Solar Crosswalk Proposal, Universal Free Child Care Office, Biometric Tech Ban, and 30 More — This Week in Committee

No Floor Votes, Plenty of Action

The week of March 2–8 had no Stated Meeting, so no bills came to a floor vote. Instead, 33 items received committee hearings across a wide range of topics — from child care and public health to street safety and land use — and were held for further review.

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Transportation & Street Safety

Ten transportation-related bills were heard this week, covering a broad range of street-level changes.

• A solar-powered crosswalk bill was discussed in the Transportation Committee and delayed for further deliberation.
• A proposal to expand bicycle parking stations across the city was tabled after a committee hearing.
• A bill that would set a deadline for installing school safety traffic devices was heard and tabled pending refinement.
• A feasibility study for Inwood ferry service was held pending further consideration.
• Bills addressing curb extension safety mandates, sidewalk cafe clear path rules, and a pedestrian space expansion plan were all laid over after committee discussion.
• Separate proposals on roadway and sidewalk cafe expansion and sidewalk cafe application access were also postponed.

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Children, Health & Civil Rights

Six child care bills and six health bills were heard this week, along with several civil rights proposals — all held in committee.

Child care:

• Bills covering a child care pilot program, a child care permitting study, childcare services at public meetings, a universal free child care office, 3-K and pre-K outreach, and early childhood seat availability reporting were all delayed in subcommittee.

Health:

• A sodium warning bill and an added sugar warning label revamp were discussed and delayed in the health committee.
• Bills on vaccine information and a childhood vaccination education plan were laid over.
• A task force on the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline was held in committee awaiting amendments.

Civil rights & technology:

• A biometric technology ban for public places and a bill placing facial recognition limits in apartment buildings both faced further scrutiny and were held in committee.
• A mental health emergency response data transparency bill was delayed for revision.

Note on land use: Nine land use applications — including the Hill Top Apartments landmarks application, two Newtown Creek combined sewer overflow tunnel projects, multiple Berry Street zoning items, and Allen Street demapping and zoning amendments — were all heard in subcommittee and laid over. These follow the standard ULURP public review process.

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Next week: Watch for movement on the child care package and transportation safety bills as committees continue their review.