Two weeks ago, we celebrated New York City’s growing tech sector at the 6th annual Spirit of ABNY awards! We were thrilled to honor several leaders who are currently playing a significant role in advancing our city’s tech sector (see picture below). Special thanks to all of you who joined us and supported this year’s Spirit of ABNY event!

ABNY is thrilled to keep the proverbial fire burning bright, as we joined the Center for an Urban Future yesterday in releasing the most comprehensive report to date about New York City’s tech sector. The report, entitled “New Tech City”, was written and published by the Center for Urban Future and was made possible through the support of ABNY and AT&T New York.

We hope this research spurs public debate about how we all can continue to support this thriving industry and further diversify our economy and remain competitive in the global market.

The full report can be viewed here.

The NYC Digital Startup Index can be viewed here.

A one page infographic about the report can be viewed here.

ABNY is proud to support the Center for an Urban Future’s groundbreaking work on New York’s tech sector.

Honorees at the 2012 Spirit of ABNY Awards

A rendering of Century 21's proposed City Point store in Brooklyn.

The popular discount retailer would provide a high-profile anchor for the City Point development, a mix of mostly retail and apartments that is one of the largest projects under way in Brooklyn. It would be the first new traditional department store to open in Downtown Brooklyn since the area slid into decline in the 1970s.

By landing Century 21, developers said they would be able to break ground this summer on the bulk of the City Point development—675,000 square feet of retail and commercial space and 690 new market-rate and “affordable” apartment units at Dekalb and Flatbush avenues.

The deal—set to be announced on Thursday—could also potentially accelerate the timeline on a later phase of the development, a 680-foot-tall residential tower that would be the tallest building in Brooklyn. The developers, Washington Square Partners and Acadia Realty Trust, plan to break ground on the tower by 2017.

“We would not have moved forward without an anchor. Century 21 was what we really needed to make this project a reality,” said Paul Travis, project executive and president of Washington Square Partners.

Century 21 said it would open the new 125,000-square-foot store—twice the size of its Upper West Side location—in the fall of 2015. The chain already has deep roots in the borough given that its second location opened half-a-century ago in Bay Ridge. Members of the Gindi family, which owns the chain, still live in the borough.

“Downtown Brooklyn is a natural fit for the Century 21 brand, and we are thrilled to be a part of the newly appointed epicenter of fashion, culture and art,” the department store’s chief executive Raymond Gindi said through a spokeswoman.

City Point would join other glossy new projects moving forward in Downtown Brooklyn, including the Atlantic Yards project and a new applied-science school planned by New York University.

The project is part of a government and private business effort to turn the Fulton Mall into another Brooklyn gentrification story. Developers want to return it to its glory days in the 1920s to 1940s when it was a department-store mecca and rivaled Herald Square. Though it has remained one of the city’s busiest retail strips and already has a Macy’s department store, it has long been dominated by cheap clothing stores.

As Downtown Brooklyn and its surrounding neighborhoods have attracted more affluent residents, the city’s Economic Development Corp. and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, a local development corporation, have spent some $15 million cleaning the area up, improving landscaping, installing new street lighting and some additional public spaces.

In recent months, prominent retailers, including Gap, Aldo, H&M and Shake Shack have opened or signed deals on the Fulton Mall.

But the so-called revitalization of the Fulton Mall hasn’t been without controversy, as some have feared an influx of more high-end retailers that could make the street inaccessible to its traditional clientele.

The arrival of Century 21, which features high-end designer brands, but at reduced prices, could help strike a compromise.

“Fulton Mall…was always the place where Brooklynites came to shop and bump up against each other,” said Tucker Reed, president of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, the local development corporation. “Century 21 is a discount department store for Brooklynites who want to be able to shop at discount prices.”

Mr. Travis said the rapid redevelopment of Downtown Brooklyn helped move forward City Point, a city-owned site that developers said is the first new commercial development in more than 30 years on the Fulton Mall.

The first, modest 50,000-square-foot tip of the project began in 2010 thanks to a $20 million bond from the federal government’s stimulus program.

The developers had planned to break ground this summer on 300,000 square feet of retail and about 250 units of market-rate and affordable housing. Instead, they now plan to announce Thursday more than twice that much retail and residential development.

BFC Partners will build one building with 250 apartment units, half of which will be below market-rate and financed by the New York City Housing Development Corp. The second building is being developed by the Brodsky Organization and Michael Field, with 440 market-rate apartments.

In an interview, Seth Pinsky, president of the city Economic Development Corp., said City Point moving forward is “a vote of confidence in the city.”

NEW YORK CITY GOVERNMENT weekly update

• Mayor Bloomberg, New York University President Sexton and MTA Chairman Lhota Announce Historic Partnership to Create New Applied Sciences Center in Downtown Brooklyn
• Mayor Bloomberg and Environmental Protection Commissioner Strickland Award $4.6 Million to Projects That Will Protect New York Waterways
• Mayor Bloomberg Appoints Rahul N. Merchant As the City’s First Chief Information and Innovation Officer
• Mayor Bloomberg Unveils First-Ever Online Historical Archive With Photos Spanning 160 Years of Life in New York City
• New York City Sets New Goal to Generate $70 Billion in Tourism Annual Economic Impact by 2015
• Mayor Bloomberg Delivers Remarks About Job Creation and Vetoes Prevailing Wage Bill
• Mayor Bloomberg Announces Inaugural NYC Literary Honors
• Mayor Bloomberg and Forest City Ratner Announce Plan to Fill 2,000 Jobs at New Barclays Center in Brooklyn
• Public Advocate De Blasio: City Budgets Drowning Small Businesses in Frivolous Fines

NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT weekly update

• Governor Andrew Announces Clean Energy and Environmental Initiatives During Earth Week Cabinet Meeting
• Governor Cuomo Announces DFS Investigation into Life Insurers Recovers More Than a Quarter Billion Dollars in Unpaid Benefits for Consumers Nationwide
• Governor Cuomo Nominates Former Governor Paterson to the Board of the MTA
• Governor Cuomo Announces First Wave of NY Works Projects Opened for Bidding
• Governor Cuomo Outlines Second Operation Hang Up Campaign to Target Distracted Drivers
• Governor Cuomo Announces First Round of Power Allocations for ReCharge New York Program
• Assembly Earth Day Package to Help Create a Cleaner, Safer Environment for All New Yorkers
• Assembly Marks National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with Legislative Action

CURRENT RFPs

• New this week:
  • EDC: Civic Center Building Sales
  • DOP: Advocate Intervene Mentor
  • EDC: Bathgate Industrial Site

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE Week of 4/30 – 5/4

NEW YORK CITY GOVERNMENT

Mayor Bloomberg, New York University President Sexton and MTA Chairman Lhota Announce Historic Partnership to Create New Applied Sciences Center in Downtown Brooklyn
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York University President John Sexton, Polytechnic Institute of New York University President Jerry M. Hultin and MTA Chairman Joseph J. Lhota announced an historic agreement among the City, MTA, and a consortium of world-class academic institutions and private technology companies that will lead to the creation of the NYU Center For Urban Science and Progress, to be located in Downtown Brooklyn. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg and Environmental Protection Commissioner Strickland Award $4.6 Million to Projects That Will Protect New York Waterways
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland awarded $4.6 million in grants to community-based green infrastructure projects that will improve the water quality of New York Harbor by reducing combined sewer overflows. The 11 winners of the Green Infrastructure Grant Program represent a key component of the NYC Green Infrastructure Plan – launched by Mayor Bloomberg in 2010 to support PlaNYC’s goals for improved waterways. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg Appoints Rahul N. Merchant As the City’s First Chief Information and Innovation Officer
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that Rahul N. Merchant will serve as New York City’s first Citywide Chief Information and Innovation Officer and as Commissioner of the Department of Information, Technology and Telecommunications. As Chief Information and Innovation Officer, Merchant will report directly to Mayor Bloomberg and will oversee the City’s information technology development and management across all City agencies, with a focus on delivering technology projects on-time and on-budget. He will create a new Center of Excellence to standardize business processes for the implementation of large technology projects, institute a system of vendor evaluation to hold contractors accountable for meeting project milestones, and update the City’s technology contracts to focus on the delivery of established milestones to meet agency business needs. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg Unveils First-Ever Online Historical Archive With Photos Spanning 160 Years of Life in New York City
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg unveiled New York City’s first-ever online archive of photographs, maps, motion pictures and other media that span more than 160 years of City history. The gallery is drawn from the New York City Municipal Archives and contains 870,000 unique archived images and media, making it the largest collection of its kind in the world. Most of the collection is being made accessible for the first time and visitors to the site, www.nyc.gov/records, may search the gallery by individual image or an entire collection group.  The Departments of Citywide Administrative Services and Records and Information Services produced the online archive and will continue to add newly digitized content. The online gallery is accessible at no cost, and high-quality reprints may be purchased. For more information, click here.

