The Council will also vote to protect commercial tenants
City Hall – The New York
City Council on Wednesday will vote on a package of public safety bills,
including legislation to ban the possession of unfinished frames or receivers
used to create so-called “ghost guns.” These “ghost guns” can be created by
buying pieces online and are essentially unlicensed, do-it-yourself firearms.
They have no serial number and are difficult for law enforcement to trace.
The Council is also voting on a
bill to protect commercial tenants by strengthening the Commercial Tenant
Harassment Law. The bill will broaden the definition of harassment from an act
that is “intended to cause” a tenant to vacate to an act that “would reasonably
cause” a tenant to vacate. The bill also for the first time addresses owners
who harass their commercial tenants based on immigration status. The
legislation increases the current penalty for harassment from $1,000 to
$10,000, to between $10,000 and $50,000. And, it would clarify that courts may
order the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) to deny any new
construction work permits for an owner who has committed these violations.
The Council will also vote on a
bill that would require the City to study the feasibility of off-hour
deliveries to City agencies in the central business district (below 60th
Street in Manhattan) and two highly congested areas outside of the central
business district. Those two highly congested areas will be determined at a
later date. This bill is intended to help ease congestion.
Additionally, the Council will
vote on a series of climate bills, including one that requires the City to
study the feasibility of the installation of solar water heating and thermal
energy systems on city-owned buildings. Another bill requires the City to study
and plan community choice aggregation programs. This climate package is timed
to coincide with Climate Week.
The Council will also vote to
repeal current Local Law 22 of 2018, which bans conversion therapy services for
a fee. Shortly after its enactment, the law was challenged in court. To avoid
the possibility of a negative legal precedent, advocates requested a repeal of
the law. Minors would still be protected pursuant to a recently passed state
law. Additionally, under existing state and city consumer fraud laws, a person
who went through conversion therapy could bring a lawsuit that they were
defrauded.
Finally, the Council will vote on
several land use items.
Public Safety Bills
Prohibits
unfinished frames or receivers used to
create so-called “ghost guns,”
Introduction 1553-A,sponsored
by Council Member Helen Rosenthal, would make it a misdemeanor to
possess an unfinished lower receiver, which is a piece of metal that can be
ordered online and turned into a gun with tools available in any hardware
store. These homemade guns are often referred to as “ghost guns” because they
do not have a serial number, and are virtually impossible to trace.
“Every year in this country,
thousands die from gun violence and tens of thousands are injured. While New
York City stands out for its common-sense gun laws and declining homicide rate,
a critical loophole in gun safety has emerged in the form of “ghost guns.”
Through my and Council Member Miller’s legislation, New York City can join with
California and New Jersey in closing this loophole, and set an important
precedent for other cities and states to follow. We cannot go backwards when it
comes to gun violence. We must take every possible measure to block untraceable
weapons in New York City,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal.
Requires reporting on the
seizure of three-dimensional printed guns and ghost guns, or any piece or part
thereof
Introduction 1548,sponsored
by Council Member I. Daneek Miller, would require the NYPD to report on the
number of seizures of “ghost guns” and 3D printed guns, which can also be made
at home using materials and equipment that anyone can buy online. 3D guns are
dangerous for everyone, including the people who try to use them.
Urges the United States
Congress to Pass 3-D Firearms Prohibition Act
Resolution 866-A, sponsored
by Council Member I. Daneek Miller, would call on the U.S. Congress to
reintroduce and pass the 3-D Firearms Prohibition Act and calls on the
president to sign it. The 3-D Firearms Prohibition Act, sponsored by United
States Representative Frank Joseph Pallone Jr. in the 2017-2018 House session,
would prohibit the sale, acquisition, distribution in commerce, or import of
“do-it yourself” firearm parts and kits, the marketing of such kits, and would require
homemade firearms to have serial numbers. Firearm receiver casting, blanks, and
unfinished handgun frames would be considered banned hazardous products under
the Consumer Product Safety Act. The advertising or marketing of on any medium,
including the Internet, for the sale of do-it yourself assault weapons parts or
kits would be unlawful.
“The ability for criminals to get
their hands on dangerous and virtually untraceable ghost guns is unacceptable,
and the package of legislation being voted on today will serve to curtail this
emerging threat. In my Southeast Queens district, as well as throughout the
City, we have witnessed a troubling uptick in gun-violence. We must continue to
be proactive in keeping our communities safe, and I thank my colleagues Council
Member Rosenthal, Speaker Johnson and the Administration for their partnership
in that effort,” said Council Member I. Daneek Miller.
Strengthening Protections
for Commercial Tenants
Introduction 1410-B, sponsored
by Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, would strengthen the commercial tenant
harassment law by changing the current standard of an act or omission that “is
intended to cause” a tenant to vacate the premises, to an act or omission that
“would reasonably cause” a commercial tenant to vacate the property, or
otherwise surrender their lawful rights to the premises.
