News, Alerts, and Events

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In The News: Highlights

October 12, New Bill Passed to Ensure NYC Bars Stocked with Anti-Overdose Kits, Eater
Mayor Eric Adams is set to sign Intro 56-A into law today: The bill — which would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to provide harm-reduction tools like naloxone, the opioid reversal, free of charge to nightlife spots, as well as associated training — was first introduced by Council Members Chi Ossé and Keith Powers earlier this year and passed in September.

September 13, NYC pol pushes to extend sugary-drink warnings at local chains, NYPost
“We have to start taking clear measures to make sure that New Yorkers are informed,” Powers told The Post. “Whether it’s calorie counts, restaurant grades or sodium counts, giving New Yorkers better information … has a positive impact on the decisions they make.”

September 12, Upper East Side Panel Supports Crosstown Bike Lanes — Again, City & State
“We all have a shared goal of ensuring that every New Yorker is safe. In the wake of the incident, we respectfully request that DOT take measures to improve safety at this intersection, including revisiting the proposed bike lane on 85th Street, evaluating the utilization of trucks along this route, and installing other safety infrastructure that can prevent another death. We have to act with urgency to prevent another death from occurring on our city streets,” pols Keith Powers and Julie Menin wrote on Sept. 6.

September 2, Chi Ossé and Keith Powers Want Narcan Kits in Every Bar, Paper Magazine
To address the growing need for harm reduction in the city, activists have been shepherding the Narcan Behind Bars program across NYC to increase access to the overdose-reversing drug Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, and decrease overdose deaths due to Fentanyl-laced drugs.

August 15, The 2022 Manhattan Power 100, City & State
City & State’s Manhattan Power 100 highlights the public officials, business executives, hospital CEOs, community leaders, consultants and reformers who have made the borough what it is – and are making sure it gets back on track this time around.

August 9, Criminal Background Checks May Be Banned in N.Y.C. Housing Applications, New York Times
Keith Powers, a councilman from Manhattan and one of the sponsors on the bill, said he hears daily from New Yorkers who are worried about homelessness and making housing more accessible. “Right here we have a tool that can accomplish that,” he said.

July 13, City Council member attempting to ban horse-drawn carriages, NY1
A coalition of City Council members are attempting to ban horse-drawn carriages in the city and replace them with electronic alternatives.

June 30, In a first, NYC Forms DNA Gun Crimes Unit, Patch
“This is an announcement that I hope is not going to fly under the radar,” said Council Member Powers. “I hope New Yorkers recognize that with this unit we’ll have the better tools that we need to catch those individuals, like the one last night, and to put them away and to get them off our streets.”

June 15, New NYC Council bills intend to widen access to elite public high schools, NYPost
City Council Members Justin Brannan, Keith Powers and Oswald Feliz will introduce three proposals Thursday to promote test preparation for specialized high schools that rely on the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) for entry.

June 3, Bill seeks to pause commercial rent tax for three years, Crain’s New York
“Our city’s recovery is contingent on Manhattan,” Powers said. “We need to be doing everything possible to support these establishments as owners work tirelessly to pay bills, bring back customers and keep their doors open.”

June 2, Exclusive: BP Levine and CM Powers push for municipal public bank in New York City, amNY
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Council Member Keith Powers are introducing two new bills and a resolution to pave the way for a public municipal bank in New York City.

June 1, NYC lawmakers propose rent tax rollback for Manhattan businesses hit hard by COVID, New York Daily News
City lawmakers plan to introduce a bill Thursday that would roll back a commercial rent tax on Manhattan businesses — a move designed to provide relief after the pandemic and its economic aftermath left business owners struggling to survive.

June 1, Adams, Nightlife-Loving Mayor, Offers Plan to ‘Let the People Dance’, New York Times
Large establishments that want to offer dancing will still come under review as they apply for a liquor license, and be subject to fire and noise rules and community review, said Keith Powers, the City Council’s majority leader.

May 26, Warrior poet, Audre Lorde, gets her ‘Way’, Amsterdam News
“I am very proud to have sponsored the co-naming of East 68th Street as Audre Lorde Way,” Powers said.

May 25, In Response to Covid, Manhattan Borough President Seeks to Mandate Improved Air Quality Standards, Gotham Gazette
Levine, who previously served on the City Council and made a name for himself during the pandemic as chair of the Council’s health committee, is working with Council Member Keith Powers, a fellow Manhattan Democrat.

May 7, Businesses cheer City council bill to suspend liquor license surcharge, NY1
A newly introduced City Council bill, backed by Mayor Eric Adams, seeks to alleviate some of the economic stress that restaurants, bars, liquor and wine stores, and bodegas are feeling.

April 25, City Council Calls for More Social Service Spending in FY 2023 Budget, TAPinto
Mayor Eric Adams is delivering his proposed $98.5 billion executive budget for Fiscal Year 2023 tomorrow and numerous City Council members discussed today the need to include $1.3 billion in spending on a variety of social programs that reflect the Council’s priorities.