New York City Sets New Goal to Generate $70 Billion in Tourism Annual Economic Impact by 2015
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and NYC & Company announced that New York City has set a new goal to generate $70 billion in economic impact from travel and tourism by 2015. Building on a new visitation goal to attract 55 million visitors in this same time period, NYC & Company continues to expand its efforts with particular focus on attracting international visitors, who account for 50 percent of direct tourism spending. Based on new programs, the City estimates that, in addition to increasing its economic impact across the five boroughs, the tourism industry will also contribute to $45 billion in direct spending to the City and add 30,000 new jobs to the City’s workforce by 2015 – bringing the tourism workforce to upwards of 350,000 jobs across the five boroughs. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg Delivers Remarks About Job Creation and Vetoes Prevailing Wage Bill
The following are Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s remarks as delivered in the Governor’s Room at City Hall:
“Good morning. When I was first elected to office, less than two months after the attacks of 9/11, many experts predicted back then that people and businesses would choose to leave New York City. Now, we understood that that was possible, but we also knew it wasn’t inevitable. Not if we found new ways to convince people and businesses to stay here, to come here, and to invest here.” To read the rest of the Mayor’s speech, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg Announces Inaugural NYC Literary Honors
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and First Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris announced the winners of New York City’s inaugural literary awards. The NYC Literary Honors aim to highlight the important role of authors and scholars who have demonstrated a lifetime of achievement and for whom New York has been a central inspiration. The Literary Honors celebrates the role that great words and great works play in the City’s cultural life as well as the role the publishing industry plays in the City’s economy. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg and Forest City Ratner Announce Plan to Fill 2,000 Jobs at New Barclays Center in Brooklyn
Mayor Bloomberg joined Forest City Ratner Companies Chairman and CEO Bruce Ratner to announce a plan to fill approximately 2,000 jobs at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn using the City’s Workforce1 services. For more information, click here.

Public Advocate De Blasio: City Budgets Drowning Small Businesses in Frivolous Fines
City Hall’s drive to raise revenue is hurting small businesses, according to a report released by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. The report shows City revenue from fines has nearly doubled from $467 million in 2002 to $793 million in 2011—with inspectors too often aggressively issuing fines for little-known regulations that have no bearing on health and safety. To prevent job losses and spur small business growth, de Blasio is calling on Mayor Bloomberg to end the City’s revenue-driven approach to enforcement, starting with this year’s Executive Budget. De Blasio has put forward a five-point plan to emphasize compliance over revenue, reduce red tape and ensure small businesses have input on future regulations and budgets. For more information, click here.

NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT

Governor Andrew Announces Clean Energy and Environmental Initiatives During Earth Week Cabinet Meeting
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo convened an Earth Week cabinet meeting to announce a series of innovative clean energy and environmental initiatives that will protect our state’s vast natural resources, increase energy conservation, and create jobs across New York State. For more information, click here.

Governor Cuomo Announces DFS Investigation into Life Insurers Recovers More Than a Quarter Billion Dollars in Unpaid Benefits for Consumers Nationwide
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  announced that a Department of Financial Services (DFS) investigation into how insurance companies tracked life insurance policy holders has resulted in 32,715 payments to consumers nationwide totaling $262.2 million, including 7,525 payments totaling $95.9 million to New Yorkers. The DFS investigation found that many insurance companies regularly received a list of recent deaths from the Social Security Administration but were not mandated to use and, therefore, were not using that list to determine if a policy holder had died. That means if a family member did not know there was a life insurance policy or simply forgot to file a claim to the insurance company, that policy went unpaid. As a result, tens of thousands of families did not receive their life insurance benefits. For more information, click here.

Governor Cuomo Nominates Former Governor Paterson to the Board of the MTA
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that he has nominated former Governor David A. Paterson to serve as a member of the Board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). “Governor Paterson has dedicated his life to working for the people of this state and I am excited that he will continue his public service at the MTA,” said Governor Cuomo. “Governor Paterson’s energy, expertise, and experience will benefit the millions of New Yorkers who rely on the MTA every day. I look forward to working together as we continue to reform the MTA and improve service for New Yorkers.” Governor Paterson was the 55th Governor of New York State. Prior to becoming governor, he served in the New York State Senate for over twenty years, becoming Senate Minority Leader in 2003, and served as Lieutenant Governor. For more information, click here.

Governor Cuomo Announces First Wave of NY Works Projects Opened for Bidding
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the first wave of NY Works pavement and bridge project contracts have been opened for bidding. The five contracts, consisting of 51 projects, represent more than $64 million in highway and bridge construction work in communities across the state. For more information, click here.

Governor Cuomo Outlines Second Operation Hang Up Campaign to Target Distracted Drivers
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that in the first twelve hours of Operation Hang Up more than 150 drivers were ticketed for using hand-held devices. One State Trooper issued eight tickets in one hour while patrolling in the Kingston area. The Governor was joined in Battery Park City by safe driving advocacy groups and a White Plains woman who lost her parents in a distracted driving accident, to outline the launch of a second Operation Hang Up campaign to target motorists who use their cell phone and other electronic devices while driving. The campaign began Monday, April 23, and will continue through Sunday, April 29, 2012. For more information, click here.

Governor Cuomo Announces First Round of Power Allocations for ReCharge New York Program
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that 517 businesses and not-for-profit organizations across New York State will be awarded the first round of lower cost power allocations under his ReCharge New York (RNY) program, a major statewide initiative for retaining and creating jobs and spurring capital investments by making low cost power available to New York State companies. For more information, click here.

Assembly Earth Day Package to Help Create a Cleaner, Safer Environment for All New Yorkers
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Robert Sweeney announced the passage of important environmental legislation to help mark this year’s Earth Day. The package includes legislation that would ensure safe drinking water and clean air; protect our children and communities from environmental hazards and harmful chemicals; protect our local economies from the negative economic and environmental impact of invasive species; and promote environmental justice in vulnerable communities. For more information, click here.

Assembly Marks National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with Legislative Action
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Governmental Operations Committee Chair Steve Englebright, and Codes Committee Chair Joseph Lentol announced the approval of a legislative package aimed at improving treatment and services for crime victims. For more information, click here.

CURRENT RFP’s

The following Request for Proposals have been recently issued by City and State government

On-Call General Construction (May 2, 2012) – Solicitation Package can be Be picked up by vendors “free of charge” from 4/10/12 through 4/16/12 from 9:30AM to 4:30 PM.
BIDDERS ARE HEREBY ADVISED THAT THIS CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) entered into between the City and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC)affiliated local unions. Please refer to the bid documents for further information. Mandatory Pre-bid Conference: 4/17/12 At 10:00 AM at:The Department Of Homeless Services, 13th Floor Large Conference Room, 33 Beaver Street, New York, New York 10004. For more information, click here.

Solicitation for Landlord Representative Services (May 4, 2012) – The General Services Department of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide NYCHA with landlord representative services with respect to the subleasing of certain portions of its headquarters/administrative offices located at 90 Church Street and 250 Broadway in lower Manhattan and, at NYCHA’s discretion, three additional office sites located in Brooklyn and the Bronx. For more information, click here.