This bill would also expand the
acts and omissions that constitute commercial tenant harassment to now include:
- Threatening
a commercial tenant based on such tenant belonging to a protected category
under the City’s Human Rights Law (such as age, race, national origin, gender,
disability, sexual orientation, alienage or citizenship status)
- Requesting
identifying documentation that would disclose the citizenship status of a
commercial tenant; or
- Unreasonably
refusing to cooperate with a tenant’s permitted repairs or construction
activities.
This bill would also increase
civil penalties for engaging in tenant harassment to not less than ten thousand
dollars and not more than fifty thousand dollars, and clarify that courts who
find an owner has committed commercial tenant harassment may order the
Department of Buildings not to approve construction documents for, or not to
issue or renew permits for, covered categories of construction work by the
owner.
“With the mass proliferation of
development across New York City, small businesses and commercial tenants have
very little protections to safeguard them from the effects of changing
neighborhoods. Landlords can often take advantage of such changes to pressure
and harass commercial tenants out of their spaces, leading to vast amounts of
commercial tenant displacement in neighborhoods they’ve established legacies
in.
“Int. 1410-B would broaden and
redefine commercial tenant harassment, increase civil penalties for landlords
that commit commercial tenant harassment, not approve or renew documents for
certain types of construction work by owners, and much more. This bill takes a
holistic and fair approach to punishing devious landlords, while allowing
lawful landlords to continue providing safe spaces for their commercial tenants
to thrive.
“I thank Speaker Corey Johnson
for his leadership, and Council Member Mark Gjonaj, Chair of the Small Business
Committee. I also extend my gratitude to the entire Legislative Division team
at the City Council for assisting with this piece of legislation as well as all
of the organizations who are a part of the United for Small Business NYC
coalition for their persistence and advocacy for commercial tenant rights in
New York City,” said Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson.
Implementing Off-Hour
Deliveries to City Facilities
Introduction 1140-A, sponsored
by Council Member Costa Constantinides, would require an agency or office
designated by the Mayor, working with other agencies and offices, to study the
issue of off-hour deliveries to City facilities and develop a framework for the
implementation of such deliveries at City facilities in the central business
district (Manhattan south of 60th Street) and at least two highly congested
areas outside of the central business district. The City would then have to
implement off-hour deliveries where feasible.
The bill would also include
reporting requirements at several stages.
“The destructive rollbacks by the
federal entity formerly known as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have
put the onus on big cities such as New York to implement meaningful clean air
policies. “We, as a City government, must lead by example here. The bills we’ve
voted on today, in recognition of Climate Week, pave the way to a brighter
future by requiring overnight deliveries to City buildings wherever possible,
as well as making it easier to store renewable energy. We have also introduced
a bill that would budget emissions from each agency, making sure we hit the
aggressive reduction targets we’ve set for ourselves.”
Climate Bills
Requires a Study of the
Feasibility of Community Choice Aggregation Program Implementation
Introduction 140-A, sponsored
by Council Member Stephen Levin, would require the Mayor’s Office of Long
Term Planning and Sustainability to conduct a study regarding the feasibility
of implementing in the city one or more community choice aggregation programs.
If such office recommends
implementing any such programs, the Office shall, on or before December 31,
2021, develop and make publicly available online a plan for implementing such
programs.
Requires a Study of the
Feasibility of the Installation of Solar Water Heating and Thermal Energy
Systems on City-Owned Buildings
Introduction 426-A, sponsored
by Council Member Costa Constantinides, wouldrequire the Department
of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to study the feasibility of the
installation of solar water heating and thermal energy systems on city-owned
buildings.
The study would include
consideration of state or federal incentives available to defray the costs of
installation. This bill would also require the installation of solar water
heating and thermal energy systems where the traditional hot water and space
heating equipment has reached the end of its useful life. Finally, this bill
would require a report to the Mayor and Speaker to be submitted no later than
December 21, 2021, that details the number of solar water heating and thermal
energy systems installed.
Requires a Study of the
Feasibility of the Installation of Each Available Type of Utility Scale Energy
Storage System in Each City Building
Introduction 49-A, sponsored
by Council Member Costa Constantinides, would require
the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to conduct a study
regarding the feasibility of installation and use of each available type of
utility scale energy storage system in each city building and submit to the
Mayor and the Speaker a copy of such study no later than April 30, 2021.
Following such study, the department or any other authorized agency shall
install utility style energy storage systems on all city buildings where the
study determines that installation is cost effective.
No later than December 15, 2021,
DCAS shall report to the Mayor and the Speaker on the types of utility scale
energy storage systems studied, the buildings where installation may be
appropriate, the number of buildings where installation has been commenced and
the number of buildings where installation has been completed.
“The destructive rollbacks by the
federal entity formerly known as the Environmental Protection Agency have put
the onus on big cities such as New York to implement meaningful clean air
policies. We, as a City government, must lead by example here. The bills we’ve
voted on today, in recognition of Climate Week, pave the way to a brighter
future by requiring overnight deliveries to City buildings wherever possible,
as well as making it easier to store renewable energy. We have also introduced
a bill that would budget emissions from each agency, making sure we hit the
aggressive reduction targets we’ve set for ourselves,” said Council Member
Costa Constantinides.