April 16, Councilman Keith Powers: Tenants ‘insulted’ by proposed rent hikes, NY1
“People are insulted that they’re getting such a potential high rent increase,” Powers said. “We were in a global pandemic, the rent is already too high, and for my constituents and for most New Yorkers, they’re insulted that this would be even a potentially a 9% or 5% or 7% increase at a time when it’s already so difficult.”

March 20, New bill would require lifesaving Narcan to be stocked at NYC nightclubs and bars, news12
New York City nightclubs and bars may soon be carrying Narcan, with their staff fully trained to use it, if a new bill is passed.

March 7, St. Pat’s for All celebrates Irish heritage and LGBTQ+ pride, amNY
“This parade has been symbolic for its inclusivity throughout its time here and really at a moment where we need it to embrace and show every New Yorker they can be part of our community,” Powers said.

February 28, The 2022 New York City Power 100, City & State New York
The political players thriving in a new era.

February 8, NYC Restaurants are still on the brink, New York Daily News
Without local restaurants like Il Sole, New York City’s economy, workforce and culture will never be the same. We need our federal, state and local partners to take immediate action to save these businesses—and make sure that the Big Apple stays the best city.

February 8, Council Member Powers: The Stuy Town Guy, City & State
He may be a millennial, but has an old school record collection.

January 19, New Plans announced for Park Avenue traffic median redesign, 6sqft
New York City Council Member Keith Powers announced this week the next steps in a plan to bring new life to Midtown’s Park Avenue traffic medians.

December 9, City Council Speaker candidates try to draw contrasts at NY1 forum, NY1
At a forum hosted by NY1, the only televised such event of the speaker’s race, [the Speaker candidates] agreed with the need for COVID vaccine mandates while challenging Mayor Bill de Blasio’s implementation plan — or lack thereof.

December 2, The NYC Council Speaker Candidates on their Legislative Priorities, City Limits
“As a speaker, I think the next few years is going to be really about creating an economic recovery that includes every single New Yorker and creating stability for a lot of New Yorkers who have struggled in the last two years during the COVID pandemic,” Powers told City Limits.

December 2, The Cold Is Coming. Will New Yorkers Still Eat Outdoors?, New York Times
Keith Powers, a City Council member, and Mayor-elect Eric Adams, who takes office Jan. 1, urged Mr. de Blasio to end the ban, saying in a letter that “many diners still prefer the safety of outdoor dining to dining indoors, and restaurants are still struggling financially to recover.” Mr. Powers introduced legislation on Nov. 23 that would allow propane heaters in the city this winter.

November 30, NYC Restaurants Get One Step Closer to Firing Up Propane Heaters Again, Eater
NYC restaurants should be able to legally reignite last year’s propane heaters after all, at least according to one local politician. Council member Keith Powers, who represents areas of Manhattan including the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Murray Hill, recently introduced legislation to the City Council in late November that, if passed, would reinstate propane heater usage for outdoor dining.

November 30, New bill seeks to bring back propane heaters for outdoor dining in NYC, 6sqft
New York City Council Member Keith Powers last week introduced legislation that would allow the ongoing use of propane heaters for outdoor restaurant dining. The heaters, given the green light last year but banned again in October, helped restaurants stay afloat last winter by keeping diners cozy at Covid-safe outdoor tables.

November 30, New Legislation, Supported by Eric Adams, Would Allow Propane Heaters for Outdoor Dining, Gothamist
Council member Keith Powers has introduced legislation that would reinstate the use of propane heaters this winter, as well as establish new safety precautions around the operation and handling of them.

November 18, Eric Adams, lawmaker team to demand de Blasio allow propane dining heaters, NY Post
Adams, the Brooklyn borough president and in six weeks mayor of New York, and Councilman Keith Powers called on de Blasio to “reconsider” his prohibition of the devices, which were allowed on sidewalks during winter 2020.

October 29, The 2021 New York City Council speaker contenders, City & State
Powers has been touring the city helping colleagues get elected. Now he’ll ask for their vote as a compromise candidate.

October 13, Could Keith Powers be the consensus speaker candidate?, City & State
Since the primary, Powers has continued to forge relationships with Democratic nominees and returning members. He’s also working those closed-door rooms filled with the power brokers who have historically had influence in choosing the speaker.

October 13, Beloved NYC chocolate shop’s future at risk amid rent battle, NY Post
City & State’s Manhattan Power 100 highlights the public officials, business executives, hospital CEOs, community leaders, consultants and reformers who have made the borough what it is – and are making sure it gets back on track this time around.

October 4, The Manhattan Power 100 2021, City & State
City & State’s Manhattan Power 100 highlights the public officials, business executives, hospital CEOs, community leaders, consultants and reformers who have made the borough what it is – and are making sure it gets back on track this time around.

Press Releases from the Council Member

Reports from the Council Member

Report: Passport to Recovery: Revitalizing Tourism in NYC
Report: Open for Business: Saving our Small Businesses Post-COVID
Report: 50 Ways to Leave Your Borough: A Campaign Finance Reform Proposal

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Keith Powers

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In The News: Highlights

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