On March 12, 2024, the New York State Assembly and Senate released their one-house budgets, indicating their priorities for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget. Both houses proposed raising taxes for high earners, increasing...more
The City Planning Commission voted to advance a zoning text amendment known as the "City of Yes for Economic Opportunity." The proposed changes include 18 changes to current rules, designed to make it easier for small...more
Last Wednesday, the New York State Legislature approved the proposed Congressional maps, and Governor Hochul signed the maps into law. The Assembly approved the maps 115-33, and the Senate approved the maps 45-17, with the...more
CHICAGO — Uber, Lyft Drivers Join Valentine’s Day Strike with Thousands Across Country-
Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash drivers gathered at O’Hare Airport’s rideshare waiting lot on Valentine’s Day to kick off a strike that was...more
2/29/2024
/ Airports ,
City Councils ,
Delivery Drivers ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Federal Funding ,
Homeless Issues ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Mayors ,
Migrants ,
Non-Citizens ,
Public Safety ,
Real Estate Market ,
Strike
Mayor Adams announced that the next round of agency budget cuts, which was expected for April, has been cancelled. Adams originally announced three rounds of budget cuts planned for November 2023, January 2024, and April...more
IRC Approves New Congressional Maps-
New York’s Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) voted to approve new congressional lines. Small changes have been made to a few upstate districts, but the congressional districts...more
BOSTON — City Leading AI Industry-
Boston-area companies are leading in the development of new artificial intelligence (AI) and managing data for AI use. A new report estimates that Boston’s expertise in tech and health...more
2/16/2024
/ Affordable Housing ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
California ,
City Councils ,
Commercial Real Estate Market ,
Federal Employees ,
Homeowners ,
Migrants ,
Natural Disasters ,
Property Tax ,
Public Health ,
Real Estate Development ,
Redistricting ,
State Budgets ,
Subcontractors ,
Tenants ,
Transparency
Mayor Adams and several other mayors throughout New York State testified at the state’s joint legislative budget hearing for local governments. Also known as “Tin Cup Day,” local governments submit their requests for...more
Council Overrides Mayoral Vetoes-
Last Tuesday, the NYC Council voted to override Mayor Adams’ vetoes on the How Many Stops Act and a ban on solitary confinement in city jails. The How Many Stops Act will require police...more
Mayor Adams Delivers State of the City Address-
On Wednesday, Mayor Adams delivered his third State of the City address, laying out his vision for the year ahead. He focused his speech on public safety, economic recovery,...more
CHICAGO — Chicago Rideshare Drivers Looking for Safety Solutions- Chicago Gig Alliance organizer Lori Simmons is leading the charge in demanding city officials take action in response to a rash of recent rideshare driver...more
2/1/2024
/ Affordable Housing ,
California ,
City of Chicago ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Deficit Reduction ,
Entrepreneurs ,
Federal Funding ,
Foreign Corporations ,
Joe Biden ,
Mayors ,
Migrants ,
Public Transit ,
State Budgets ,
Work Permits
Governor Hochul Releases FY25 Executive Budget-
On Tuesday, Governor Hochul unveiled her FY25 Executive Budget. She proposed a balanced $233B budget, which does not propose any increases in individual or corporate taxes but...more
CHICAGO — After Latest Shooting, Rideshare Drivers Protest Outside Midway Airport for Change-
Several rideshare drivers protested outside Midway Airport last Friday for better safety and stable pay. The Chicago Police...more
On Tuesday, Governor Hochul delivered her 2024 State of the State (SotS), laying out her vision for the year ahead. She focused her speech on proposals for mental health, healthcare, the environment, and the economy. The...more
Last Wednesday, the NYC Council held their charter meeting to begin the 2024-2025 session. Adrienne Adams was unanimously reelected as Speaker. Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, Majority Whip Selvena Brooks-Powers, Minority Leader...more
BALTIMORE — Mayor Scott, BDE Introduce Free Public Wi-Fi Network -
In December, Mayor Brandon Scott and the City’s Office of Broadband and Digital Equity (BDE) launched FreeBmoreWiFi, a citywide free public Wi-Fi network....more
1/4/2024
/ Affordable Housing ,
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
ATF ,
Immigrants ,
Mayors ,
Migrants ,
Property Tax ,
Public Health ,
Public Safety ,
Public Transportation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Voting Rights
Last Wednesday, the NYC Council convened their final Stated meeting of the year, where they passed and introduced multiple pieces of legislation. The Council passed several policing and criminal justice bills, including a ban...more
Mayor Adams announced Lynelle Maginley-Liddie as the new Commissioner of the NYC Department of Correction (DOC). Maginley-Liddie currently serves as First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Diversity Officer of DOC, and will...more
BALTIMORE — New UpSurge CEO Bets on Baltimore, Tech Tech- entrepreneur Kory Bailey — who was recently named CEO of UpSurge, a nonprofit, professional ecosystem-building organization — spoke about his efforts to build a...more
12/14/2023
/ Abandoned Property ,
Affordable Housing ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Automatic License Plate Readers ,
Budget Cuts ,
Charging Stations ,
City Councils ,
City of Chicago ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Employment Contract ,
Hamas ,
Innovation ,
Migrants ,
Paid Leave ,
Property Tax ,
Public Health ,
Public Safety ,
Public Transit ,
Rent Control ,
Retailers ,
State Budgets ,
Technology ,
Terrorist Acts ,
Theft ,
Unions ,
Valuation ,
Wages
Mayor Adams announced the appointment of Leila Bozorg as the City’s new Executive Director for Housing. Bozorg will report to Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer as part of an expanded housing, economic development, and...more
The Traffic Mobility Review Board has issued their report on a recommended tolling structure for the Central Business District tolling program. The TMRB recommended a $15 base toll for passenger vehicles, discounted overnight...more
12/5/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Dispensaries ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
New York ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Recreational Use ,
State and Local Government ,
Tolling ,
Traffic Laws ,
Wrongful Death
Gig Economy & Technology-
DETROIT — Electric Delivery Startup BrightDrop Becomes Part of GM- BrightDrop, a General Motors (GM) commercial electric vehicle startup formed in 2021, will no longer operate as a subsidiary and...more
11/30/2023
/ Affordable Housing ,
Amazon ,
Delivery Drivers ,
Electric Vehicles ,
General Motors ,
Homeless Issues ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Political Candidates ,
Property Tax ,
Public Health ,
Public Safety ,
Real Estate Development ,
State Elections ,
Strike ,
UAW
Mayor Adams has ordered a 20% decrease in spending on asylum seekers. This follows his announcement of citywide budget cuts in the November Plan, and the City is budgeted to spend over $6B on asylum seeker costs in the next...more
Mayor Releases November Plan with $314M in Cuts-
Last Thursday, Mayor Adams released the City’s November 2023 Financial Plan Update (the Plan). The Plan contains total funding of $110.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2024, which...more
CHICAGO — Harris School Introduces New Technology, Society Initiative- The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy is introducing the Harris Technology and Society Initiative, a two-pronged strategy that...more
11/20/2023
/ Election Results ,
Hospitals ,
Housing Developers ,
Housing Discrimination ,
Local Elections ,
Migrants ,
Nonprofits ,
Paid Leave ,
Political Candidates ,
Public Health ,
Public Transportation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Technology ,
Universities ,
Work Permits