Fashion Production Fund, Consultant Services (May 5, 2012) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) seeks proposals from financial institutions, either individually or as a member of a joint venture with one or more other parties, interested in developing and launching an approximately $5,000,000 fund to provide loans to emerging fashion design businesses based in the City of New York, and performing other related services, all in connection with the NYC Fashion Production Fund. The NYC Fashion Production Fund is one of six initiatives developed by NYCEDC as a result of the Fashion.NYC.2020 study launched by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and NYCEDC in January 2010. For full details on the Fashion.NYC.2020 initiative, please visit http://www.nycedc.com/fashion. For more information, click here.

Holiday Season Decorating (May 9, 2012) – For more information, click here.

Operator of Multiple Berths in New York City (May 11, 2012) – Apple Industrial Corporation (“Apple”), is requesting proposals (“Proposals”) from experienced, professional operators of berthing facilities to operate, manage, license, market, and to the extent necessary, improve, multiple berthing facilities (the “Berthing Services”) throughout the City of New York (collectively, the “Berthing Sites”) pursuant to an operating agreement (the “Operating Agreement”). For more information, click here.

Saratoga Square (due May 18, 2012) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”) seeks proposals for the sale or lease of an approximately 25,762 square foot parcel of land located on Block 1557, Lots 3, 4, 23, 26, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37 in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn (the “Site”). Through this Request For Proposals (“RFP”), NYCEDC is seeking individuals or organizations to develop the Site for a use that maximizes the creation of jobs for local residents, generates proceeds attributed to new development from tax revenue and purchase price/ground rent, and is contextually appropriate in terms of both design and use. For more information, click here.

Halleck Industrial Development Site at Hunts Point (due May 20, 2012) – The New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the New York City Department of Small Business Services (“SBS”), is seeking qualified proposals to develop an unimproved parcel of land in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx under a long term ground lease. The parcel, known as the Halleck Industrial Development Site, is a prime, shovel-ready site for new construction of a modern industrial facility. For more information, click here.

Homemaker Services (May 21, 2012) – The New York Children`s Services (ACS) is issuing the Homemaker Services Request for Proposal (RFP), PIN 06812P0001. ACS is seeking qualified providers to provide homemaking services for families residing in the five (5) Boroughs of New York. The RFP can be obtained in person at ACS, Office of Procurement, 150 William Street, 9th Floor reception area, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. The RFP can also be downloaded from the ACS website:www.nyc.gov/acs and clicking on Business Opportunities. If you obtain a copy of this RFP from any other source, you will not be registered as a potential proposer and will not receive any addenda issued after the release of the RFP, which may affect the requirements and/or terms of the RFP.A Pre-proposal conference is scheduled on April 20, 2012 for 10:00 AM, at 150 William Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10038. For more information, click here.

Reconstruction of the Ballfields and Miscellaneous Site Work in Fort Washington Park (May 22, 2012) – Located between West 163rd and West 168th Streets in Fort Washington Park, known as Contract M028-211M(PLaNYC) E-PIN:84612B0270.
This procurement is subject to participation goals for MBEs and/or WBEs as required by Local Law 129 of 2005. This contract is subject to Apprenticeship program requirements. Bid documents are available for a fee of $25.00 in the Blueprint Room, Room #64, Olmsted Center, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The fee is payable by company check or money order to the City of NY, Parks and Recreation. A separate check/money order is required for each project. The Company name, address and telephone number as well as the project contract number must appear on the check/money order. Bidders should ensure that the correct company name, address, telephone and fax numbers are submitted by your company/messenger service when picking up bid documents. For more information, click here.

The Halleck Industrial Development Site (May 23, 2012) – The New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the New York City Department of Small Business Services (“SBS”), is seeking qualified proposals to develop an unimproved parcel of land in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx under a long term ground lease. The parcel, known as the Halleck Industrial Development Site, is a prime, shovel-ready site for new construction of a modern industrial facility. The site benefits from its location within the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, a City-owned industrial park comprising wholesale food distribution businesses and other food-related enterprises, as well as outstanding access to transportation, a strategic location within an industrial cluster, and minimal required site preparation. For more information, click here.

Advocate Intervene Mentor (May 24, 2012) – The New York City Department of Probation (DOP), in collaboration with the Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO), is seeking three to six qualified vendors to provide intensive mentoring and advocacy programming for high risk youth facing the highest probability of out-of-home-placement, as a result of Family Court delinquency adjudication. The ultimate goal of AIM is to help build stronger and safer communities, reduce crime and recidivism, and promote lifelong gains for youth involved in the juvenile justice system in New York City. For more information, click here

Brielle Ave (May 31, 2012) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), on behalf of the City of New York, is seeking expressions of interest for the purchase and redevelopment of all or select portion(s) of an approximately 46-acre parcel located in the Willowbrook neighborhood of Staten Island (the “Site”). The Site is a portion of the property identified as Block 1955, Lot 1 in Staten Island, and is roughly bounded by Walcott Avenue to the north, Brielle Avenue to the east, Colonial Avenue to the west, and the Staten Island Greenbelt to the south. The Site is located within the Farm Colony – Seaview Hospital Historic District. For more information, click here.

New and Emerging. Solid Waste Management Technology (June 5, 2012) – The New York City Department of Sanitation seeks proposals from qualified contractors to develop a facility(ies) demonstrating the application of new and emerging technology in the processing of DSNY-managed waste. There will be an optional pre-proposal conference at 10:00 AM, on April 9, 2012, at 110 William Street, Conference Room 4 A/B, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10038. There will be an optional site visit of the Staten Island City Provided Site on April 9, 2012, for which the bus will leave at 1:00 PM from Water Street between Fulton and John Streets, New York, NY. All written inquiries about the RFP should be submitted on or by 5:00 PM on May 4, 2012, to sdolinar@dsny.nyc.gov. A proposal submitted in response to this RFP is required to be accompanied by a proposal deposit in the amount of $10,000.00. Vendors are strongly advised to call the Contract Unit before they come to pick up the RFP. Contract books will be available on March 6, 2012. For more information, click here.

Civic Center Building Sales (July 31, 2012) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”) is issuing a request for proposals (“RFP”) for the disposition of three City-owned office buildings in Lower Manhattan. The buildings offered for sale (the “Properties” and each a “Property”) are identified as follows:
• 22 Reade Street (Block 154, part of Lot 23)
• 346 Broadway (Block 170, Lot 6)
• 49-51 Chambers Street (Block 153, Lot 1)
This RFP is part of a broader initiative announced by Mayor Bloomberg to reduce the amount of City government-occupied office space by 1.2 million square feet by 2014. Each Property is currently occupied primarily by City agencies and affiliated not-for-profit organizations. The disposition of the Properties, which comprise approximately 750,000 gross square feet, represents a significant step towards consolidating City operations and making City government more efficient. For more information, click here.

Industrial Space Modernization (December 12, 2012) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (the “City”), is seeking proposals from qualified individuals, organizations or companies (“Respondents”) to renovate and reactivate, via subdivision, privately-held vacant industrial building/space(s) in New York City that face challenges leasing to modern manufacturers and industrial companies. NYCEDC, in cooperation with the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”), intends to disburse up to $8 million from the City Council Small Manufacturing Investment Fund (the “Industrial Fund”) to incentivize one or more property owners and developers to make capital improvements related to the subdivision and modernization of their industrial spaces. Both not-for-profit and for-profit Respondents are encouraged to submit proposals. The primary programmatic goal for the use of the funds is the subdivision of large floor plates tailored to the space needs of smaller industrial businesses throughout New York City as described above. Secondary programmatic goals for the Industrial Fund include, but are not limited to:
1. Improvement of space where leasing ability has been limited due to a lack of capital investment
2. Preservation of existing industrial space at affordable rents
3. Modernization of obsolete industrial space
4. Investment in raw industrial space to make available for leasing
For more information, click here.

Fresh Kills Renewable Energy (February 15, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York, is seeking proposals for the long-term lease of approximately 75 acres of land on and adjacent to the former Fresh Kills landfill in the borough of Staten Island. Specifically, NYCEDC and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (“NYCDEP”) seek proposals for the ownership, design, construction, and operation of utility-scale installations of solar and wind energy facilities in coordination with the planning of the future Freshkills Park. For more information, click here.

