At the onset of the pandemic last year, the city suspended participatory budgeting — the grassroots democratic process that allows the public to propose community projects, develop them with experts and then vote on which ones to fund. On Monday, four City Council members — three of whom are running for higher office — announced […]
Carlos Menchaca
Posted inDevelopment
Planners’ Green Light for Industry City Expansion Puts Council Speaker Corey Johnson in the Hot Seat
The City Planning Commission’s decision Wednesday to approve and send on to the City Council a major redevelopment of Brooklyn’s Industry City sets off a showdown between the ascendant economic progressive movement and longstanding business interests concerned about New York’s flailing economy. With Sunset Park Councilmember Carlos Menchaca opposed to the plan, the Commission vote […]
Posted inDevelopment
Blow to Industry City Expansion Makes Waves Beyond Brooklyn Waterfront
A Brooklyn City Council member’s decision to oppose an expansion of Industry City that promised 20,000 new jobs and up to $100 million in tax revenue sent shockwaves through the business community amid the economic pandemic plunge. Councilmember Carlos Menchaca’s announcement buoyed opponents, who feared the project would displace longtime residents. It also gave new […]
Posted inHealth
Coronavirus Updates Slow to Reach NYC’s Non-Native English Speakers
Update: On Friday afternoon, NYC Emergency Management made COVID text-message alerts available in Spanish, by texting COVIDESP to 692-692, in addition to an existing English-language service. To receive New York City coronavirus updates on your phone, text “COVID” to 692-692, advises the city agency responsible for helping New Yorkers before, during and after emergencies. The […]
Posted inPublic Safety
311 Tone Deaf on Language Options for Non-Native English Speakers
Additional reporting by Ann Choi and Clifford Michel Sign up for “THE CITY Scoop,” our daily newsletter where we send you stories like this first thing in the morning. For the past two years, Local Law 30 has required city agencies to provide access to their services in 10 languages other than English: Spanish, “Chinese,” […]
Posted inGovernment
City’s IDNYC Smart Card Chip Plan Slammed as Security Risk
Sign up for “THE CITY Scoop,” our daily newsletter where we send you stories like this first thing in the morning. Pushback against adding a banking chip to new IDNYC cards intensified Thursday, with a demand from immigration, civil liberties and consumer groups to scrap the effort and introduction of a City Council bill to […]