BILL TO STABILIZE COMMERCIAL RENTS: An unprecedented number of organizations and merchants showed up for New York council small business committee hearing to demonstrate the importance of stabilizing commercial rents which many see as a long overdue reform. The hearing, which marked the first this council has held on commercial rent stabilization, focused on Intro 1796, a bill that Brooklyn City Council member Stephen Levin (D-33) sponsored to establish the stabilization of commercial rents in New York.

This bill, with 23 co-sponsors on the council – and 12 of those who have signed it in recent months – also enjoys growing support from community organizations, small businesses and members of the city council of new York City.

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“ONLY ONE STEP IN A NUMBER”: several law enforcement agencies and lawyers have spoken out on the Less Is More law, that Governor Kathy Hochul promulgated on Friday (see last page). Calling the new law “an important part of the decarceration strategy which is essential to alleviate the crisis conditions on the Rikers,” said New York public attorney Jumaane Williams, (in part) “It is only one step among many that must be taken, and the pace of action is far too slow for the immediacy of this human rights catastrophe.

“We need the city to grant supervised release to low-level offenders, and early and compassionate release options should be exercised,” Williams said.

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“IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION” OF THE NEW LAW: “Governor Hochul takes an essential first step towards meaningful and safe decarceration by signing the Less Is More Act,” said Judge Jonathan Lippman, chairman of the Independent Commission on Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform of New York City and former Chief Justice of New York State and Chief Justice of the New York Court of Appeals. “We hope to see its immediate implementation to help remedy the dire situation in Rikers. “

Lippman added: “We must also continue to act quickly and safely to shut down Rikers, which continues to be a shameful task for our city.”

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“ANOTHER LIFE SAVED”: “People are suffering in New York prisons, and each person released from this growing humanitarian crisis is another life spared” Jackie Gosdigian, senior policy adviser at Brooklyn Defender Services, said in a statement Friday. “Hundreds of New Yorkers jailed on Rikers Island and many more statewide are currently incarcerated simply because of “technical” parole violations, such as breaking a curfew or delaying an appointment. you with a parole officer.

“The enactment of this law is only a vital step towards much-needed decarceration, and we call on our elected leaders, prosecutors and judges to take further action to reduce the prison population before another life is lost.” Gosdigian wrote.

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NYU TANDON PROTOTYPING FUND COMPETITION DEADLINE APPROACHES: A deadline of September 24 is approaching to participate in the NYU Prototyping Fund, a collaborative program offered by the Design Lab @ NYU Tandon MakerSpace, the Technology Management and Innovation department, and the New York City Future Manufacturing Collective (NYC-FMC). The Fund grants student teams up to $ 500 in the first round of funding and up to $ 2,000 in the second to be used to build prototypes of hardware or software.

Students are also connected with the resources, tools and mentors they need to bring their ideas to life. All applications are welcome (https://nyu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bskVybwnnOf78BU), but applications from multidisciplinary, multi-program or multi-school teams are given priority.

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GRANT GREEN CARDHOLDERS: The Municipal Voting Rights Bill, which has the support of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, City Council Member Brad Lander and more than 30 elected officials, will be the subject of a hearing today, September 20, with a rally and conference taking place in the grounds of City Hall. Intro 1867, the Municipal Voting Rights Bill seeks to expand the voting rights of green card holders and people with work permits.

If the bill passes as planned, New York City would become the largest city in the United States to give nearly a million immigrants the chance to elect their local rulers.

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NEW LABORATORIES FOR LIBERATION DIPLME PLUS SECONDARY SCHOOL: City Councilor Mark Treyger, known for his commitment to the city’s public schools, secured capital funding of $ 455,000 for fiscal 2022 from City Council for a brand new hydroponics lab and classrooms at Liberation Diploma Plus High School on West 19^e St. in Coney Island. Once city funds flow to the school, which suffered heavy damage ten years ago in Storm Sandy, principal April Leong will work with the NYC School Construction Authority to develop designs for the newsroom and hydroponics lab.

Principal Leong is considering a podcast space for students with secure tech funds. With the hydroponic lab harvest, the school plans to share fresh produce with the Coney Island community to provide access to affordable and healthy food.

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THE ONE WATER PLAN AS A MODEL FOR NEW YORK: The Department of Environmental Protection embarks on a planning effort called “One Water” to assess integrated, sustainable and resilient water, wastewater and stormwater systems, according to the Brooklyn Community Board 11 announcement. DEP will host a virtual workshop on Tuesday, September 28 at noon, with peers from the city of Los Angeles to better understand what One Water could benefit in New York; register through Eventbrite.

The virtual workshop will focus on LA’s path to One Water, from its initial vision and goals to the implementation of the final LA One Water 2040 plan.