Bathgate Industrial Site (February 19, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”) is seeking proposals for the purchase of an approximately 109,000 square foot property in the Bronx for development as an industrial facility. The Site is located within the Bathgate Industrial Business Zone, is designated as Industrial by the Fourth Amended Bathgate Urban Renewal Plan, and is zoned M1-4. It is an ideal opportunity for a build-to-suit industrial development. For more information, click here.

MTA Gun Hill (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”) in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”), is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 550,000 square foot property (“Site”) located at 1824 Allerton Avenue in the Baychester section of the North Bronx. Comprised of the southern portion of Lot 100 in Block 4804 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an M1-1 zoning district, which, amongst other uses, typically permits light manufacturing, retail and commercial. This is an open RFP, which allows Respondents over the course of up to approximately one year to submit Proposals for NYCEDC’s review at the following quarterly submission deadlines: 4:00 p.m., Friday June 29, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday September 28, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday December 21, 2012; and 4:00 p.m., Friday March 29, 2013. For more information, click here.

MTA Avenue I Brooklyn (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 7,920 square foot property (“Site”) located at 851 East 15th Street in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn. Comprised of a portion of the larger Block 6699 Lot 47 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an R5 zoning district, which typically permits a variety of residential uses. For more information, click here.

MTA 99th Street Queens (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 5,000 square foot property (“Site”) located at 103-54 99th Street in the Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens. Comprised of Block 9121 Lot 30 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an M1-2 zoning district which typically permits for light industrial and commercial uses. For more information, click here.

MTA East 211th Street (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 7,201 square foot property (“Site”) located at 707 E. 211th Street in the Williamsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx. Comprised of Block 4657 Lot 51 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an R7A zoning district with a C1-4 overlay, which typically permits for a variety of residential and commercial uses. This is an open RFP, which allows Respondents over the course of up to approximately one year to submit Proposals for NYCEDC’s review at the following quarterly submission deadlines: 4:00 p.m., Friday June 29, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday September 28, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday December 21, 2012; and 4:00 p.m., Friday March 29, 2013. For more information, click here.

MTA 351 East 139th Street (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”) in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”), is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 6,650 square foot property (“Site”) located at 351 East 139th Street in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx. Comprised of Block 2302 Lot 50 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an R6 zoning district, which typically permits single- and two-family houses, multi-family apartment complexes, and mixed-use development with residential space above office, retail or commercial ground floors.
This is an open RFP, which allows Respondents over the course of up to approximately one year to submit Proposals for NYCEDC’s review at the following quarterly submission deadlines: 4:00 p.m., Friday June 29, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday September 28, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday December 21, 2012; and 4:00 p.m., Friday March 29, 2013. For more information, click here.

MTA Van Sinderen Avenue Brooklyn (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 4,200 square foot property (“Site”) located at 379 Van Sinderen Avenue in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn. Comprised of Block 3765 Lot 3 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an M1-1 zoning district, which typically permits for light industrial/commercial use. This is an open RFP, which allows Respondents over the course of up to approximately one year to submit Proposals for NYCEDC’s review at the following quarterly submission deadlines: 4:00 p.m., Friday June 29, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday September 28, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday December 21, 2012; and 4:00 p.m., Friday March 29, 2013. For more information, click here.

MTA East Houston Street (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”) in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”), is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 6,190 square foot property (“Site”) located at 19 East Houston Street in the SoHo neighborhood of downtown Manhattan. Comprised of Block 511 Lot 19 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an M1-5B zoning district, which typically permits, amongst other uses, light manufacturing, retail and commercial. The Site is also situated within the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. With its prime location at this bustling intersection, the Site serves as the gateway to SoHo and, as the only undeveloped corner, is positioned for crucial transformation. For more information, click here.

Non-Secure Detention Group Homes (due May 31, 2013) – ACS Division of Youth and Family Justice is soliciting applications from organizations interested in operating non- secure detention group homes in New York City. This is an open-ended solicitation. For more information, click here.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Our new feature Food for Thought presents recently issued policy or research reports which you may find of interest.

A review of the impact of budget cuts and teacher attrition on large class sizes in New York City public schools

There are 5,300 fewer teachers working in New York City public schools this year than in 2008-09 — a 7% decline. As a result of teacher attrition due to budget cuts, there are just under 74,000 teachers in NYC public schools, compared with almost 80,000 in the 2008-09 school year (FY2009). The total number of teachers in the City is the lowest in nearly a decade, despite modest growth in student enrollment. As a result, the number of elementary school students who are in general education classes of 30 or more students has tripled. In the 2008-09 school year, there were 9,756 students in first through fifth grade classrooms with 30 or more students. , that figure has ballooned to 31,079 students. In first, second and third grades, the percent of students in such classes have grown tenfold. In fourth grade, a total of 13.8% of all students are in such classes. In some school districts, one in five of all first through fifth graders are in classes of 30 or more. To continue reading the report, click here.

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE week of 4/30 – 5/4

Please note that this calendar is subject to change.

City Council Stated Meeting
Date: Monday, April 30, 2012
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Council Chambers – City Hall
Agenda: For more information, click here.

Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services (Jointly with the Committee on Education)
Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Rm, 16th Fl.
Agenda: School-Based Mental Health Services.

Committee on Land Use (Jointly with the Committee on Housing and Buildings)
Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Rm, 14th Fl.
Agenda: For more information, click here.

Committee on Civil Service and Labor
Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Rm, 16th Fl.
Agenda: Oversight – Business Practices of the City’s Carwashes: Labor, Consumer & Environmental Issues.

Committee on Small Business (Jointly with the Committee on Economic Development)
Date: Friday, May 4, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Maspeth Industrial Business Zone-55-30 58th Street
250 Broadway – Committee Room, 16th Fl.
Agenda: Tour- Maspeth Industrial Business Zone

New York, the most vertical of cities, has become a tad blasé about its skyscrapers, high-rise malls and multistory restaurant collections. At last, though, it has a fresh take on the perpendicular: the vertical food-truck court.

Every weekday in recent months, fancy-food trucks have been rumbling into the gigantic freight elevator of the Starrett-Lehigh Building at 601 West 26th Street in West Chelsea. After being hoisted aloft, they roll out into the concrete truck bays on the upper floors of the 81-year-old, 19-story commercial building. There, they post menus and proceed to sell inventive meals to office workers and their guests.

The result is something like an elevator ride in a department store imagined by Willie Wonka. The other day on the 12th floor, Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream was hawking its Michel Cluizel chocolate cones ($4). On Floor 15, the Treats Truck was dispensing its Chocolate Trucker Sandwich Cookies ($1.75) and the occasional Kitchen Sink Crispy ($3). On 17, Coolhaus Ice Cream Sandwiches was selling its decidedly vertical Three-Story concoctions — two scoops of ice cream served between two cookies ($9).

Downstairs, in front of the entrance, Valducci’s Original Pizza offered thin-crust Sicilian pizza with fresh basil ($4 a slice). On the street, a Rickshaw Dumpling Truck did a brisk trade in chicken-Thai-basil dumplings with peanut satay dip ($6 for three).

“This is the first indoor vertical food-truck court in the city, and as far as I know, the country,” said David Weber, president of the New York City Food Truck Association, which was asked three months ago by the building’s owner, RXR Realty, to bring in a rotating roster of a dozen food trucks, including Mexicue, Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck and the Gorilla Cheese Truck.

The problem, according to RXR, was a paucity of lunchtime choices in the neighborhood, an industrial-looking stretch west of the High Line, between 11th and 12th Avenues.

“This area is up and coming, but retail food options here are in their infancy,” said William S. Elder, an executive vice president at the firm. “We invited the food trucks in to increase diversity, and it’s changed the dynamic of the building.”

Although lone food trucks have occasionally ascended freight elevators in Manhattan buildings to cater special events, Mr. Weber said the Starrett-Lehigh Building was the only high-rise in New York where multiple trucks converged five days a week.

