Council also voted to honor community leaders through the co-naming of 100 thoroughfares and public spaces, renaming of Marcus Garvey Square in The Bronx, and designation of Flake Legacy Day to commemorate Rev. Drs. Floyd and Elaine Flake

City Hall – Today, the New York City Council voted to strengthen residential building safety by establishing a risk based structural inspection system to identify hazardous buildings, using predictive analytics to weigh factors including but not limited to building data, violation history, compliance filings, and disciplinary history of registered design professionals.

The Council also passed legislation to honor community leaders through the co-naming of 100 thoroughfares ad public spaces, the renaming of Marcus Garvey Square in the Bronx, and designation of Flake Legacy Day to commemorate Rev. Drs. Floyd and Elaine Flake.

“Proactively identifying residential buildings that could have potentially dangerous structural issues is critical to keeping New Yorkers safe,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Recent building collapses have raised concerns about our city’s aging infrastructure and the current complaint-driven inspection process. With the passage of this legislation, the Council is advancing thoughtful solutions to prevent tragedies before they occur and make residents safer in their homes. I thank Council Member Sanchez for her leadership and my Council colleagues for their support.”

Establishing a risk-based structural inspection system for buildings

Introduction 904-A, sponsored by Council Member Pierina Sanchez, would require the Department of Buildings (DOB) to create a proactive inspection program to identify hazardous buildings, using predictive analytics to weigh factors including but not limited to building data, violation history, compliance filings, and disciplinary history of registered design professionals. The DOB commissioner would be required to establish rules outlining when a corrective action plan is necessary upon the completion of a proactive inspection, or when other safety concerns warrant one. The corrective action plan would need to be prepared by a registered design professional in good standing and must document each violating condition. The department would be required to conduct follow up inspections to verify the progress of the corrective action plan and issue a notice of violation for failure to comply with the corrective action plan.

This bill seeks to address deficiencies in the DOB’s complaint-driven, reactive inspection process that have been highlighted in the City’s aging building stock and recent incidents, including the residential building collapse at 1915 Billingsley Terrace in the Bronx that uprooted numerous families from their homes and the fatal parking garage collapse at 57 Ann Street in Lower Manhattan.

“New Yorkers deserve to both be and feel safe in their homes, yet the December 2023 1915 Billingsley Terrace collapse raised concerns about the effectiveness of the City’s practices,” said Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings. “Over 170 people were displaced at this culminating event, which followed years of neglect and hundreds of violations at this property. The Billingsley Terrace Structural Integrity Bill was born of the question, ’what more should DOB and agencies have done to prevent this tragedy?’. Int. 904 is a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and integrity of our city’s buildings, protecting both residents and neighboring properties. By leveraging predictive analytics, the City will identify and act on issues before they become major problems, ensuring a safer New York for everyone.  In my questioning of the city’s enforcement regimes,it is clear that we need to do more to hold negligent building owners accountable and ensure the safety of our residents. The Billingsley Terrace Structural Integrity Bill is the first in a series of changes geared to ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to safe and dignified housing.”

Street Co-Naming Bill

Introduction 968, sponsored by Council Member Shekar Krishnan, would co-name 100 thoroughfares and public spaces, such as Saheed Vassell Way in Brooklyn, Tony Bennett Place in Queens, Rev. Floyd H. Flake Way in Queens, and others based on requests of Council Members whose districts includes the location. Of these 100 co-names, 17 are a revision to the street sign installed with respect to a previously enacted co-naming.

Renaming a Bronx Park “Marcus Garvey Square”

Introduction 642, sponsored by Council Member Kevin C. Riley, would officially rename “Williamsbridge Square” in the Bronx to “Marcus Garvey Square.” Marcus Garvey (1887-1940) was born in St. Ann’s Bay, immigrated to Harlem in 1916, and became a prominent advocate of Black economic self-sufficiency and independence in the early 20th Century.

“Marcus Garvey’s contributions to the advancement of society, including his ever-relevant promotion of self-determination and economic advancement, have left an indelible mark. In honoring his memory, it is only fitting that we recognize his impact through a tangible gesture that resonates with constituents who have advocated for this measure for decades,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “This endeavor is not only a tribute to Garvey’s dedication to social progress but also a testament to my district’s Jamaica Progressive League and other community-based organizations committed to embracing the diverse heritage of our history. I am proud to help to raise awareness of Garvey’s contributions to the global struggle for equality and unity, this renaming and the others passing today will help to inspire others to follow in his footsteps.”

