🍎 citymeetings.nyc #24
Stop-and-frisk, NYCHA Weatherproofing, Drought, Veterans Arts, Homeless Shelters, IBSPs
Hi!
Last week, Hell Gate published my interview with them and paired it with the most flattering headline I could possibly imagine.
There are many great reasons to subscribe to Hell Gate, but this is my new favorite.
It made my year. Thanks Hell Gate, and a warm welcome to the ~100 of you that subscribed last week.
To all you new subscribers, the format of this newsletter is:
- I give readers an update on citymeetings.nyc itself.
- I highlight curious/interesting moments and claims from a few recent meetings.
Newsletters go out any week after there are council meetings. But all meetings are broken down into skimmable, linkable chapters and published on-site within 24 hours and, usually, same-day.
You can reply to this email directly with feedback, questions, and requests. I'll respond to it.
citymeetings.nyc got its start as a weekly newsletter a year ago called "Keys to the City Council" when I sent this email to ~30 friends in December 2023.
I'd love to do a year-in-review, but I have had no time (my dominant 2024 theme).
Instead, I'll just say thanks:
- To friends who indulged Keys to the City Council a year ago.
- To everyone who subscribed to, read, and/or shared citymeetings.nyc.
- To folks who sent inquiries, additional context, feedback, or appreciative notes.
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- To my wife, who made the citymeetings.nyc pigeon, helped me publish many a meeting, reviewed all these newsletters, and was basically fine with me being a stress ball as I juggled client work and this labor of love all year.
2025 is going to see an expansion in meeting coverage and a professional tools offering that I am fairly certain will blow your mind if your job in any way involves keeping up with what happens at government meetings.
If that describes you, say hi!
You can reply to this issue, email me directly at vikram@citymeetings.nyc, or just wait for me to reach out in the new year.
Happy New Year,
Vikram
I meant for this to go out last week but took a break for the holidays.
This week's highlights are from hearings 2 weeks ago on:
- Stop-and-frisk and other investigative encounters
- Our first drought in 20 years
- Weatherproofing efforts at NYCHA
- Veterans' art programs
- Homeless shelter provider oversight
- Industrial Business Service Providers (IBSPs)
Also:
Paperboy Love Prince, former mayoral candidate, showed up at a committee vote in clown face paint, gave testimony, and cackled a lot. Link
For a complete listing of published meetings, visit https://citymeetings.nyc.
Hearing on NYPD stop-and-frisk and other investigative encounters
Jeffrey Maddrey, NYPD's (now former) Chief of Department, testified at this meeting ~week before resigning after sexual assault allegations
The council examined NYPD's use of stop-and-frisk, focusing on racial disparities, the department's gang database, and police accountability measures under current federal monitorship.
- NYPD reports they spent $1.44 million in overtime costs during Q3 2024 to complete How Many Stops Act documentation. Link
- NYPD reports that 24K out of approximately 33K NYPD officers have completed video training on racial profiling and bias-based policing. Link
- Yusef Salaam shares that residents in impoverished communities routinely feel unable to end police encounters voluntarily, despite official policies stating they can leave. He also shares a personal story about his stop in early 2024. Link
- Yusef Salaam reports that nearly 90% of individuals stopped during the Bloomberg administration (peaking at 685K such encounters in 2011) were not found to have committed any offense. Link
- NYPD data shows stop and frisk numbers increased from 8,947 in 2021 to 17,000 in 2023. Link
- The New York Civil Liberties Union reports that 68% of level one encounters and 86% of level two encounters targeted Black and Latinx New Yorkers. Link
- Vickie Paladino asks if public testimony panelists are racist. Yusef Salaam intervenes. Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4
- Chief Maddrey acknowledges past mistakes in stop and frisk practices and commits to addressing community concerns. Link
- The G.A.N.G.S. Coalition testifies that NYPD's gang database includes 500 gangs with an average of 30 members each, encompassing friendship groups and neighborhood associations. Link
- The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project reports that actions as simple as appearing in photos with hand gestures can result in gang database inclusion. Link
- Bronx Community Justice Center reports that children as young as 11 are being added to the NYPD gang database without requiring criminal conduct. Link
Hearing on NYC's drought
Deputy Commissioner Paul Rush from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) testifies.
The council discussed the city's response to our first drought in 20 years, along with legislation on stormwater management and vehicle idling.
Reservoir levels reported are as of ~2 weeks ago. You can see the latest reservoir water levels from DEP here.
- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reports that reservoir levels are at 67.7% capacity compared to the historical average of 82.7%. Link
- DEP's Deputy Commissioner reveals October saw the lowest precipitation in recorded history, with only a 1% probability of occurrence. Link
- Because of the drought, DEP has postponed a $2 billion Delaware Aqueduct repair project that would address a 35-million-gallon daily leak. Link
- Green-Wood Cemetery's Director of Living Collections testifies that climate change is causing an alarming decline in mature oak and beech trees. Link
- DEP estimates $30 billion in stormwater management infrastructure costs for priority flood areas. Link
- The SWIM Coalition testifies that the city's stormwater plans still use rainfall projections from 2008. Link
- DEP reports that combined sewer overflow has decreased from 30 billion to 16 billion gallons annually since 2008. Link
- The Parks Department confirms brush fires occurred in three boroughs during November's drought conditions. Link
- DEP is considering raising stormwater management standards from 1.75 to 2.1 inches per hour. Link
- Jim Gennaro criticized the mayor's plan to take $1.4 billion in water system rental payments over four budget years for the general fund. Link
- The Citizens Air Complaint Program, administered by DEP, generates $50 million in revenue that does not go to DEP. Link
- Apparently each street tree costs $3,500 to plant. Link
Hearing on NYCHA's weather-proofing
Karen Blondel, a NYCHA resident leader, testifies.