Indeed, the building has now become the city’s third food-truck court, as truck owners search for places to park without receiving a ticket or being ordered to move by the police. The food-truck association opened its first last year in Long Island City, Queens, on a lot owned by Rockrose Development Corporation. In February, the association established a second, overlooking the Hudson River near 4 World Financial Center, under the auspices of the Battery Park City Authority and Brookfield Office Properties, owner of the center.

In the Chelsea building, vendors on the upper floors can be visited only by the roughly 5,000 people who work in the building and visitors approved by the security desk, who average about 1,000 a day.

For many workers, the trucks are a welcome presence — even if (or perhaps because) so many are selling sweets.

“So far, it hasn’t hurt my waistline,” said Carl Auge, an exhibition coordinator at the School of Visual Arts Gallery, who was sampling a $1 oatmeal cookie from the Treats Truck.

Christopher Gelarden, an advertising writer, was waiting outside for a slice of Sicilian pizza. “It was weird the first time, seeing food trucks on your floor, but now we’re used to it,” he said. “It’s awesome that the food has come to us.”

In the passenger elevators, placards titled “Truck Bay Gourmet” announce the “Savory and Sweet Truck Schedule” — a guide to each day’s fleet.

The fortresslike building, with its robust floor plates and concrete bays, was designed to bring supply trucks directly up to a congeries of production, storage and repackaging companies, for deliveries and exports. Now, most of the industrial tenants have departed in favor of advertising and design firms, as well as Martha Stewart Living, Hugo Boss and Tommy Hilfiger.

Denise Rodriguez, a vice president at RXR, said that for those kinds of tenants, “We had to be sure of the quality of the food.”

Years ago, she added, “People didn’t want to eat at roach coaches” — traditional lunch trucks, of dubious cleanliness. “But now there is a whole new generation of trucks with high-end food, so we brought in the food-truck association,” she said. “This is a building full of Brooklyn hipsters. Now they have a place to eat.”

The facade of the landmarked Reiss Building on West 12th Street will be preserved but the building behind it will be demolished. (DNAinfo/Andrea Swalec)

West Village Residences partner Bill Rudin said the 7-0 vote on the “adaptive reuse” of the brick and stone building was a positive step toward the redevelopment project in the Village.

“Thanks to the efforts of the commission, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Mayor Bloomberg’s office, Community Board 2 and the community, we will now be able to adaptively reuse the entire 12th Street side of the former St. Vincent’s campus,” he said in a statement.

The West Village Residences’ initial plan was to demolish the Reiss Building, which was built for St. Vincent’s in 1953 and 1954. Preserving some of the building was one of several modifications Rudin agreed to in mid-March.

Andrew Berman, the executive director of the Greenwich Village Society of Historic Preservation, said his group would have preferred to see the entire building, not just its façade, saved.

“[The Reiss Building] is an integral part of the history of the West Village and the St. Vincent’s site,” he said.

He said he feared for the integrity of the façade.

“We are concerned that plans to demolish the entire interior of the building and parts of the façade may endanger the parts of the façade which are supposed to be preserved,” he said.

Rudin Management chief operating officer John Gilbert assured locals at a recent community meeting that construction teams would make every effort to protect the façade, The Villager reported.

L&L Holding Co. has reached out to 11 top architectural firms to join a competition to design a new tower at 425 Park Avenue in Manhattan.

Aiming to create an iconic, eye-catching building in the place of a 1950s-built boxy tower at 425 Park Ave., L&L last week reached out to 11 top architectural firms to join a competition to design a new tower. The list included Norman Foster, Richard Rogers and Jean Nouvel, each of whom have won architecture’s top Pritzker Prize.

“We want to work with the best architectural minds out there, because we have some very important things to achieve and to deal with,” says David Levinson, L&L’s chief executive.

Mr. Levinson says he hopes to begin demolition work in 2015 and to finish the new building two years later. The price tag on the project is expected to be about $750 million, he says.

The bold plan to knock down the bulk of the existing building and to put a new one in its place reflects Mr. Levinson’s faith in the value of the site. Currently the building is mostly leased with tenants including the white-shoe law firm Kaye Scholer.

NEW YORK CITY GOVERNMENT weekly update

• Mayor Bloomberg and Port Authority Executive Director Foye Launch $250 Million Infrastructure Project to Spur Economic Development in New York Harbor
• Mayor Bloomberg Appoints Wendy E. Saunders As Acting Director of State Legislative Affairs
• Mayor Bloomberg Appoints Andrea S. Glick As Chief Procurement Officer
• Mayor Bloomberg Kicks Off the 9th Annual Immigrant Heritage Week Celebration
• Mayor Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Walcott Announce 54 New Schools Will Open Next Fall
• Mayor Bloomberg Signs Legislation to Improve the City’s Transportation Network for People With Disabilities
• Mayor Bloomberg Announces Winners of NYC BigApps 3.0, Third Annual Competition to Create Apps Using Official City Data
• Mayor Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Holloway and Buildings Commissioner Limandri Announce Strict New Licensing and Testing Requirements for All Crane Operators in New York City
• Comptroller Liu: Use the “Buffet Rule” to Eliminate the Unfair AMT
• Comptroller Liu: Pension Funds Reach Agreements with Goldman Sachs and Metlife to Disclose Race and Gender of Workforces
• Comptroller Liu Names Mark Kim Deputy Comptroller for Economic Development

NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT weekly update

• Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Announces Release of Enacted 2012-13 Budget Financial Plan
• Governor Cuomo Announces Comprehensive NY-Sun Initiative to Expand Solar Development in New York
• Governor Cuomo Announces NY Works Project to Upgrade Coney Island and Seagate Beach in New York City
• Comptroller DiNapoli: $16.4 Million in Dubious Tax Refunds Blocked
• Comptroller DiNapoli: Audits Reveal More Than $40M in Improper Payments Made by State’s Medicaid Program

CURRENT RFPs

• New this week:
  • DPR: Reconstruction of the Ballfields and Miscellaneous Site Work in Fort Washington Park

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE Week of 4/23 – 4/27

NEW YORK CITY GOVERNMENT

Mayor Bloomberg and Port Authority Executive Director Foye Launch $250 Million Infrastructure Project to Spur Economic Development in New York Harbor
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye launched a $250 million construction project to boost economic development in New York Harbor. The project involves digging a new water transmission main – called a siphon – between Staten Island and Brooklyn that will allow for the removal of two existing tunnels that are currently at a much shallower depth. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg Appoints Wendy E. Saunders As Acting Director of State Legislative Affairs
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the appointment of Wendy E. Saunders as Acting Director of the Mayor’s Office of State Legislative Affairs. Saunders will serve through the remainder of this year’s state legislative session. As Acting Director, Saunders will be responsible for leading the Administration’s state legislative agenda, relations with the Office of the Governor and State legislators, preparing the Administration’s response to proposed State legislation impacting New York City and negotiations on those bills. Saunders joined the Bloomberg Administration in April of 2011 and currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, where she is responsible for all of the agency’s activities in Albany. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg Appoints Andrea S. Glick As Chief Procurement Officer
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that Andrea S. Glick will serve as Chief Procurement Officer and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services. Glick is currently the First Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services and has worked in City government since 1989, and in the Office of Contract Services since 1999. Glick has overseen the implementation of key initiatives including the Automated Procurement Tracking system, which converted the procurement process from a cumbersome, paper-based system to a digital format that has made the process faster, more efficient, and completely transparent. Glick has played a key role in strengthening the vendor integrity process, and assisting not-for-profit organizations in meeting their disclosure and other contracting responsibilities. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg Kicks Off the 9th Annual Immigrant Heritage Week Celebration
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Fatima Shama kicked off Immigrant Heritage Week at Gracie Mansion. Immigrant Heritage Week is a citywide celebration, from April 17-24, honoring the experiences and contributions of the millions of immigrants who have shaped New York City for generations. During the reception at Gracie Mansion, the Mayor announced the 2012 recipients of the American Dreamer Awards, presented to five New Yorkers dedicated to improving the lives of immigrant communities across the City. This year’s Immigrant Heritage Week will focus on showcasing the immigrant experience through film and will feature five free film screenings, one in each borough. Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Shama were joined at Gracie Mansion by City Comptroller John Liu, Laurie Tisch, President and Founder of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund and Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of WNET/WLIW and the Educational Broadcasting Corporation. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Walcott Announce 54 New Schools Will Open Next Fall
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott announced that 54 new schools will open in the coming 2012-2013 school year, bringing the number of new schools opened under the Bloomberg Administration to 589. The new schools will welcome more than 7,000 students next year, and over 21,000 when they grow to full size. Evidence shows that new schools rank higher on parent satisfaction surveys than other schools across the City; perform better than schools they have replaced on the state’s annual math and reading exams; and graduate students at significantly higher rates, on average by 20 points and in some cases more than doubling that of schools they replace. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg Signs Legislation to Improve the City’s Transportation Network for People With Disabilities
Intro 183-A: This legislation will codify the Department of Transportation’s existing Accessible Pedestrian Signal Program, and require the installation of twenty-five Accessible Pedestrian Signals every year.
Intro 745 A: This legislation will ensure that certain information on the Department of Transportation’s web site is accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. It requires the Department to post information relating to major transportation projects and the installation and removal of bicycle lanes, pedestrian plazas, and certain pedestrian signals — all in a format that can be accessed by those who are blind or have low vision.
Intro 449-A: This legislation adds text to the livery passenger bill of rights, explaining that a passenger has the right to request a wheelchair accessible vehicle and be provided with equivalent service. Adding this language to the bill of rights will help inform the entire riding public of the Taxi and Limousine Commission’s rules, helping to get the word out about this critical service provided to passengers who use wheelchairs. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg Announces Winners of NYC BigApps 3.0, Third Annual Competition to Create Apps Using Official City Data
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the winners of NYC BigApps 3.0, the third annual competition for software developers and members of the public to create web or mobile applications using official City data. A total of 11 winning applications were selected from a record 96 eligible applications that were submitted for this year’s contest. The Best Overall Application was awarded to NYCFacets, which seeks to streamline and simplify the process for accessing, understanding, and utilizing the tremendous amount of data available in the City’s NYC Open Data portal. Additional winning applications focused on simplifying trips to New York City, travel on the City’s subway system, and finding the best locations to do work around the City. For more information, click here.

