New York Note: Council Legislation, Mayor’s Housing Plan, FY27 Participatory Budgeting, MNN Honors Stuart Shorenstein

NYC Council Passes and Introduces Legislation

Last Wednesday, the New York City Council passed several legislative resolutions concerning municipal operations, employee retirement and pension systems, public safety workforce benefits and protections, and certain property and administrative matters. The Council also introduced legislation, including proposals to establish an Office of Artificial Intelligence Oversight; modify commercial waste zone implementation in Staten Island; prohibit the sale of birds in pet shops; raise the maximum age for taking the police officer civil service examination; and require a study on providing reconsolidation of traumatic memories therapy for veterans, as well as a package of bills supporting veteran vendors, addressing sanitation and operational requirements for roadway and sidewalk cafés, and allowing for quarterly payment of café-related fees. All passed and introduced bills are available here.

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Mayor Mamdani Announces “Block by Block” Housing Plan

Earlier today, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg announced their housing plan, Block by Block, which outlines a comprehensive strategy to address New York City’s housing crisis through large-scale production, preservation, and public housing investment. The plan calls for building 200,000 new affordable homes and preserving another 200,000 over the next decade, supported by a $22 billion capital commitment and expanded development tools. It includes major investments in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), using programs such as PACT and the Public Housing Preservation Trust to finance repairs, renovate tens of thousands of units, restore vacant apartments, and build new housing on NYCHA land. The plan also emphasizes increased resident participation, expanded homeownership opportunities, strengthened housing code enforcement, and labor standards for construction workers, alongside broader efforts to improve housing quality, reduce shelter use, and expand affordable housing access.

Speaker Menin and NYC Council Announce Results of FY 2027 Participatory Budgeting

On Friday, members of the New York City Council announced the winning projects for the FY 2027 Participatory Budgeting cycle, in which nearly 130,000 residents voted to allocate about $25 million toward local capital improvements across 22 Council districts. Voting took place in April and was open to residents ages 11 and up, with ballots available online and in multiple languages. The program, now in its 15th year, allows community members to propose and select projects for schools, parks, libraries, and other public spaces through a collaborative process with city agencies and council offices.

Stuart Shorenstein Honored at MMN Spring Pranzo

Stuart Shorenstein, Senior Principal and Co-Founder of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, was honored by the Manhattan Neighborhood Network at their 2026 Spring Pranzo in recognition of 35 years of advocacy and key advisorship. Stuart has represented MNN since its founding in 1991, helping advance its mission to amplify diverse voices and expand access to media, culture, and community storytelling across New York City. As the country’s leading public access media center, MNN continues to empower New Yorkers of all backgrounds to connect, create, and be heard.

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