Designating First Sunday in June as Flake Legacy Day

Resolution 447, sponsored by Speaker Adrienne Adams, would designate the first Sunday in June annually as Flake Legacy Day in the City of New York to recognize the spiritual, educational, civic, and economic contributions of the Reverend Drs. Floyd and Elaine Flake in service to The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York and their community in Southeast Queens.

“For decades, the Reverend Drs. Floyd and Elaine Flake have guided our Southeast Queens communities via their spiritual, civic and economic leadership,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “As the longtime pastors of the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York, they have inspired and uplifted generations, and empowered Queens communities by creating senior and family housing, a private school for our youth, and innumerable service opportunities. Their impact on our city will be remembered forever, and I’m proud to celebrate Flake Legacy Day on the first Sunday in June every year. I thank Majority Whip Selvena Brooks-Powers, Council Members Nantasha Williams, and the entire Council for joining me in commemorating the lifelong contributions of the Reverend Drs. Floyd and Elaine Flake!”

Modifying the Comptroller’s auditing duty of city agencies

Introduction 951-A, sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler, would amend the Charter to modify the Comptroller’s auditing duty. The Charter requires the Comptroller to establish four-year auditing cycles, meaning they must audit at least one element of the performance of each agency at least once every four years. This bill would allow the Comptroller to treat all community boards as a single combined agency and all public administrators’ offices as a single combined agency for each auditing cycle. When the Comptroller treats multiple offices or boards as a single combined agency, the Comptroller would have to send a copy of the draft audit or audit report to each office or board that is covered by the audit and would have to provide each such office or board, in writing, a reasonable deadline for its review and response.

“This legislation will streamline the Comptroller’s audits of Community Boards, making it easier to identify systemic issues and patterns across multiple community boards,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler. “This approach should better address trends relating to hiring, technology, or office space challenges for community boards, while preserving the Comptroller’s full discretion to conduct in depth audits of individual community boards as needed.”

Land Use

The Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation of New York Public library, Tremont Branch, in Council Member Oswald Feliz’s district- is one of 67 circulating libraries constructed for the city’s three public library systems in the early 20th century with funding from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. The Classical Revival style building was designed by the prominent architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings and opened in 1905. In 1967, it was one of eight New York Public Library branches to participate in the South Bronx Project, which brought in bilingual staff, Spanish-language books, and programs, for the people living in the South Bronx and continues to be a staple in the community.

104-108 West 139th Street ANCP Cluster – an HPD application for a UDAAP approval, disposition of City-owned property, and an Article XI tax exemption to facilitate the renovation and preservation of 5 City owned buildings, with approximately 73 affordable cooperative homeownership units, in Council Member Yusef Salaam’s district. 

Red Hook Coastal Resiliency – an application for city map changes and property easement acquisitions by a team of City agencies including DOT and DDC to facilitate the construction of a Flood Protection System comprised of floodwalls, deployable flood barriers, raised streets, and other supporting infrastructure. This project will reduce the risk of coastal storm flooding along the waterfront of Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood, in Council Members Aviles and Hanif’s districts.  

Appointments

Resolution 454, sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers, would approve the appointment of Helen Skipper as a member of the New York City Board of Corrections.

Resolution 455, sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers, would designate Tricia Taitt for appointment by the Mayor as a director of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Resolution 456, sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers, would designate Dr. Vincent Calamia for appointment by the mayor as a director of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Resolution 457, sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers, would approve the re-appointment of Michael M. McSweeney as City Clerk and Clerk of the Council to serve the remainder of a six-year term that expires on May 12, 2030.

A preconsidered resolution to approve the appointment of Raju Mann as a commissioner of the City Planning Commission.

Finance:

A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, amending a 30-year Article XI tax exemption covering 12 rent-stabilized buildings in Council Member Hudson’s, Aviles’, and Hanif’s districts. The amendment will extend the period of exemption from 30 years to 40 years.

A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, authorizing a 40-year Article XI tax exemption for the preservation of four rent-stabilized buildings in Council Member Ung’s district. 

A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, authorizing a 40-year Article XI tax exemption for the preservation of four rent-stabilized buildings in Council Member Stevens’ district.

A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, amending a 40-year Article XI tax exemption covering 20 rent-stabilized buildings and three vacant lots in Council Member Feliz’s and Stevens’ districts. The amendment will address the phasing out of existing J-51 benefits and include an additional vacant lot into the existing project area.

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