Mayor Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Holloway and Buildings Commissioner Limandri Announce Strict New Licensing and Testing Requirements for All Crane Operators in New York City
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Operations Cas Holloway and Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri announced strict new licensing and testing requirements for all crane operators in New York City to raise safety standards for crane operations citywide. Starting next month, new applicants must obtain certification from either the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, an accredited non-profit organization that develops performance assessments for safe crane operations nationwide, or an organization accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute. For more information, click here.

Comptroller Liu: Use the “Buffet Rule” to Eliminate the Unfair AMT
Following President Obama’s Weekly Address and yesterday’s debate on the United States Senate’s Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012, the Office of New York City Comptroller John C. Liu produced the following preliminary economic analysis of the Buffett Rule and its potential effects on New York City taxpayers.“By midnight, over 3 million New Yorkers will have filed their income taxes. It’s just not right that many working families continue to pay a higher share of their income in taxes than some millionaires,” Comptroller Liu said. “The Buffett Rule would restore fairness to our federal tax system and could be used to eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax, which hurts the middle-class in New York more than in the rest of the country. By contributing to a sustainable federal budget it could also provide a much needed boost to our economic future in the form of long-term economic investments in education and infrastructure.”On Saturday, April 14, 2012, as part of his weekly address, President Obama argued that “it’s wrong that middle-class Americans pay a higher share of their income in taxes than some millionaires and billionaires” and once again urged Congress to pass the Buffett Rule. For more information, click here.

Comptroller Liu: Pension Funds Reach Agreements with Goldman Sachs and Metlife to Disclose Race and Gender of Workforces
Comptroller John C. Liu and the New York City Pension Funds announced that Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) and MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) have agreed to provide meaningful disclosure of the composition of their U.S. workforce by race and gender across major job categories, including senior management. Both companies will provide annual disclosure of their workforce demographics beginning later this spring. Goldman Sachs will disclose the data in its upcoming Environmental, Social and Governance Report, which will be available on its website in June, and MetLife will publish the data to the relevant page of its website. For more information, click here.

Comptroller Liu Names Mark Kim Deputy Comptroller for Economic Development
City Comptroller John C. Liu promoted Assistant Comptroller for Public Finance Mark T. Kim to serve as Deputy Comptroller for Economic Development. Kim will assume his new role effective immediately. The new Bureau of Economic Development will streamline operations to make them more efficient and more effective – and deliver on initiatives proposed in Comptroller Liu’s State of the City address. All existing economic growth and development initiatives across the Comptroller’s office will now be under the direction of Deputy Comptroller Kim. For more information, click here.

NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Announces Release of Enacted 2012-13 Budget Financial Plan
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the release of the 2012-13 Enacted Budget Financial Plan by the Division of the Budget. Following the passage of the budget, the Division of the Budget releases this annual report to update the state’s financial plan. This year’s report summarizes the state’s official financial projections through 2016. The 2012 budget closes a multi-billion dollar deficit with no new taxes, fees, or gimmicks and launches the New York Works Task Force to invest billions of dollars to rebuild the state’s roads, bridges, parks, and other infrastructure and create tens of thousands of jobs. The budget also includes key economic development and transportation initiatives, important reforms to improve government efficiency, and measures to strengthen communities across the state. For more information, click here and to view the report, visit here.

Governor Cuomo Announces Comprehensive NY-Sun Initiative to Expand Solar Development in New York
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo launched the NY-Sun Initiative to double the amount of customer-sited solar power installed annually in New York, and quadruple that amount by 2013. The NY-Sun Initiative was first outlined by the Governor in his 2012 State of the State Address. The NY-Sun Initiative brings together and expands existing programs administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), to ensure a coordinated and well-funded solar energy expansion plan.
For more information, click here.

Governor Cuomo Announces NY Works Project to Upgrade Coney Island and Seagate Beach in New York City
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a $20,000,000 investment for a NY Works project that will allow for a coastal erosion project at Coney Island and Seagate Beach in New York City. New York State will invest $4.7 million that will leverage $15.3 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New York City, for a total project cost of $20 million. For more information, click here.

Comptroller DiNapoli: $16.4 Million in Dubious Tax Refunds Blocked
The State Comptroller’s office has halted $16.4 million in questionable personal income tax refunds after finding 5,903 improper filings among those who’ve filed so far this year, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced. DiNapoli’s office audited and approved 4.7 million refund requests totaling $4.1 billion in 2012. Another 406,000 refund requests totaling $382 million are expected to be paid in the coming days. For more information, click here.

Comptroller DiNapoli: Audits Reveal More Than $40M in Improper Payments Made by State’s Medicaid Program
Two audits released revealed that data problems and delays in posting information to eMedNY, New York’s Medicaid claims processing system, caused $36 million in improper payments and another $6.3 million in overpayments, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.“New York State has the largest Medicaid system in the country,” DiNapoli said. “Too many of our audits have found that Medicaid dollars are improperly spent or wasted because safeguards were not in place to catch problems. While some money has been recouped, this system must work better for the taxpayers of New York.”In an audit examining the period of June 1, 2007 through May 31, 2010, DiNapoli’s office looked at whether the Department of Health (DOH) made premium payments to Medicaid managed care plans for “dual-eligible” enrollees. For more information, click here.

CURRENT RFP’s

The following Request for Proposals have been recently issued by City and State government

Periodic Assessment Program (April 23, 2012) – The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), on behalf of the Division of Academics, Performance and Support, is seeking proposals to provide student assessments, related assessment administration, and an assessment results reporting technology platform. These formative tests, primarily in Literacy and Mathematics, are administered at least once per year for grades K-12, but grades K-2 are assessed in literacy only. This RFP seeks standards-aligned assessments, resources for assessments in Science and Social Studies and online assessment resources for classroom instruction. For more information, click here.

