November 18, 2010
Council Approves Agency Merger
By approving the merger of two agencies dealing with young people, the City Council hopes New York will better serve troubled kids, save money and shut a notorious detention center.
October 28, 2010
Council Unveils Domestic Violence Stats
Following a recent rash of brutal hate crimes, the City Council moved to put statistics on bias attacks and domestic violence on line.
October 14, 2010
Council Tries to Plug Some leaks
City Council tried to plug leaks in the city's water supply yesterday with a package of conservation bills. But several Republicans say they go too far.
September 30, 2010
Green Light!
Shining a light on electricity usage, the City Council approved a package of legislation Wednesday that aims to increase efficiency, including a bill requiring commercial properties to use light sensors.
July 30, 2010
Council Moves to Increase Recycling
The City Council passed several bills yesterday to boost New York's low recycling rate and keep trash out of the landfill. Members also OK'd two controversial development projects.
May 26, 2010
Fines for Unlicensed Plumbing
The City Council approved a bill yesterday to increase fines for unlicensed plumbing and fire suppression work.
February 4, 2010
Council Creates Path to Citizenship
The City Council is considering a proposal aimed at helping some immigrant children in foster care remain in the country.
January 22, 2010
The Council's New Order
Kicking off a new term, the City Council finalized its new committees yesterday -- but not without drama. See who is in and who is out.
January 7, 2010
2010 City Council's First Day
The new City Council, flush with 13 new members, re-elected Council Speaker Christine Quinn. But the vote was not without emotion and drama.
December 22, 2009
Broadway Triangle Approved by Council
The City Council approved a controversial rezoning, which community members cast as a political deal despite its promise of affordable housing.
December 15, 2009
Kingsbridge Armory Defeated by the Council
In a rare move against a major project, the City Council rejected a proposal to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, putting the debate over paying living wages under a citywide spotlight.
December 10, 2009
Green Building Bills Approved by the Council
The City Council passed legislation requiring energy audits for large buildings -- a move that some critics say weakens a key part of the mayor's sustainability plan.
December 1, 2009
Clearing the Way for Open Grills
The City Council yesterday banned those opaque sheets of metal used as security gates on businesses around the city, but the measure will not go completely into effect until 2026. Council also approved its final legislative response to the deadly fire at Deutsche Bank in 2007.
November 17, 2009
Easing Parking Rules and Opposing Gas Drilling
In its first meeting since the election, City Council took aim at the administration's policies on issuing traffic tickets, passing four bills, including one the mayor has vowed to veto. The council also approved a new police academy and went on record against drilling for natural gas in the city's watershed.
October 29, 2009
Hines Midtown Tower Approved
The City Council approves a 1,000 foot tower in Midtown, which will include additional space for MoMA, a hotel and luxury residences. The council also took aim at mortgage foreclosure consultants.
October 15, 2009
Council Bans Flavored Tobacco
Just weeks after the federal government banned flavored cigarettes, the City Council goes a step further.
October 1, 2009
Graffiti Cleanup and Rezoning Sunset Park
The City Council attempts to make graffiti cleanup faster and rezones a large swath of Sunset Park.
September 18, 2009
Sitting in Smog on the Way to School
The City Council approved a bill yesterday making a student's ride to school a little cleaner. Check out that and more in this week’s Searchlight on City Hall.
August 21, 2009
City Council Requires Pharmacies to Translate
Handing out its own prescription for language access, the City Council approved legislation Thursday requiring large pharmacy chains to provide translation services in the city's most popular languages.
July 30, 2009
Coney Island Gets a Facelift
In an attempt to revitalize an area long known as "America's playground," the City Council approved a 27-acre redevelopment plan to turn Coney Island into a year-round destination, full of retail, hotels and entertainment.
Call it Las Vegas a la Brooklyn.
June 11, 2009
Dumbo's Dock Street Project Approved
In a rare move, the City Council approved a development project despite the vocal opposition of the local council member. Councilmember David Yassky opposes the project, known as Dock Street Dumbo because, he says, it will permanently taint the view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
May 21, 2009
Keeping Eyes on the Tenant Watch List
Patrick and Tari Kelly had no idea they were blacklisted.
They were Midtown subletters for two years, until their temporary landlord decided to renovate the building. They moved to Queens and six years later tried to relocate again to Washington Heights.
May 7, 2009
Scratching Out Etching Acid
Carving out another obstacle for graffiti "vandals," the City Council approved legislation Wednesday requiring that merchants selling etching acid keep purchasers' personal information for a year.
April 3, 2009
Council Moves to Protect Access to Clinics
In an attempt to clear a path for patients at reproductive clinics, the City Council approved legislation strengthening the city's clinic access law, allowing police to arrest protesters that harass those seeking medical care.
Emerging Business Enterprise Bill 05/10/06
Gas Station Regulations 04/26/06
Street Electrocutions 04/05/06
Quinn's First Veto Override 03/01/06
Land Use and New Bills 02/15/06
Appointments of New York City Council Standing Committees 01/18/06
Quinn Elected as Speaker 1/04/05
Rejecting Landmark Warehouse in Brooklyn 11/30/05
Donations from Labor Unions 11/16/05
Financing for West Side of Manhattan 10/27/05
Health Insurance for Grocery Workers 10/11/05
Day Labor and Hindu Holiday 9/28/05
Green Buildings and Human Rights Law 9/15/05
Grocery Store Health Care 8/17/05
Garbage Plan Revisited 6/23/05
West Side Stadium Financing 5/11/05
Pollution; Allan Jennings Censure 4/20/05
Overdevelopment Measure 8/12/04
Lead Paint Law Passed 12/15/03
Rezoning Staten Island 12/03/03
Absentee Landlord Tax 11/06/03
Landmarking Cathedral 10/24/03
Water Filtration Plant 06/12/03
