By Matt Chaban 9/14/12 1:17pm

In the Rezone

Does a big street call for big buildings? (Bridge & Tunnel Club)

West Harlem Rezoning Still Too Big, Say Locals Hoping Council Will Fight Back

Recently, the City Planning Commission approved plans for the rezoning of West Harlem, a plan meant to protect the smaller-scale of the neighborhood. Some locals believe it still allows for outsized development in some places, specifically along the 145th Street corridor. They have written a letter to the City Council, which will make the final decision on the rezoning in the next month or so, urging it to reduce the height of buildings on 145th Street. The letter, provided to The Observer by a concerned citizen, can be read in full after the jump. Read More

By Eddie Small 4/16/12 8:52pm

Troubling Developments

Elisha Otis demonstrating his first elevator. How much has changed?

After a Decade and Two Deaths, the City Council Gets Serious About Elevator Safety

The hearing room was full and the overflow room was overflowing at the New York City Council’s offices at 250 Broadway this afternoon. Maybe it was the fact that this was the first elevator safety hearing since two New Yorkers lost their lives in elevators in the past year. Maybe it was the fact that this was the first oversight hearing on elevator safety since 2003.

This in a city where most people live and work in high-rise, all serviced by some 60,000 elevators.

The main issue of the afternoon was two new elevator safety bills proposed by the council: one that would require existing elevators to be furnished with more safety devices and another that would require elevator workers to be licensed.

“We require licensing of our plumbers. We require licensing of our electricians. And the lack of elevator licensing is a major loophole,” said councilmember James Vacca, a sponsor of the licensing bill. “It is also a threat to the safety of millions of New Yorkers.” Read More

By Azi Paybarah 4/05/11 11:44pm

The Budget

New York's New Governor Leaves Bloomberg Begging

At the Somos el Futuro legislative conference in Albany this weekend, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli could be seen hugging Senator Charles Schumer-not because he was feeling particularly affectionate, but because Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, chairman of the conference, which gathers top Democratic officials to discuss issues of concern to Hispanic New Yorkers, had urged attendees to Read More

By David Freedlander 3/15/11 8:22pm

Dividing Lines

Uptown Border Dispute Spills Out Into Open at Council Hearing

A long-simmering dispute between two uptown City Councilmembers spilled into the open today as Robert Jackson of Harlem accused two Dominican lawmakers of attempting to turn Dominican residents of his district against him.

According to sources present at a Zoning Committee hearing today regarding Columbia University’s plan to expand their athletic facilities in Inwood, Jackson Read More

By Azi Paybarah 5/06/10 4:44pm

City Budget

Education Chairman Unhappy with Bloomberg’s Budget

Here are City Councilmen Robert Jackson, chairman of the Education Committee and Fernando Cabrera, who sits on both the Education Committee and Higher Education Committee [corrected].

With thousands of teacher layoffs proposed by Michael Bloomberg, it’s understandable that these guys were the least happy people walking out of City Hall earlier this morning.

Jackson Read More