Advocate Intervene Mentor (April 25, 2012) – The New York City Department of Probation (DOP), in collaboration with the Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO), is seeking three to six qualified vendors to provide intensive mentoring and advocacy programming for high risk youth facing the highest probability of out-of-home-placement, as a result of Family Court delinquency adjudication. The ultimate goal of AIM is to help build stronger and safer communities, reduce crime and recidivism, and promote lifelong gains for youth involved in the juvenile justice system in New York City. The Pre-Proposal Conference will be held in two sessions, the first on April 4, 2012 at 9 AM and the second on April 5, 2012 at 10:30 AM. Both will be held at the Department of Probation, 33 Beaver Street, New York, NY 10004. Attendance is optional but recommended. For more information, click here.

On-Call General Construction (May 2, 2012) – Solicitation Package can be Be picked up by vendors “free of charge” from 4/10/12 through 4/16/12 from 9:30AM to 4:30 PM.
BIDDERS ARE HEREBY ADVISED THAT THIS CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) entered into between the City and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC)affiliated local unions. Please refer to the bid documents for further information. Mandatory Pre-bid Conference: 4/17/12 At 10:00 AM at:The Department Of Homeless Services, 13th Floor Large Conference Room, 33 Beaver Street, New York, New York 10004. For more information, click here.

Solicitation for Landlord Representative Services (May 4, 2012) – The General Services Department of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide NYCHA with landlord representative services with respect to the subleasing of certain portions of its headquarters/administrative offices located at 90 Church Street and 250 Broadway in lower Manhattan and, at NYCHA’s discretion, three additional office sites located in Brooklyn and the Bronx. For more information, click here.

Fashion Production Fund, Consultant Services (May 5, 2012) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) seeks proposals from financial institutions, either individually or as a member of a joint venture with one or more other parties, interested in developing and launching an approximately $5,000,000 fund to provide loans to emerging fashion design businesses based in the City of New York, and performing other related services, all in connection with the NYC Fashion Production Fund. The NYC Fashion Production Fund is one of six initiatives developed by NYCEDC as a result of the Fashion.NYC.2020 study launched by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and NYCEDC in January 2010. For full details on the Fashion.NYC.2020 initiative, please visit http://www.nycedc.com/fashion. For more information, click here.

Holiday Season Decorating (May 9, 2012) – For more information, click here.

Operator of Multiple Berths in New York City (May 11, 2012) – Apple Industrial Corporation (“Apple”), is requesting proposals (“Proposals”) from experienced, professional operators of berthing facilities to operate, manage, license, market, and to the extent necessary, improve, multiple berthing facilities (the “Berthing Services”) throughout the City of New York (collectively, the “Berthing Sites”) pursuant to an operating agreement (the “Operating Agreement”). For more information, click here.

Saratoga Square (due May 18, 2012) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”) seeks proposals for the sale or lease of an approximately 25,762 square foot parcel of land located on Block 1557, Lots 3, 4, 23, 26, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37 in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn (the “Site”). Through this Request For Proposals (“RFP”), NYCEDC is seeking individuals or organizations to develop the Site for a use that maximizes the creation of jobs for local residents, generates proceeds attributed to new development from tax revenue and purchase price/ground rent, and is contextually appropriate in terms of both design and use. For more information, click here.

Halleck Industrial Development Site at Hunts Point (due May 20, 2012) – The New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the New York City Department of Small Business Services (“SBS”), is seeking qualified proposals to develop an unimproved parcel of land in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx under a long term ground lease. The parcel, known as the Halleck Industrial Development Site, is a prime, shovel-ready site for new construction of a modern industrial facility. For more information, click here.

Homemaker Services (May 21, 2012) – The New York Children`s Services (ACS) is issuing the Homemaker Services Request for Proposal (RFP), PIN 06812P0001. ACS is seeking qualified providers to provide homemaking services for families residing in the five (5) Boroughs of New York. The RFP can be obtained in person at ACS, Office of Procurement, 150 William Street, 9th Floor reception area, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. The RFP can also be downloaded from the ACS website:www.nyc.gov/acs and clicking on Business Opportunities. If you obtain a copy of this RFP from any other source, you will not be registered as a potential proposer and will not receive any addenda issued after the release of the RFP, which may affect the requirements and/or terms of the RFP.A Pre-proposal conference is scheduled on April 20, 2012 for 10:00 AM, at 150 William Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10038. For more information, click here.

Reconstruction of the Ballfields and Miscellaneous Site Work in Fort Washington Park (May 22, 2012) – Located between West 163rd and West 168th Streets in Fort Washington Park, known as Contract M028-211M(PLaNYC) E-PIN:84612B0270.
This procurement is subject to participation goals for MBEs and/or WBEs as required by Local Law 129 of 2005. This contract is subject to Apprenticeship program requirements. Bid documents are available for a fee of $25.00 in the Blueprint Room, Room #64, Olmsted Center, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The fee is payable by company check or money order to the City of NY, Parks and Recreation. A separate check/money order is required for each project. The Company name, address and telephone number as well as the project contract number must appear on the check/money order. Bidders should ensure that the correct company name, address, telephone and fax numbers are submitted by your company/messenger service when picking up bid documents. For more information, click here.

The Halleck Industrial Development Site (May 23, 2012) – The New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the New York City Department of Small Business Services (“SBS”), is seeking qualified proposals to develop an unimproved parcel of land in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx under a long term ground lease. The parcel, known as the Halleck Industrial Development Site, is a prime, shovel-ready site for new construction of a modern industrial facility. The site benefits from its location within the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, a City-owned industrial park comprising wholesale food distribution businesses and other food-related enterprises, as well as outstanding access to transportation, a strategic location within an industrial cluster, and minimal required site preparation. For more information, click here.

Brielle Ave (May 31, 2012) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), on behalf of the City of New York, is seeking expressions of interest for the purchase and redevelopment of all or select portion(s) of an approximately 46-acre parcel located in the Willowbrook neighborhood of Staten Island (the “Site”). The Site is a portion of the property identified as Block 1955, Lot 1 in Staten Island, and is roughly bounded by Walcott Avenue to the north, Brielle Avenue to the east, Colonial Avenue to the west, and the Staten Island Greenbelt to the south. The Site is located within the Farm Colony – Seaview Hospital Historic District. For more information, click here.

New and Emerging. Solid Waste Management Technology (June 5, 2012) – The New York City Department of Sanitation seeks proposals from qualified contractors to develop a facility(ies) demonstrating the application of new and emerging technology in the processing of DSNY-managed waste. There will be an optional pre-proposal conference at 10:00 AM, on April 9, 2012, at 110 William Street, Conference Room 4 A/B, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10038. There will be an optional site visit of the Staten Island City Provided Site on April 9, 2012, for which the bus will leave at 1:00 PM from Water Street between Fulton and John Streets, New York, NY. All written inquiries about the RFP should be submitted on or by 5:00 PM on May 4, 2012, to sdolinar@dsny.nyc.gov. A proposal submitted in response to this RFP is required to be accompanied by a proposal deposit in the amount of $10,000.00. Vendors are strongly advised to call the Contract Unit before they come to pick up the RFP. Contract books will be available on March 6, 2012. For more information, click here.

Industrial Space Modernization (December 12, 2012) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (the “City”), is seeking proposals from qualified individuals, organizations or companies (“Respondents”) to renovate and reactivate, via subdivision, privately-held vacant industrial building/space(s) in New York City that face challenges leasing to modern manufacturers and industrial companies. NYCEDC, in cooperation with the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”), intends to disburse up to $8 million from the City Council Small Manufacturing Investment Fund (the “Industrial Fund”) to incentivize one or more property owners and developers to make capital improvements related to the subdivision and modernization of their industrial spaces. Both not-for-profit and for-profit Respondents are encouraged to submit proposals. The primary programmatic goal for the use of the funds is the subdivision of large floor plates tailored to the space needs of smaller industrial businesses throughout New York City as described above. Secondary programmatic goals for the Industrial Fund include, but are not limited to:
1. Improvement of space where leasing ability has been limited due to a lack of capital investment
2. Preservation of existing industrial space at affordable rents
3. Modernization of obsolete industrial space
4. Investment in raw industrial space to make available for leasing
For more information, click here.

