End-of-Summer 2012 City Hall Roundup

On July 25, 2012, the City Council took the following actions

1. Land Use—The Council approved numerous land use items, including multiple applications submitted by New York University requesting zoning changes that will allow the school to develop and renovate properties to create additional academic space and community uses within the University’s core in Greenwich Village.
2. In. 730-2011-A—The Council adopted a law increasing disclosure of information relating to the development of affordable housing under the auspices of the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). The law would require HPD to maintain an online list of pre-qualified and disqualified developers and to post detailed information about ongoing developments, including how the projects’ developers were selected. In addition, the law requires that developers and contractors submit quarterly reports on the wages of workers on the projects. The bill was vetoed by Mayor Bloomberg in late August.
3. Int. 807-2012-A—The Council adopted a law updating the city’s plumbing code to reflect the standards of the 2009 edition of the international plumbing code, with differences reflecting New York City’s unique character. This bill was signed by the mayor in early August.
4. Res. 1390-2012—The Council passed this resolution authorizing the filing of an amicus(friend of the court) brief in ongoing litigation challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, federal legislation that allows states to restrict recognition of marriage to heterosexual unions.

On August 22, 2012, the City Council took the following actions

1. Int. 834-A—The Council adopted a bill that institutionalizes and calls for regular meetings of the New York City Panel on Climate Change and the New York City Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, to advise the City on climate change projections and adaptation.
2. Int. 918-2012—The Council adopted a bill requiring the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to post a list of local organizations that offer information and activities concerning “Trap, Neuter, Return,” a strategic approach to managing feral cat populations.
3. Res. 910-A—The council passed a resolution calling on the state legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation to support breakfast in public school classrooms.