News in New York – NYC Redistricting, NYC Legislation, Admin Appointments, and BK Power 100

NYC District Commission Releases Proposed City Council District Maps

Last Friday, the New York City Districting Commission released the first daft of redrawn City Council districts. The maps, which were voted in favor or 10-2, were released after the first round of public hearings, where over 500 New Yorkers testified. The proposed maps are largely similar to the current lines, but have a few significant changes. Most notably, the Commission created a new Asian and Pacific Islander majority seat in southern Brooklyn, which may pit two incumbents, Justin Brannan and Alexa Aviles, against each other. The new lines also moves Roosevelt Island and a portion of the Upper East Side into Council District 26, which is primarily in Queens. There will be a second round of public hearings next month and the Commission will then vote on the final lines later this fall. The maps must be finalized by February and will be used for next year’s City Council elections. You can find the proposed maps here.

NYC Council Passes and Introduces Legislation

Last Thursday, the NYC Council convened a stated meeting, where they passed and introduced multiple pieces of legislation. The Council passed a package of bills to safeguard abortion and reproductive health rights in NYC. The legislative package expands reproductive health services across the five boroughs, protects those seeking access to care, and codifies NYC as a safe harbor for abortion care. In addition, the Council passed a bill that will establish an Office of the Utility Advocate within the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. The Council introduced legislation which would reestablish the Open Culture Program that allows eligible art and cultural institutions to use outdoor space for cultural performances. They also introduced a bill that would require landlords to provide tenants with documentation of damages when deducting money from a tenant’s security deposit. In addition, the Council introduced legislation require micro-fulfillment businesses, sometimes referred to as “dark stores,” to obtain a license in order to do business in the City. You can find all of the bills that were passed and introduced here.

Mayor Eric Adams Announces Several Administration Appointments

Last week, Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointments of Eva Wong as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH) and Brian Stettin as Senior Advisor for severe mental illness. Wong currently serves as a ParentCorps Unit Supervisor at the Center for Early Childhood Health and Development at NYU Langone Health, and previously spent a decade at University Settlement. Stettin has spent the past 13 years at Treatment Advocacy Center, where he served as Policy Director. Previously, he serves as Counsel to the Health Committee of the New York Assembly and as Special Counsel to the New York State Commissioner of Criminal Justice Services. Both will work closely with Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom.

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