City Council Member Erik Bottcher has officially planted 1,000 trees throughout his Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen district as of Dec. 8, fulfilling a longtime mission of his.
He also promptly promised to plant another 1,000 trees in four years, before the trophy sapling was even ensconced in dirt. However, he provided some wiggle room as to whether the next batch will be entirely local;
…
Single-room apartments once symbolized everything wrong with New York City. They didn’t have private kitchens or bathrooms and were seen as cheap places where crime festered, drugs flourished and the poor suffered daily indignities.
Today, city officials say the solution to the housing crisis involves building a lot more of them.
Councilman Erik Bottcher, a Democrat who represents parts of Manhattan, introduced a bill on Tuesday that would allow the construction of new single-room-occupancy apartments as small as 100 square feet for the first time in decades.
…
Restaurant Row in Hell’s Kitchen is indisputably one of the most iconic and vibrant culinary destinations in New York City, offering an unparalleled blend of diverse cuisines, rich history and a lively atmosphere that captures the essence of the city’s gastronomic spirit. Since the opening of Barbetta in 1906, this distinctive mixed-use block has been a one-of-a-kind destination for dining;
…
Graphic images warning of the dangers of keeping a firearm at home could soon appear in gun shops across New York City, similar to the cautionary imagery printed on cigarette packages in other countries.
The New York City Council is poised to pass the legislation on Wednesday.
A recent Gothamist analysis shows this year’s dip in shootings follows a broader downward trend since the pandemic.
…
On Wednesday night, a man held at Rikers Island died—the fifth death in city custody in the last two weeks, and the 12th this year alone.
These are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a system in collapse. For decades, New York City has been trapped in a cycle of failure at Rikers. The sprawling, decaying jail complex isn’t just a humanitarian disaster—it’s a direct threat to public safety.
…
It’s the end of the road for two West Side casino bids. Councilmember Erik Bottcher cast decisive “no” votes on Wednesday, after the Community Advisory Committees weighed the high-stakes proposals for Caesars Palace Times Square and The Avenir.
In an email statement timed with the first vote, Bottcher said his decision followed “countless conversations with constituents in coffee shops, living rooms and on street corners, extensive public engagement and careful deliberation.” While he acknowledged the economic potential of the projects, Bottcher argued that casinos carry a “particularly high bar” for community support that has not been met.
…
The City Council Committee on Land Use approved a massive rezoning plan to build over 9,500 homes in Midtown South on Wednesday, clearing the way for a full Council vote amid increasing public support.
The Midtown South Mixed-Use (MSMX) plan would redesignate 42 blocks between West 23rd and 40th Streets and Fifth and Eighth Avenues for housing development, allowing the city to repurpose office spaces.
…
NYC officials revived a Midtown busway project as part of a larger rezoning proposal on Wednesday, after City Hall allegedly suspended the plan last month.
The city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) first proposed on May 20 to convert a stretch of 34th Street into a dedicated busway, which would increase bus speeds by as much as 15% for thousands of riders each day.
…
With its stretches of subway grating flanked by a windowless Con Edison substation and a busy bike lane, Seventh Avenue between West 18th and 19th Streets has long been in need of beautification. While the restaurants and residential buildings of surrounding blocks beckon, this barren, concrete anomaly can’t claim so much as a single shrub, plant, or bush with which to entice.
…
This LGBTQ+ Pride month, a native of the Adirondacks who now serves on the New York City Council is highlighting a key meaning of Pride—the importance of community—using his powerful personal story to do so.
Erik Bottcher, who grew up in Wilmington, New York and graduated from Lake Placid High School, was a guest on this weekend’s episode of NBC5 In Depth.
…
