News in New York – Stated Meeting, District Maps Approved, Fire Commissioner

NYC Council Introduces and Passes Legislation

Last Thursday, the NYC Council convened a stated meeting, where they passed and introduced multiple pieces of legislation. The Council voted to pass the Rat Action Plan, which targets the growing rat problem in NYC. The bills specifically require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to designate “rat mitigation zones” throughout the City, and require buildings with 2 or more rodent-specific violations to place their garbage in rodent-safe containers. The Council also passed the “Support Survivors” package, which provides further resources for survivors of gender-based violence. The bills would create an online resource guide for survivors, along with establishing a supportive housing program specifically for domestic abuse survivors. They also introduced a bill requiring that elected officials and community members be notified of violent hate crimes, and another requiring testing for microplastics in drinking water. You can find all of the legislation that was passed and introduced here.

District Maps Accepted by City Council

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has announced that the Council will be moving forward with the proposed district maps. The Commission approved new City Council district maps earlier this month, and they were sent to the Council on October 6. Speaker Adams sent a letter on behalf of the Council to Dennis Walcott, Chair of the New York City Districting Commission, noting that the Council will be accepting the plan without any objections. The final step in the process will be the Commission certifying the maps with the City Clerk.

Mayor Adams Appoints Laura Kavanagh as Fire Commissioner

Last Thursday, Mayor Eric Adams swore in Laura Kavanagh as Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). In this role, Kavanagh will be leading FDNY’s 17,000 employees and managing its $2 billion budget. Kavanagh is the first woman to be appointed as Commissioner in FDNY’s 157-year history. She previously worked as First Deputy Commissioner for the department, and oversaw a firefighter recruitment campaign that resulted in the most diverse applicant pool in FDNY history.