Heard Around Town

Policy

NYPD doesn’t need to be more detailed in tech transparency, official says

“I'm more concerned about public safety and keeping people safe and being true to the spirit of the law,” Ruben Beltran said, when asked about criticisms of POST Act compliance.

Education

Policy

City & State’s Education in New York Summit brings light to resource disparities across the state

The event attended by government leaders and educators revealed obstacles to equity and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

MTA

Policy

Congestion pricing still has skeptics in the City Council

Many elected officials acknowledge the benefits of congestion pricing, but still have questions about the MTA’s implementation of the historic program.

Immigration

Politics

Adams administration denies rift with state over asylum crisis

A letter from the state this week alleged a “lack of coordination” from the city in some aspects of its handling of the migrant influx.

Heard Around Town

Policy

NYC outdoor dining permits won’t generate much revenue, deputy mayor says

Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi said that the new pay-by-square-foot permit system for outdoor dining setups won’t generate much revenue for the city, despite charging up to $31 per square foot.

Heard Around Town

Policy

25 pols call for taxis, app-based drivers to be exempt from congestion pricing

In a letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board, the electeds said taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers shouldn’t be burdened with extra fees.

Housing

Policy

Could New York City’s right to shelter apply statewide?

Some advocates and elected officials argue that the state constitution requires all localities, not just New York City, to provide shelter to anyone who needs it.

Immigration

Politics

‘Why are they not working with us?’: advocates decry language barriers for African migrants

Many asylum-seekers from African countries have arrived in New York City in recent months, and advocates worry that the city isn’t addressing language barrier issues for non-Spanish-speaking migrants.

Eric Adams

Politics

Eric Adams’ messaging strategy gets a new general

The mayor appointed City Hall press secretary Fabien Levy to the new role of deputy mayor for communications.

Personality

Personality

Yusef Salaam never lost his infinite hope

The likely New York City Council member campaigned in poetry. Now he must learn to govern in prose.

Policy

Policy

After PR stunts, damning reports and a new lawsuit, judge sets stage for potential federal takeover of Rikers next year

Federal judge Laura Taylor Swain is losing patience with the city Department of Correction, which has now come under fire from the court-appointed federal monitor, Legal Aid Society, federal prosecutors, city comptroller and Board of Correction.

Health Care

Politics

After Damian Williams’ striking comments on supervised injection sites, New York leaders are quiet

The U.S. attorney said his office is prepared to take action as the sites are in violation of state and federal law, but he declined to elaborate further.

New York City

Policy

New York City Council members probe shelter limits for asylum-seekers

At a hearing Thursday, Adams administration officials said many people are ready to make an “exit strategy” within the 60-day cap.

Policy

Policy

Eric Adams’ ‘record-breaking’ year for affordable housing has some caveats

New affordable housing starts saw significant growth in the last fiscal year, but the financing of affordable units is still lower than in recent years under de Blasio.

Politics

Politics

False alarm, everything at Rikers is A-OK

The federal monitor calls the current conditions at the jail complex grave, but the New York City Council’s Common Sense Caucus visited and they think it looks fine in there.

Politics

Politics

Brooklyn Dems meet in back room of lobster restaurant to pick borough’s judges

In advance of the Brooklyn Democratic Party’s judicial convention, party leaders got together at Nick’s Lobster House to decide which candidates should win the convention.