New York City Council

"It causes psychological harm to people. It makes them more likely to harm themselves and others. It contributes overall to violence in jails, as many studies have laid out."

Council Member Sandy Nurse joined Spectrum News NY1 to explain the harm caused by the continued practice of extreme isolation in NYC jails.

It's not as hot today! (crowd cheers)

Because it's raining. (crowd boos)

NYC is still under a Travel Advisory. Exercise caution when traveling, avoid flooded areas, and call 311 if you come across fallen branches or trees.

🔴 LIVE: Watch New York City Council's Committee on Land Use

Expanding Availability of Rapid Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections

Introduction 435-A, sponsored by Council Member Pierina Sanchez, would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to make available rapid testing services for sexually transmitted infections in at least 4 boroughs. DOHMH would be required to determine the locations for rapid testing services and report to the Council on the considerations that went into making those determinations. DOHMH would also be required to conduct an education campaign to inform communities about the locations and availability of rapid testing services, and to report to the Council annually for 3 years on the availability of rapid testing services throughout New York City.



Requiring Transparency and Addressing Inclusivity in NYC Department of Education’s Dress Code Policies

Dress code policies in DOE schools vary widely as schools are permitted to adopt individual dress code policies at their own discretion. Despite existing regulations, students and advocates have reported that some school dress code policies have unfairly targeted and criminalized LGBTQ+ students and students of color. Increased transparency around school dress code policies provides needed oversight to ensure that these policies establish non-discriminatory protections for students.



Introduction 118-A, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, would require the Department of Education (DOE) to post dress code policies on its website and report on dress code policies in DOE schools for five years, including information about whether each school has a dress code policy and data on dress code violations and penalties, broken down by month,

week, and student race and gender.



Resolution 292, sponsored by Council Member Althea Stevens, calls on the New York City Department of Education to create an inclusive school dress code policy that complies with Title IX of the Federal Education Amendments Act and accounts for diverse cultures, gender expressions, and body diversity.



A DOE-wide school dress code policy would create a framework for protecting students from sexist and heteronormative dress codes, eliminating the enforcement of standards that target girls and students of color. It would also allow for flexibility in the creation of school-level dress code policies and should be created through consultation with diverse communities within the DOE school system and engagement with youth who are impacted



Strengthening Oversight of City Contract Procurement Procedures

Introduction 863-A, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, would require public notice if an actual contract differs from the agency procurement plan in terms of contract length, the nature of services, or affected civil service titles and headcount. It would also apply these requirements to contract amendments that would increase a contract's value to over $1 million and reduce the public notice period for such unplanned contract actions from 60 to 10 days. This bill aims to strengthen oversight of city service contracts by expanding the provisions in Local Law 63 of 2011, which requires agencies to publish an annual procurement plan detailing the anticipated contracting actions for the coming fiscal year to prevent displacement of city employees.



Authorizing Legal Action in Defense of Law Banning Solitary Confinement

Preconsidered Resolution, sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, authorizing the Speaker to engage in litigation on behalf of the New York City Council to oppose the Department of Correction’s efforts to suspend Local Law 42 of 2024.



Establishing Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

Resolution 10, sponsored by Council Member Robert Holden, would recognize July 27 annually as Korean War Veterans Armistice Day in the City of New York to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served.



Land Use:

The Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation of the Old Croton Aqueduct Walk as an historic landmark in Council Member Pierina Sanchez’s district. The Old Croton Aqueduct Walk is a public walkway on top of the Old Croton Aqueduct, an engineering marvel built in 1842 which brought the first direct water supply to New York City. Upon its completion, the 41-mile-long aqueduct carried 45 million gallons of water daily to the city from a reservoir in Croton, New York. On April 27, 1940, after completing a substantial renovation, the Parks Department opened the Aqueduct Walk as an official public park, and it continues to maintain and upgrade the park to this day.



2118 Avenue U Rezoning - An application to facilitate the development of a new 4-story mixed use-building. It will include approximately 10 housing units, 3 affordable units and ground-floor commercial retail space, in Council Member Inna Vernikov’s district.



58-75 Queens Midtown Expressway Rezoning – An application to facilitate the enlargement of a pre-existing development site in Council Member Julie Won’s district.



27-24 College Point Boulevard Overlay – An application to facilitate the development of a 1-story commercial building with a drive-through, and bring several existing commercial uses into conformance, in Council Member Vickie Paladino’s district.