Repeals Local Law 22 of 2018
which bans offering conversion therapy for a fee
Introduction 1682-A, sponsored
by Speaker Corey Johnson, would repeal Local Law 22 of 2018 which bans
offering conversion therapy services for a fee in New York City. Conversion
therapy, also known as “reparative therapy,” “Ex-Gay therapy,” or “Sexual
Orientation Change Efforts,” is a set of practices intending to change a
person’s sexuality or gender identity to fit heterosexual or cisgender
standards and expectations. Minors would still be protected under a recent law
passed by the State. State and city agencies can also still prosecute
individuals who offer these services for a fee under consumer protection laws.
“This
was a painful decision that was made after leading LGBTQ advocates requested
that the Council repeal our 2017 bill. After intense deliberation, the Council
concluded that it was best to take this drastic step. The courts have changed
considerably over the last few years, and we cannot count on them to rule in
favor of much-needed protections for the LGBTQ community. To be clear, this
alleged therapy is barbaric and inhumane, but repealing this law seemed to be
the best path forward. I listened to the advocates who know the issue best, as
well as my heart. I will never stop fighting for the community I am so proud to
be a part of,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.
Finally, the Council will vote on
the following land use items:
Broadway Buildings
A series of landmark designations
on Broadway including 817 Broadway, 830 Broadway, 832-834 Broadway, 836
Broadway, 840 Broadway, and the Roosevelt Building at 840 Broadway all
located in Council Member Carlina Rivera’s district. These buildings
represent some of the most well-preserved Renaissance Revival high rise
architecture that flourished from the late 19th
and early 20th century on Broadway
south of Union Square. Among these buildings is also 826 Broadway, home
to the internationally known Strand Bookstore, also located in Council
Member Carlina Rivera’s district. In-line with the other historic
Renaissance Revival architecture in the area, this building has also housed the
historic Strand Bookstore for the past 60 years, serving book loving New
Yorkers and visitors from across the globe.
National Society of
Colonial Dames in the State of New York Headquarters
Located on east 71st street located in Council Member Keith
Powers’ district; The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New
York society was founded on the preservation of American’s colonial past. The
building was designed by Richard Dana Jr, a specialist in the architecture of
the colonial period. Befitting for the purpose of the organization, this
“idealized” reproduction of a colonial style mansion serves as both the
headquarters and museums for this important American institution.
First Hungarian Reformed Church
Built during the First World War
and located at 346 East 69th
Street in Council Member Ben Kallos’ district, this building is a striking
example of the early 20th
century by prominent NYC architect Emery Roth. This church also provided a
community and political center in the “Little Hungary” neighborhood in
Yorkville.
LGBTQ Landmark Designations
There are also a series of
Landmark designations that hold significant importance to the LGBTQ community
including the Gay Activists Alliance Firehouse, located in Council
Member Margaret Chin’s district, which served as the headquarters for the Gay
Activists Alliance (GAA) from 1971 – 1974. The Caffe Cino, located in
the Speaker’s district,an experimental theater venue that served as New
York City’s first gay theatre and the birthplace of Off-Off-Broadway. The
Women’s Liberation Center, located in the Speaker’s district,a
former firehouse that was home to numerous lesbian and feminist organizations
as well as the epicenter for women’s engagement in the struggle for LGBT civil
rights. The LGBT Community Center, located in the Speaker’s district, an
old public school that became the home of a LGBT community center in 1984 and
continues to serve the LGBT community through political action, social, as well
as health and wellness programs. The James Baldwin Residence on West 71st Street, located in Council Member Helen
Rosenthal’s district, one of the most significant surviving buildings in the
nation of the celebrated writer and civil rights advocate, James Baldwin.
Finally, there is the Audre Lorde Residence located in Council Member
Debi Rose’s district, which was the primary residences of the famous
African American writer, educator, and Poet Laurate of New York who was a
fierce advocate for feminism and LGBT rights. It was in here, in her home on
Staten Island, while she was living here that she wrote some of her most
groundbreaking work.
Kew Gardens Hills Rezoning.
This application, located in
Council Member Rory Lancman’s district, would maintain the existing
single-family residential character of the area while allowing for the
enlargement of said homes.
Bronx Point
HPD is seeking the designation of
an Urban Development Action Area Project and project approval for this new
development that was approved back in 2017 in Council Member Diana Ayala’s
district.
Brownsville South
This application that would
facilitate the development of three mixed-use buildings that would include over
40 units of affordable housing located in both Council Member Rafael Espinal’s
and Council Member Barron’s districts.
3513 Atlantic Avenue
Rezoning
This application, located in
Council Member Rafael Espinal’s district, which would amend the zoning map to
create a commercial overlay to allow the construction of a one-story retail
building at 3513 Atlantic Avenue.
Hummus Kitchen
This application is a renewal
application to approve an unenclosed sidewalk café, in Council Member Carlina
Rivera’s district, for another four-year term.
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