The New York State Legislature has formally concluded session for 2023. Notably, the legislature and Governor Hochul failed to reach a compromise on the state’s affordable housing crisis. In the final hours of session, the...more
Mayor Adams has appointed Ana Almanzar as Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives. In her new role, Almanzar will be overseeing the commissioners and executive directors of CUNY, the Department of Youth and Community...more
Mayor Adams has requested permission to relief NYC of its right-to-shelter law. Currently, the city provides shelter to anyone who asks, but the Adams administration has asserted that the asylum seeker has overwhelmed the...more
Judge Appointments Mayor Adams announced eight judicial appointments to New York State Family Court, Criminal Court, and Civil Court. Three new judges have been appointed to Family Court, three judges were appointed to...more
Chicago Mayor Lightfoot Announces Apprenticeship Program to Create, Grow Technology Talent in City Government, Improve City Services Now former-Mayor Lori Lightfoot and various city departments announced an apprenticeship...more
Last Thursday, the NYC Council convened a Stated meeting, where they passed and introduced multiple pieces of legislation. The Council approved legislation that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person’s height...more
Mayor Adams Plan to Shelter Asylum Seekers Outside NYC Last Friday, Mayor Eric Adams announced a plan to provide asylum seekers and option to shelter in surrounding New York counties, outside of New York City. In response to...more
State Budget “Conceptual Agreement” -
Governor Hochul has announced a “conceptual agreement” on the state budget at an expected $229 billion. State Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl...more
Rowan Wilson Confirmed as Chief Judge-
Judge Rowan Wilson was confirmed as Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals last Tuesday. Wilson is now the first Black judge to hold this position, and was approved by a...more
Gig Economy & Technology-
NEW YORK — NYPD Rolls Out Robotic “Digidog”-
The New York Police Department (NYPD) recently announced a series of high-tech security, including a robotic “digidog” to be used in life-threatening...more
4/20/2023
/ City Councils ,
Commercial Real Estate Market ,
Homeless Issues ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Labor Disputes ,
Labor Shortage ,
Local Elections ,
Mayors ,
Prison Overcrowding ,
Public Health ,
Public Transit ,
Remote Working ,
Robotics ,
Short-Term Lease ,
State Budgets ,
Technology ,
Unions ,
Wage Theft
NYC Council Passes and Introduces Legislation-
Last Tuesday, the NYC Council convened a Stated meeting, where they passed and introduced multiple pieces of legislation. The Council approved legislation requiring the...more
City Council Releases Preliminary Budget Response-
City Council has released their FY24 preliminary budget response. The response outlines $1.3B in investments in housing, workforce development, essential services, and...more
Gig Economy & Technology-
SEATTLE — Gig Workers to Receive Paid Sick, Safe Leave-
The city will be providing paid sick and safe leave for most gig workers, who will accrue a day of paid sick leave for every 30 days they...more
4/6/2023
/ Affordable Housing ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corruption ,
Health and Safety ,
Local Elections ,
Mayors ,
Paid Sick Leave ,
Public Transit ,
Rent Control ,
Right to Work ,
Strike ,
Sustainability ,
Tax Credits ,
Unions
State Budget Update-
The New York State budget has not yet been agreed upon, now past the deadline of April 1. Some of the key issues holding up its passage include the Governor’s housing proposal and a plan to scale back...more
Governor Hochul announced the nomination of Dr. James V McDonald as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health. McDonald has been serving as the Acting Commissioner of Health since January 1, and he previously...more
Chicago will begin testing parking enforcement technology and smart loading zones following an ordinance the City Council passed March 15. The technology will automatically issue tickets for parking or standing violations in...more
3/23/2023
/ Gun Laws ,
Home Equity ,
Homeless Issues ,
Housing Market ,
Local Elections ,
Local Ordinance ,
Parking Tickets ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Public Health ,
Rent Control ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Strike ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
State Senate and Assembly Release One-House Budgets-
The New York State Senate and Assembly have released their one-house budgets, in response to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Executive FY24 Budget. Notably, both chambers have...more
Speaker Adams Delivers State of the City Address-
Last Wednesday, Speaker Adams delivered her second State of the City address. She focused on “People Over Everything” and outlined several proposals on economic mobility,...more
CHICAGO — United Center Concessions Workers in One-Day Walkout- Concessions workers at the United Center staged a one-day walkout Sunday that affected food and beverage service during the afternoon’s Chicago Bulls game....more
3/13/2023
/ 911 Calls ,
Bureau of Labor Statistics ,
Condominiums ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Freelance Workers ,
Labor Shortage ,
Mayors ,
Mental Health ,
Pay-To-Play ,
Real Estate Market ,
Rent Control ,
Unions
City Council Launches “Welcome NYC”-
City Council announced a new public/private partnership in support of asylum seekers, “Welcome NYC.” The $2.2 million initiative includes $1 million in funding from the city and $1...more
Preview of Adams’ Mental Health Agenda-
Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan previewed details of the Adams administration’s mental health agenda last Wednesday. The agenda consists of three plans, focused on substance use...more
On the evening of February 2, Chicago rideshare drivers gathered outside the Copernicus Center on the city’s Northwest Side, braving extremely cold and windy weather, to demand better working conditions, wages and benefits. ...more
2/23/2023
/ Affordable Housing ,
City Councils ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Debt ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Fair Workweek ,
Hotels ,
Judges ,
Mayors ,
Mental Health ,
Occupancy Tax ,
Political Candidates ,
Public Safety ,
Public Schools ,
Real Estate Market ,
State Budgets ,
Trains ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
Senate Rejects LaSalle-
The New York State Senate voted 39-20 against Hon. Hector LaSalle, Governor Hochul’s nominee for Chief Judge. The vote, which was primarily along party lines, ended the tension between the Governor...more
GOP Senator Sues Dems over LaSalle-
State Senator Anthony Palumbo has sued state Democrats in order to compel a full Senate floor vote on Hector LaSalle, Governor Hochul’s nominee for Chief Judge. Sen. Palumbo is the ranking...more
CHICAGO — Proposed Ordinance Offers Course Correction for False Claims Against Gig Workers-
Rideshare and delivery drivers in Chicago are calling for an ordinance that guarantees their right to appeal before being...more
2/13/2023
/ Affordable Housing ,
Airports ,
Commercial Buildings ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Delivery Drivers ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Layoffs ,
Mental Health ,
Office Space ,
Political Campaigns ,
Political Candidates ,
Public Health ,
Railways ,
Rent ,
Tax Assessment ,
Technology Sector ,
Transportation Industry ,
Vaccinations