Resilient Homes Staten Island – An HPD application for UDAAP approval and Article XI tax exemption to facilitate the construction of 8 two-family homes and 7 one-family homes containing a total of 23 units. The sites, which were part of the Build it Back Program after being ravaged by Hurricane Sandy, will be redeveloped under the HPD’s Open Door Program, creating new homeownership buildings affordable to moderate- and middle-income households in Council Member David Carr’s district.

🔴 LIVE: Watch New York City Council's Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises

Expanding Availability of Rapid Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections

Introduction 435-A, sponsored by Council Member Pierina Sanchez, would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to make available rapid testing services for sexually transmitted infections in at least 4 boroughs. DOHMH would be required to determine the locations for rapid testing services and report to the Council on the considerations that went into making those determinations. DOHMH would also be required to conduct an education campaign to inform communities about the locations and availability of rapid testing services, and to report to the Council annually for 3 years on the availability of rapid testing services throughout New York City.



Requiring Transparency and Addressing Inclusivity in NYC Department of Education’s Dress Code Policies

Dress code policies in DOE schools vary widely as schools are permitted to adopt individual dress code policies at their own discretion. Despite existing regulations, students and advocates have reported that some school dress code policies have unfairly targeted and criminalized LGBTQ+ students and students of color. Increased transparency around school dress code policies provides needed oversight to ensure that these policies establish non-discriminatory protections for students.



Introduction 118-A, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, would require the Department of Education (DOE) to post dress code policies on its website and report on dress code policies in DOE schools for five years, including information about whether each school has a dress code policy and data on dress code violations and penalties, broken down by month,

week, and student race and gender.



Resolution 292, sponsored by Council Member Althea Stevens, calls on the New York City Department of Education to create an inclusive school dress code policy that complies with Title IX of the Federal Education Amendments Act and accounts for diverse cultures, gender expressions, and body diversity.



A DOE-wide school dress code policy would create a framework for protecting students from sexist and heteronormative dress codes, eliminating the enforcement of standards that target girls and students of color. It would also allow for flexibility in the creation of school-level dress code policies and should be created through consultation with diverse communities within the DOE school system and engagement with youth who are impacted



Strengthening Oversight of City Contract Procurement Procedures

Introduction 863-A, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, would require public notice if an actual contract differs from the agency procurement plan in terms of contract length, the nature of services, or affected civil service titles and headcount. It would also apply these requirements to contract amendments that would increase a contract's value to over $1 million and reduce the public notice period for such unplanned contract actions from 60 to 10 days. This bill aims to strengthen oversight of city service contracts by expanding the provisions in Local Law 63 of 2011, which requires agencies to publish an annual procurement plan detailing the anticipated contracting actions for the coming fiscal year to prevent displacement of city employees.



Authorizing Legal Action in Defense of Law Banning Solitary Confinement

Preconsidered Resolution, sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, authorizing the Speaker to engage in litigation on behalf of the New York City Council to oppose the Department of Correction’s efforts to suspend Local Law 42 of 2024.



Establishing Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

Resolution 10, sponsored by Council Member Robert Holden, would recognize July 27 annually as Korean War Veterans Armistice Day in the City of New York to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served.



Land Use:

The Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation of the Old Croton Aqueduct Walk as an historic landmark in Council Member Pierina Sanchez’s district. The Old Croton Aqueduct Walk is a public walkway on top of the Old Croton Aqueduct, an engineering marvel built in 1842 which brought the first direct water supply to New York City. Upon its completion, the 41-mile-long aqueduct carried 45 million gallons of water daily to the city from a reservoir in Croton, New York. On April 27, 1940, after completing a substantial renovation, the Parks Department opened the Aqueduct Walk as an official public park, and it continues to maintain and upgrade the park to this day.



2118 Avenue U Rezoning - An application to facilitate the development of a new 4-story mixed use-building. It will include approximately 10 housing units, 3 affordable units and ground-floor commercial retail space, in Council Member Inna Vernikov’s district.



58-75 Queens Midtown Expressway Rezoning – An application to facilitate the enlargement of a pre-existing development site in Council Member Julie Won’s district.



27-24 College Point Boulevard Overlay – An application to facilitate the development of a 1-story commercial building with a drive-through, and bring several existing commercial uses into conformance, in Council Member Vickie Paladino’s district.



Resilient Homes Staten Island – An HPD application for UDAAP approval and Article XI tax exemption to facilitate the construction of 8 two-family homes and 7 one-family homes containing a total of 23 units. The sites, which were part of the Build it Back Program after being ravaged by Hurricane Sandy, will be redeveloped under the HPD’s Open Door Program, creating new homeownership buildings affordable to moderate- and middle-income households in Council Member David Carr’s district.