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** Dear Neighbors,
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As you know, keeping a small business open in New York City is increasingly challenging. This week the City Council overwhelmingly passed two of my bills that will be the basis for solutions to the ongoing loss of small businesses across our city. Read the press release ([link removed]) .

My “Storefront Tracker” legislation will require citywide registration of commercial storefront and 2nd floor spaces for the first time. It will also mandate an online, searchable database with the occupancy status of every commercial space in the five boroughs.

My legislation will provide comprehensive data on both current vacancies and commercial strips at risk ------ critical to developing a more effective government response to our vacancy crisis.

In addition to being able to look up the occupancy status of every commercial space, the public will have access to aggregated data (by census tract) for other essential information, such as the number of storefronts whose leases are expiring in the next two years. This data will be invaluable for community organizations, Business Improvement Districts, urban planners, and others seeking to better understand, and develop strategies to address, commercial vacancies. Small businesses will also have a new, annually updated source of information about available space.

My legislation was developed jointly with Borough President Brewer, and is supported by organizations representing small business owners and workers, street vendors, and other community non-profits, including our very own UWS Save Our Stores.

Banning Non-essential Helicopter Traffic from City Airspace
This week I was proud to join Council Members Mark Levine and Margaret Chin in introducing a resolution which calls for an FAA ban on all non-essential helicopter travel over New York City and the closure of our helipads to private operators. Members of New York City’s congressional delegation sent a letter to the FAA and Mayor de Blasio calling for similar action after a deadly helicopter crash in midtown last month. See our resolution here ([link removed]) .

Despite a 2016 agreement between the City and the tourist helicopter industry which reduced the number and routes of tourist flights taking off from NYC, we are still seeing an increase in helicopter traffic. This increase comes from out-of-state tourist helicopter operators and NYC-based commuter flight traffic. Our community continues to face safety, quality of life, noise, and air pollution issues. This is unacceptable—and my colleagues and I are committed to delivering real relief for New Yorkers.

Central Park West Protected Bike Lane
Next week the City's Dept of Transportation will begin preparatory work on a one-way protected bike lane along the east side of Central Park West, from W. 59th to W. 110th Streets. In this first phase, DOT will begin at 59th Street and expects to reach 77th Street. Phase I will also include the removal of parking spaces on the east side of CPW, from W. 62nd to W. 77th Streets. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

Finally, I was absolutely thrilled to support the 20th Precinct's inaugural summer day camp this year. Thank you to the 20th Precinct and our wonderful young people for making the camp's first year such a success. I look forward to many great summers to come!

As always, don't hesitate to contact my City Hall (212-788-6975) or District (212-873-0282) offices with any questions about our work.
Warmly,

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