Fresh Kills Renewable Energy (February 15, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York, is seeking proposals for the long-term lease of approximately 75 acres of land on and adjacent to the former Fresh Kills landfill in the borough of Staten Island. Specifically, NYCEDC and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (“NYCDEP”) seek proposals for the ownership, design, construction, and operation of utility-scale installations of solar and wind energy facilities in coordination with the planning of the future Freshkills Park. For more information, click here.

MTA Gun Hill (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”) in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”), is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 550,000 square foot property (“Site”) located at 1824 Allerton Avenue in the Baychester section of the North Bronx. Comprised of the southern portion of Lot 100 in Block 4804 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an M1-1 zoning district, which, amongst other uses, typically permits light manufacturing, retail and commercial. This is an open RFP, which allows Respondents over the course of up to approximately one year to submit Proposals for NYCEDC’s review at the following quarterly submission deadlines: 4:00 p.m., Friday June 29, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday September 28, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday December 21, 2012; and 4:00 p.m., Friday March 29, 2013. For more information, click here.

MTA Avenue I Brooklyn (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 7,920 square foot property (“Site”) located at 851 East 15th Street in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn. Comprised of a portion of the larger Block 6699 Lot 47 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an R5 zoning district, which typically permits a variety of residential uses. For more information, click here.

MTA 99th Street Queens (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 5,000 square foot property (“Site”) located at 103-54 99th Street in the Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens. Comprised of Block 9121 Lot 30 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an M1-2 zoning district which typically permits for light industrial and commercial uses. For more information, click here.

MTA East 211th Street (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 7,201 square foot property (“Site”) located at 707 E. 211th Street in the Williamsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx. Comprised of Block 4657 Lot 51 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an R7A zoning district with a C1-4 overlay, which typically permits for a variety of residential and commercial uses. This is an open RFP, which allows Respondents over the course of up to approximately one year to submit Proposals for NYCEDC’s review at the following quarterly submission deadlines: 4:00 p.m., Friday June 29, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday September 28, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday December 21, 2012; and 4:00 p.m., Friday March 29, 2013. For more information, click here.

MTA 351 East 139th Street (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”) in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”), is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 6,650 square foot property (“Site”) located at 351 East 139th Street in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx. Comprised of Block 2302 Lot 50 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an R6 zoning district, which typically permits single- and two-family houses, multi-family apartment complexes, and mixed-use development with residential space above office, retail or commercial ground floors.
This is an open RFP, which allows Respondents over the course of up to approximately one year to submit Proposals for NYCEDC’s review at the following quarterly submission deadlines: 4:00 p.m., Friday June 29, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday September 28, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday December 21, 2012; and 4:00 p.m., Friday March 29, 2013. For more information, click here.

MTA Van Sinderen Avenue Brooklyn (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 4,200 square foot property (“Site”) located at 379 Van Sinderen Avenue in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn. Comprised of Block 3765 Lot 3 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an M1-1 zoning district, which typically permits for light industrial/commercial use. This is an open RFP, which allows Respondents over the course of up to approximately one year to submit Proposals for NYCEDC’s review at the following quarterly submission deadlines: 4:00 p.m., Friday June 29, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday September 28, 2012; 4:00 p.m., Friday December 21, 2012; and 4:00 p.m., Friday March 29, 2013. For more information, click here.

MTA East Houston Street (March 29, 2013) – New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”), on behalf of the City of New York (“City”) in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”), is seeking proposals (each, a “Proposal”) from qualified developers to purchase, and possibly redevelop, an approximately 6,190 square foot property (“Site”) located at 19 East Houston Street in the SoHo neighborhood of downtown Manhattan. Comprised of Block 511 Lot 19 on the Tax Map of the City, the Site is situated in an M1-5B zoning district, which typically permits, amongst other uses, light manufacturing, retail and commercial. The Site is also situated within the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. With its prime location at this bustling intersection, the Site serves as the gateway to SoHo and, as the only undeveloped corner, is positioned for crucial transformation. For more information, click here.

Non-Secure Detention Group Homes (due May 31, 2013) – ACS Division of Youth and Family Justice is soliciting applications from organizations interested in operating non- secure detention group homes in New York City. This is an open-ended solicitation. For more information, click here.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Our new feature Food for Thought presents recently issued policy or research reports which you may find of interest.

Our new feature Food for Thought presents recently issued policy or research reports which you may find of interest.

Protecting Patient Privacy: Strategies For Regulating Electronic Health Records Exchange

Electronic health information technology is transforming the health care system as we know it. Like many aspects of our lives, the medical office is going online. Doctors, health systems, insurers, care coordination systems, regulators, governments and patients themselves are demanding electronic access to health records. Near instantaneous sharing of information between and among health care providers promises significant benefits to both doctors and patients, including greater coordination and efficiency in service delivery, reductions in medical errors and misdiagnoses, and convenience. These benefits are also likely to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system more broadly. However, this step forward poses significant risks. Easily shareable electronic records threaten patient privacy, and can lead to security breaches, misuse of information, and most importantly, loss of patient control over confidential and sensitive health information. This threatens the confidential communication between doctors and patients that has been a bedrock principle of modern medicine. Confidentiality ensures that patients seek out care, and that they are open and honest with their providers. Fully informed by the totality of a patient’s circumstances, providers can render the best care possible. To continue reading the report, click here.

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE week of 4/16 – 4/20

Please note that this calendar is subject to change.

Committee on Small Business (Jointly with the Committee on Economic Development)
Date: Monday, April 23, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 772 Edgewater Road Bronx, N.Y. 10474
Agenda: Tour: Hunts Point Industrial Business Zone

Committee on Veterans (Jointly with the Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice
Services and the Committee on Mental Health, Mental
Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services)
Date: Monday, April 23, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Rm, 14th Fl.
Agenda: Oversight: An Update on Veterans’ Treatment Courts in New York City.

Committee on Technology
Date: Monday, April 23, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 16th Fl.
Agenda: Oversight – Broadband Access: Closing the Digital Divide.

Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services Education (Jointly with the Committee on Veterans and the Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services)
Date: Monday, April 23, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 14th Fl.
Agenda: Oversight: An Update on Veterans’ Treatment Courts in New York City.

Committee on Transportation
Date: Monday, April 23, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Rm, 14th Fl.
Agenda: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to allowing for transfer of muni-meter time.

Committee on Lower Manhattan Redevelopment (Jointly with the Committee on Housing and Buildings)
Date: Monday, April 23, 2012
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Rm, 14th Fl.
Agenda: Oversight: Construction Coordination in Lower Manhattan.

Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises
Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Time: 9:30 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Rm, 16th Fl.
Agenda: For more information, click here.

Committee on Consumer Affairs
Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Council Chambers – City Hall
Agenda: For more information, click here.

Committee on Juvenile Justice
Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 14th Fl.
Agenda: Oversight – Family Engagement in the Juvenile Justice System.

Committee on Public Safety
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 14th Fl.
Agenda: For more information, click here.

Committee on Environmental Protection
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 16th Fl.
Agenda: Int 0834: A Local Law to amend the New York City charter, in relation to convening the New York city panel on climate change regularly, for the purpose of producing a report on climate change adaptation in New York city.

Committee on Women’s Issues
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 16th Fl.
Agenda: For more information, click here.

Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 16th Fl.
Agenda: Oversight – Community-based composting efforts in New York City.

Committee on Waterfronts (Jointly with the Committee on Transportation)
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 14th Fl.
Agenda: Oversight – Is the East River Ferry Staying Afloat? A Status Update.

Committee on Public Housing
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 14th Fl.
Agenda: Oversight – Update on NYCHA’s Management of its Section 8 Rental Assistance Program.

Committee on Land Use
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 16th Fl.
Agenda: For more information, click here.

Committee on Higher Education
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 250 Broadway – Hearing RM, 16th Fl.
Agenda: Oversight – How is CUNY prepared to respond to the needs of students given a projected increase in enrollment for Fall 2012?

Committee on Governmental Operations
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 14th Fl.
Agenda: For more information, click here.

Committee on Civil Rights
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: 250 Broadway – Committee Room, 16th Fl.
Agenda: For more information, click here.