Week of November 10, 2025

This bill would require the NYPD to adopt a policy on encrypted police radios, making real-time reports of critical incidents available to the public and allowing credentialed journalists access to most precinct and borough radio communications (except sensitive investigative details). The department would have 12 months to finalize and implement the policy after a public comment period.

This bill would require the NYPD to give the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) direct access to officer body-worn camera footage, similar to what internal affairs investigators currently have. The CCRB could search, view, and store footage to investigate allegations of police misconduct, with limited exceptions for state-protected information.

This proposed bill would create a new licensing framework for autonomous vehicles operating as taxis in NYC. Before any self-driving taxi could operate, the Taxi and Limousine Commission would need to establish rules covering safety standards, insurance, vehicle requirements, and data reporting. Currently, all taxis must have a human driver.

The City Council approved a bill this week requiring the city to study Hart Island's burial capacity and report findings by June 2027. The study will examine current burial procedures, assess space for future burials, and recommend changes to increase capacity if feasible—including whether to demolish buildings or use new areas on the island.

The City Council approved a bill this week that increases annual spending budgets for seven business improvement districts and one special assessment district, effective July 1, 2026. These districts—including Myrtle Avenue, Woodhaven, Pitkin Avenue, Bryant Park, and others—will receive higher funding to support local street maintenance, sanitation, security, and economic development services.

The City Council approved a bill this week that changes how the Lincoln Square business improvement district charges property owners and authorizes it to provide additional services. The district, which covers an area around Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side, will shift its assessment method and expand what it can do with the fees it collects.

The City Council approved a property tax exemption for Henry Phipps Plaza East, a housing development in Manhattan (Block 934, Lot 1001). The exemption allows the housing development fund company to pay a reduced 'gross rent tax' of 2.48% instead of full property taxes for up to 40 years, as long as the property operates as affordable housing under a regulatory agreement with the city.

The City Council approved a 40-year real property tax exemption for an affordable housing development in the Bronx (Blocks 2669 and 2697). The exemption, which took effect July 1, 2025, applies to a project operated by a housing development fund company and requires compliance with affordable housing regulations to remain in effect.

The Finance Committee held a hearing this week on a bill that would restrict tax lien sales to protect homeowners. The bill prohibits tax lien buyers from foreclosing on owner-occupied residential properties for at least one year after purchase, and only then if the debt reaches 15% of the home's value or $70,000. It also requires quarterly notices to homeowners about their debt and resolution options. After 2028, the city could only sell tax liens to the NYC Land Bank.

The Finance Committee held a hearing on this bill this week and laid it over for further consideration. The bill would require the city Finance Department to publish annual reports on properties with unresolved tax liens (those unpaid for 3+ years), including details on inspections, violations, and foreclosure actions, and share this data with inspection agencies to help target enforcement efforts.

The Finance Committee held a hearing this week on a bill requiring the city to notify condominium boards before selling tax liens on their properties. Currently, the city only notifies individual property owners; this bill adds condo boards to that notification requirement so they can take action to prevent liens from being sold.

The Finance Committee held a hearing this week on a bill that would require tax lien purchasers to transfer their liens to NYC's land bank within six months, with reporting requirements for any liens they cannot transfer. The bill aims to get tax-foreclosed properties into the city's land bank—a tool for community development—rather than letting private investors hold them indefinitely.

The Finance Committee held a hearing this week on a bill to create a business improvement district (BID) in Coney Island, Brooklyn. A BID is a defined area where property owners pay into a fund to support local services and improvements like street cleaning, security, and marketing. This bill would formally establish the Coney Island BID once a district plan is filed with the city.

The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held a hearing this week on a resolution that would allow the city to extend CityBridge's franchise agreement to operate public communications structures (like pay phones and mobile telecom equipment) across all five boroughs for up to five additional years. The resolution was laid over after the hearing, meaning a vote has been postponed pending further consideration.

This proposal would legalize cats in retail food stores (like grocery stores and bodegas) and establish free vaccination and spay/neuter programs for them. Currently, city health rules prohibit animals in food retail spaces; this bill would override that ban and let store owners keep cats, likely to control rodents.

This bill would require the city to publicly report how long it takes voucher holders to find and move into housing after receiving a housing voucher. The city would track lease-up times for different voucher programs (like CityFHEPS) and submit annual reports to the Mayor and City Council, helping expose delays in the rental assistance system.

This bill would require the FDNY to notify firefighters when their protective gear contains PFAS chemicals (harmful 'forever chemicals' used in waterproofing) and, starting in 2028, transition to equipment without PFAS where practicable. The city would have to track and report failures to comply.

This bill proposes to establish a voluntary PFAS screening program for FDNY firefighters and retirees. Firefighters would receive annual blood tests and cancer screenings to detect exposure to PFAS chemicals (industrial compounds found in firefighting foam), with retirees screened every two years. The program would be run jointly by the fire department and health department.

This bill proposes creating a youth entrepreneurship program run by the Department of Small Business Services to train New Yorkers ages 18-30 in starting businesses, with a focus on helping them compete for city contracts. Participants would receive business training, minimum wage compensation during the program, and ongoing support for up to two years after graduation, with targeted outreach to underrepresented communities.

