Environmental Control Board

City Gets Better Handle on Illegal Housing Conversion Problem; But Affordable Housing and Illegal Hotels Still Problem

It appears as though the city is actually doing a good job executing its multi-agency task-force established to crack down on illegal building conversions. But, it's also apparent that the city is still having problems with illegal hotels and with affordable housing. The city came under-fire in 2 ... More >>

Report Says Excessive Fines for Street Vendors are Hurting the City (And Are Bad for Vendors, Too)

A report released today argues that the city is excessively fining street vendors and in doing so is actually losing out on revenue it would get with a fine system that's more fair. The report, called "Fining the Hand that Feeds You," from the University of Wisconsin, argues that high fines are les ... More >>

A New Report Says Cops Really Like Ticketing the Forsyth Street Produce Vendors

Urban Justice Center​If you thought the city was giving food-truck drivers a hard time, consider the plight of Forsyth Street's fruit and vegetable vendors.

New York City Launches New Bed Bug Website, Rules

​The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have rolled out a new website to educate locals about bed bugs as the warm months approach and everyone starts to get itchy again. The slick site offers an illustrated Q&A with a streaming voiceover to address issues like "How can I te ... More >>

New York Doesn't Know How To Regulate Your Friendly Neighborhood Halal Cart

​The city's Independent Budget Office published a first-of-its-kind report [pdf] today examining how much money the city spends and collects through the regulation of street vendors. The numbers are a little surprising -- according to the IBO, street vendors still owe nearly $15 million in unp ... More >>

N.Y.U.'s Neighbors Complain of Boiler Smoke; School Blows Them Off

Toby Buggiani remembers he was working at his computer one June morning when his West Village apartment filled with nasty smelling smoke that got him dizzy. The smoke was coming though his windows, he noticed, from a mobile boiler which local bastion of knowledge NYU had positioned right across the ... More >>

Trials and Hot Dog Tribulations in the Street-Vending Trade

Checking Out

Renters around town are getting ousted from illegal hotels

New Standoff Over Critical Mass as Another Bike Group Sues to Block Parade Regs