Economy

NYCHA Blames Dreary Financial Outlook on $454 Million in Unpaid Pandemic Rent

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More than 73,000 NYCHA households are behind on rent, what officials say will force the public housing authority to draw from operating reserves and make other cuts in the year ahead—and could potentially hamper its repair plans. Meanwhile, the state’s already-exhausted Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to aid New Yorkers in rent arrears is unlikely to reach NYCHA.

CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS

Opinion: Fare Hike is the Wrong Approach to MTA’s Financial Woes

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“If New York’s city and state leaders truly prioritize a society where social equity as well as environmental sustainability are fundamental values, discussion of subway and bus fare increases would not be on the table. And if the overarching goal is to bring riders back to the nation’s greatest public transit system, why disincentivize them with higher fares?”

Economy

City’s Street Vendors Saw Twice as Many Tickets This Year Compared to Pre-Pandemic, With NYPD Leading Enforcement

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In 2019, when the police were the sole enforcer, the NYPD issued 1,812 tickets versus 2,499 in the first nine months of this year, with almost half (48.6 percent) doled out in the last quarter. In just nine months, the NYPD and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) have issued 3,884 tickets to vendors, more than double the number of tickets made in 2019.

Una Ciudad sin Límites

Situación de trabajadores de demolición revela fallos en la aplicación de la nueva ley estatal de seguridad

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Según la Ley HERO de Nueva York, los trabajadores pueden solicitar la creación de un comité de seguridad en el lugar de trabajo para evaluar la eficacia de los protocolos de seguridad y exponer problemas de salud, entre otras tareas. Pero hasta ahora, los trabajadores tienen pocos recursos cuando los empleadores incumplen la ley. Una enmienda a la ley que está a la espera de la firma de la gobernadora crearía sanciones más estrictas en caso de incumplimiento.

Health and Environment

Demolition Workers’ Plight Reveals Enforcement Flaws in New State Safety Law

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Under the NY HERO Act, workers can request the creation of a workplace safety committee to assess the effectiveness of security protocols and raise health concerns, among other tasks. But so far, workers have little recourse when employers fail to comply. An amendment to the law awaiting the governor’s signature would create stricter penalties for noncompliance. 

Government

Building in Bushwick? Councilmember Lays Out Priorities for Rezonings

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In a document issued Monday, Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez laid out her priorities for any new development that requires changes to the zoning code in one of the city’s most intense real estate markets. Under the City Council’s informal tradition of member deference, local members have effective veto power over land use applications in their districts.