The council examined NYCHA's efforts to address heating outages, weatherize buildings, and prepare for extreme weather events.
- NYCHA has modernized heating controls at 51 developments, installing building management systems that maintain apartment temperatures between 69-74 degrees. Link
- NYCHA received $3.3 billion for Superstorm Sandy recovery, with most projects finishing next year. Link
- NYCHA reports its average response time for individual heating complaints is under 24 hours. Link
- NYCHA reports 93 heating outages since October. Link
- Red Hook Houses residents testify that a paraplegic tenant was left without heat on weekends after home attendants opened windows. Link
- A Boulevard Houses tenant testifies that multiple families have been without reliable hot water for several weeks. Link
- A Linden Houses tenant testifies her apartment wall has been open since November 12th due to incomplete pipe repairs. Link
- The Environmental Justice Initiative reports that at Smith Houses, 9/11 dust remains present, and pipeline excavations are releasing lead and arsenic into the environment. Link
- Taft Houses residents testify that Section 3 workers were paid $18.20 per hour instead of the required $45.43 for 18 months. Link
- Council Member Banks reports he hasn't observed NYCHA representatives at any RAD/PACT construction meetings in the past 6-7 months. Link
Hearing on veterans' arts programs and support services
Commissioner Hendon from the Department of Veterans Services testifies.
The council discussed connecting veterans with arts and cultural opportunities + considered seven pieces of legislation related to veterans' services.
- Robert Holden shares that seven bills is the highest number considered at once by the Committee on Veterans. Link
- Only 24.1% of veterans in NYC self-identify as veterans, according to DVS Commissioner Hendon. Link
- DVS publishes a weekly newsletter that, among other things, features veterans in the arts. Link
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art's veterans-only opening drew 350 attendees. Link
- Council Member Holden has proposed $50,000 in annual funding per council member for Veterans Service Organization (VSO) grants. Link
- Exit12 Dance Company has presented over 125 performances featuring stories from over 1,000 veterans to 75,000 audience members. Link
- A Vietnam veteran's suicide risk assessment improved from high to low after participating in Exit12's dance program. Link
- Street sweeps regularly result in homeless veterans losing important documents, reports VOA-GNY Director Eric Lee. Link
- Brothers Helping Incorporated was forced to leave 210 Thanksgiving meals in a vestibule at Borden Avenue Veterans Shelter, reports Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 32 President. Link
- Veterans lost vending rights around the World Trade Center after 9/11 due to tensions over vendors selling pictures near Ground Zero, testifies the Disabled Veterans of New York President. Link
- A licensed veteran street vendor received a ticket while unlicensed vendors nearby operated freely. Link
- The Borden Avenue shelter's kitchen serves a culinary program but doesn't prepare meals for residents. Link
Hearing on NYC's homeless shelter providers
Imam Mansoor Rafiq Umar of Halal Watch World testifies.
The council examined the Department of Social Services' (DSS) management of homeless shelter providers, following a Department of Investigation (DOI) report that found issues with conflicts of interest, nepotism, and excessive executive compensation.
- DSS' homeless shelter system serves 86,000 people nightly across 500 shelters with a $4 billion budget. Link
- DSS contracts with 87 providers and directly operates 8 shelter sites. Link
- DSS currently has 6 shelter providers under corrective action plans for performance issues. Link
- Commissioner Park states most shelter providers work with multiple government agencies, complicating oversight of executive compensation. Link
- Julie Won reports former Bronx Parent Housing Network CEO Victor Rivera earned $274,000 while facing accusations of fund misuse and harassment. Link
- Julie Won describes shelter residents bringing her inedible food from Riviera caterers to demonstrate poor quality. Link
- A UWS resident testifies that a private equity firm will make $28 million over 9 years from a $15 million shelter building purchase. Link
- A veteran testifies about an overdose death at Borden Avenue shelter. Link
- City Beet Kitchens reports providing 53,200 daily meals while facing 20-54% cost increases. Link
- Rethink Food estimates $200 million in annual food waste in the shelter system. Link
- Halal Watch World reports shelter providers are mixing halal and non-halal foods and self-certifying compliance. Link
Hearing on Industrial Business Service Providers
Deputy Commissioner Kitty Chan from the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) testifies.
The council examined the city's Industrial Business Service Providers (IBSPs) with the Department of Small Business Services (SBS).
- There are 9 IBSPs. They act as intermediaries between city agencies and industrial businesses, providing services like regulatory guidance, access to financing, lease negotiations, and workforce development support. Link
- IBSPs receive between $130K-$170K annually to deliver these services. Link
- SBS reports that industrial businesses comprise over 50% of all NYC businesses and employ over half a million New Yorkers. Link
- The Brooklyn Borough President's Office testifies that each dollar spent in manufacturing generates $2.68 in economic impact. Link
- A business owner testifies that the industrial sector contributes $1.7B annually in NYC tax revenues. Link
- Long Island City Partnership testifies that manufacturing jobs pay $20,000 more annually than retail positions and almost double food service wages. They urge for a 50% increase in IBSP funding. Link
- The Commercial Lease Assistance Program has supported over 3,210 businesses with free lease negotiations. Link
- The NYC Opportunity Fund has distributed $85MM in loans, with 80% going to minority or women-owned businesses. Link
- SBS helped Bronx-based SugaWrap LLC secure a $34K loan for their biodegradable container business. Link
Thanks for reading!
Comments, questions, or feedback? Reply to this email or shoot me a note at vikram@citymeetings.nyc