By Wayne Sheppard Last October, the terror attack in downtown Manhattan that claimed the lives of multiple pedestrians reaffirmed the need for improved pedestrian safety. Various safety initiatives are focusing on older New Yorkers. According to New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) statistics, the fatality rate for pedestrians over 65… View more
By Penny Laughlin Effective December 28, 2017, Local Law 154 of 2017 will amend the Administrative Code requirements for Tenant Protection Plans (TPPs). The changes require more detailed information regarding measures taken to protect tenant safety and health. In addition, the amendments address owner responsibilities for distributing TPP notices and notifying… View more
By Wayne Sheppard Do you have an expiring Department of Transportation (DOT) permit for a street or sidewalk opening? Between December 1, 2017, and March 31, 2018, the DOT Winter Moratorium is in effect. To keep our streets and sidewalks safe during the cold—and often snowy—months ahead, holders of permits that… View more
By Austin Regan, R.A. The populace has become numb to news out of Washington about the dysfunctional, “do-nothing” Congress that can’t seem to agree on anything more substantial than what to name a post office. Congress’s approval rating hovers somewhere between speeding tickets and root canal surgery. Our local city government… View more
By Frank Fortino It’s official: New Yorkers can bring out their dancing shoes. Last month, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation that repealed the 91-year-old Cabaret Law, which outlawed dancing in eating and drinking establishments without a license. Sounds simple, right? To put the situation in perspective, only… View more
By Renee Sosnowski Effective January 1, 2018, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) will begin reviewing unpaid civil penalties of Safety Registrant recipients and applicants. This move complies with Local Law 47 of 2016. If the agency finds outstanding fines imposed by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings/Environmental… View more
By Andrew Pisani As 2017 winds down and the holiday season moves into full swing, it’s easy to let annual permits slip through the cracks. Back in the day, industry professionals from building and office managers to business owners and contractors relied on city agencies to send a reminder or annual… View more