transformative emission reduction strategy, significantly improving air quality for their constituents, especially for communities living and working along bus routes and near bus depots.”
Boroughs
Opinion: Proposed Vending Bill Would Hamper City’s Sidewalks
Erin Piscopink and Robert J. Benfatto |
“Vending is a commercial enterprise that creates private income. Sidewalks are for all of us, and until now the city has sought to ensure that all those items that encroach on pedestrian space constitute a public service, such as parking meters, trees, and fire hydrants.”
Government
Williams Pipeline Saga Ends, But the Fight to Phase Out Gas Continues
Mariana Simões |
After three attempts to get permits for its pipeline project failed, Williams Companies Inc claims it’s walking away. But as other companies seek to expand fracked gas infrastructure in New York, activists say the fight feels far from over.
Citywide
NYC Housing Calendar, May 14-20
Jeanmarie Evelly |
City Limits rounds up the latest housing and land use-related events, public hearings and affordable housing lotteries that are ending soon.
Brooklyn
Building in Brooklyn Council District 35? Here’s What the Rep—And Community Members—Want in New Development
Chris Janaro |
Councilmember Crystal Hudson’s development framework details criteria that projects in her district should meet if they need city approval for zoning changes. “We can all contribute to the housing crisis that we’re in and build more housing, but do so in a way that’s really responsive to the needs of our local communities,” the lawmaker said.
Health and Environment
Rain, Rain, Go Away. New York Kids Are Trying to Play.
Aria Young, Feet in 2 Worlds |
Across New York City, workers are tearing out concrete and asphalt from schoolyards and replacing them with rain-absorbing surfaces that are more climate resilient, according to reporting by Aria Young of Feet in 2 Worlds.
Citywide
NYCHA to Cut Unarmed Security Program at Senior Buildings
Tatyana Turner |
Each day, unarmed security guards post at NYCHA senior buildings for eight hour shifts. But this service is poised to evaporate by June 30, a move the authority says will save $7 million.
Economy
NYC Stabilized Tenants Face Another Round of Rent Hikes
Emma Whitford |
In a swerve from precedent, the Rent Guidelines Board’s two tenant members dismissed Tuesday’s preliminary vote as a sham, casting a vote of no confidence in both the board and Mayor Eric Adams.