This bill would require the Fire Department to collect, exchange, and dispose of firefighting gear containing PFAS chemicals—toxic compounds linked to health risks—starting in 2028. Firefighters would be able to swap contaminated equipment for safer alternatives, with annual reporting on progress.

This bill would require the FDNY to test drinking water at every firehouse every three months for PFAS chemicals (toxic 'forever chemicals' linked to health problems) and install filtration systems if levels exceed safety standards. The city would report results quarterly to track progress in protecting firefighters and staff from contaminated water.

This proposed bill would require the NYPD to have a specially trained domestic violence officer available 24/7 in every precinct and police service area to respond to domestic violence and family offense calls. The aim is to ensure faster, more expert response to these situations.

This bill proposes to allow housing providers to give preference to artists when renting or selling apartments, as long as the preference is approved by a city or state agency. Currently, NYC's human rights law prohibits discrimination based on occupation in housing. This change would create a legal exception specifically for artist housing programs.

This bill would streamline housing lottery applications for New Yorkers receiving public assistance by allowing the city to automatically transfer their benefit documents from social services directly to their housing portal account. Currently, applicants must manually gather and submit these documents; this proposal aims to reduce paperwork burden and simplify the application process for low-income households applying for affordable housing.

This bill would require the city to post inspection reports for child care centers within 24 hours of each inspection and make them available via 311. It would also mandate that when a child care center is ordered closed due to health or safety hazards, the city must post the closure order at the entrance and notify parents picking up children.

This proposed law would require the NYC Department of Transportation to study whether Staten Island motorists should be allowed to turn right at red lights (after a complete stop). The study would examine impacts on pedestrian and vehicle safety, traffic flow, and the environment, with a report due within one year. No change to traffic rules would happen unless the study finds it feasible and safe.

This bill would allow not-for-profit community organizations to help residents navigate NYC's housing portal—viewing listings, submitting applications, and tracking status on behalf of users who give written permission. It aims to make affordable housing searches easier for people who need assistance.

This bill would allow the city to seal or padlock community facilities (like nonprofits, religious institutions, or cultural centers) that operate in ways not permitted by their occupancy certificate. It aims to close buildings being used for unauthorized purposes while protecting any residential units in the same building.

This bill would require chain restaurants with 15+ locations to display a red-and-white warning icon and health statement next to menu items containing 1,800+ mg of sodium per serving. The icon would alert customers that high sodium intake increases blood pressure and heart disease risk. Restaurants that don't comply could face fines of $200–$500.

This bill would extend and expand a program that waives penalties and fees for small business owners with illegal accessory signs, while requiring the Department of Buildings and Department of Small Business Services to provide education on proper sign installation. It aims to help businesses come into compliance without crushing fines while reducing violations.

This bill would require the Department of Cultural Affairs to study and recommend how NYC should install monuments or artworks acknowledging the 1863 Draft Riots, a violent four-day uprising that killed about 119 people and targeted Black New Yorkers. The city would need to propose locations, designs, funding, and timelines within six months, with input from community members and historians.

This proposal would eliminate the requirement for restaurants to obtain a 'revocable consent' from the city to operate sidewalk and roadway cafes, replacing it with a simpler licensing system. Currently, cafes need both a license and separate consent; this bill would streamline the process to just require a license, potentially making it faster and easier for restaurants to set up outdoor dining.

This bill would require the Department of Social Services to pay CityFHEPS rental assistance (which helps low-income tenants pay rent) to landlords by the 7th of each month—one week before rent is due. Currently, payment timing is unclear. The change aims to ensure tenants' rent gets paid on time and reduces risk of eviction.

This bill proposes to create a standardized inspection process for apartments receiving CityFHEPS rental assistance, requiring the Department of Social Services to assess whether units meet habitability standards before approving payments. Landlords would get a clear checklist of what must be fixed, a 30-minute window to make minor repairs on-site, and an online portal to document corrections—aiming to speed up housing placements while ensuring basic living standards.

The City Council approved a resolution on November 11 designating January 15 as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Day in New York City. The resolution recognizes the sorority's 118-year history of community service, scholarship, and activism—including work on childhood hunger, youth leadership, women's health, and economic opportunity through its chapters across the five boroughs.

The City Council approved a resolution this week declaring the first Monday of November as Black Solidarity Day in New York City. The designation honors activist Carlos Russell, who created Black Solidarity Day in 1969 as a protest against racism, police violence, and systemic discrimination affecting Black Americans.

This non-binding resolution urges Congress to set a specific end date for Puerto Rico's Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB), which currently limits Puerto Rico's elected officials' control over fiscal decisions. The proposal reflects NYC's large Puerto Rican diaspora (about 670,000 residents) and concerns about federal oversight during recent political turmoil over the board's leadership.

This bill proposes to require special vehicle identification parking permits in NYC to last at least 10 years, instead of shorter terms. The change would give permit holders longer-term parking access without needing frequent renewals.

This resolution calls on the New York State legislature to create a refundable tax credit to help cover the cost of fertility treatments like IVF. It acknowledges that treatments can cost $15,000–$30,000+ per cycle and that many New Yorkers struggle to afford them, especially those without comprehensive insurance coverage.