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News of the Week

More Neighborhoods and ‘Smart’ Bins Added to NYC’s Composting Program
Last week, the city started curbside pick-ups in additional districts in Manhattan, Brooklyn and one in The Bronx. The service, which was put on hold throughout the pandemic, resumed this fall based on areas that saw the most residents sign up for it.

NYC Votes to Ban Gas in New Construction, As Plastic Utensils Bill Stalls
During its last meeting of the legislative session Wednesday, the New York City Council passed a landmark ban on the use of gas in new buildings. Another bill aimed at reducing the use of plastic utensils with take-out and delivery orders was never called for a vote.

NYC Officials Pledge More Affordable Housing, New Artists Rules in SoHo Rezoning Plan
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the rezoning later this week. A 22-item “Points of Agreement” package includes pledges to develop more affordable housing outside the rezoning area—on city-owned land at 388 Hudson St. and an NYPD parking lot at 324 East 5th St.—and outlines new rules for the neighborhoods’ unique artist residences.

Hochul Taps Longtime NYC Homeless Advocate as Next OTDA Commissioner
The governor nominated Daniel Tietz to lead the state agency tasked with overseeing New York’s tapped-out rent relief fund and administering key social service programs amid an historic homelessness crisis.

A Tale of Two Speakers? Adrienne Adams And Francisco Moya Both Declare Victory in Race to Lead Council
In statements Tuesday afternoon, both Moya and Adams, who are Queens Democrats, projected victory in the coming contest for speaker. The body will officially vote on one speaker—who essentially sets the legislative agenda and liaises with the mayoral administration—after its members are sworn in at the beginning of the year.

Huge Ma, ‘TurboVax’ Creator, On Why He’s Running for Office in Queens
The news sets up a competitive primary for Assembly District 37, which includes Astoria, Sunnyside, Ridgewood, and Queensbridge, and iterates an increasingly familiar dynamic in Queens politics: a seasoned incumbent facing off against a relative political newcomer.

New York May Redistribute 20,000 Unclaimed Rent Relief Checks, Top Official Says
The Office of Temporary and Disability Administration (OTDA) has sent out more than 26,000 notices informing property owners that they will miss out on money they qualify for because they haven’t claimed the cash within 180 days.

In Speaker’s Race, Moya’s Past Ties to IDC Illustrate His Work ‘Across the Political Spectrum’
From 2011 to 2017, Moya, rumored to be one of the Speaker candidates favored by incoming Mayor Eric Adams, served in the state Assembly and collaborated closely with the IDC—particularly when it came to the DREAM Act.

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Una Ciudad Sin Límites

Reinició el programa Permanecer en México, pero ¿en qué se diferencia de su predecesor?
Por el momento, el programa solo ha reiniciado en El Paso, Texas, en donde las autoridades han enviado a los seleccionados a esperar en Ciudad Juárez, en México, pero la medida ha suscitado la condena generalizada de observadores internacionales, grupos de derechos humanos y defensores de inmigrantes.

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“After I shut down TurboVax, I thought deeply about my place in the world. TurboVax was a deeply intense experience for me, but I think I realized that I was so fortunate to have the right skills and the right opportunity to build the tool and serve my neighbors. And now, when I’m thinking about the seat in the State Assembly, I do believe that we have an opportunity to use my platform and advocate on behalf of the needs of my neighbors.”

-- Huge Ma, lifelong Astoria resident and software developer best known for developing “TurboVax"

*SPONSORED*

Brooklyn Community Foundation is now accepting applications for our new Wellness and Recovery Fund, which will support organizations working to ensure that those who navigate the difficult road of substance abuse and addiction do so with reliable support that honors their agency and dignity. The Fund's community advisory council will determine $2.2 million in grants for community-led responses to substance abuse treatment, substance misuse, addiction, harm reduction services, and systems change efforts that directly impact the lives of people in recovery and people living with addiction. Applications Due: Friday, December 31st at 5PM

City Views

Opinions on Policy and Politics

Opinion: It’s Time for NYC to Pass The Fair Chance for Housing Act
'Criminal records pose lifetime barriers, especially in the search for housing, where background checks are prevalent and landlords have nearly unfettered discretion to deny people with conviction records.'

Opinion: A Tuition-Free CUNY is an Investment in New York’s Recovery
‘Winning a New Deal for CUNY would benefit literally hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers—an affordable high quality education right here in NYC can lift up families while creating a long term, sustained boon for our local economy.’

Opinion: Unpaid Family Caregivers Need More Support
‘More than 41 million Americans are also struggling with fewer resources while working as unpaid family caregivers for long, often undetermined, time periods. And at least one million of these caregivers are located in New York City.’