REBNY agrees to suspending evictions for three months during pandemic

The Real Deal

The Real Estate Board of New York announced on Friday that more than two dozen of its members, who own 150,000 rental apartments, have pledged to hold off on evictions for the next three months in response to the coronavirus.

“No one knows how long this pandemic is going to take to play out,” REBNY president James Whelan said. “Our best guess, in terms of seeing this through, was to look at a 90-day time period.”
Starting immediately, the members will not execute any warrant of eviction for three months with the exception of criminal or negligent behavior that jeopardizes the life, health or safety of other residents, according to a letter released by REBNY.

“With all the stress, health risk and economic suffering going on now, no one should have to worry about losing their place to live during this crisis,” REBNY said in a statement.
The letter was signed by a who’s who of New York City real estate, including A&E Real Estate’s Douglas Eisenberg, Richard LeFrak, Related Companies’ Jeff Blau, Brookfield Property Group’s Ric Clark, RXR Realty’s Scott Rechler, Taconic Partners’ Paul Pariser and Charles Bendit, Blackstone’s Ken Caplan and Kathleen McCarthy and others.

The move comes just hours after the state announced a one-week moratorium on evictions in New York City, to begin Monday, after calls to do so erupted across the nation.

The leading real estate trade group’s announcement also coincided with a push from more than 100 other organizations across the city, spearheaded by the tenant advocacy group Right to Counsel NYC Coalition, which sent a letter to mayor Bill de Blasio, urging him to close the city’s housing courts during the coronavirus pandemic.

It takes a global pandemic to stop hyperdevelopment

6 SQ FT

 All city land use and rezoning processes have been temporarily suspended as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday. In an executive order, the mayor directed procedures “applicable to the city planning and land use processes” to freeze for the duration of New York’s state of emergency.

The city’s official public review process, or the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), involves months of evaluation of a proposed project from the community board, borough president, the City Planning Commission, the City Council, and the Mayor.

“To avoid the need to hold public gatherings and minimize the potential spread of COVID-19, Mayor Bill de Blasio has temporarily suspended New York City’s land use decision making processes,” Marisa Lago, the director of the Department of City Planning, said in a statement.

“The suspension of the City’s official public review process, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), was made via Executive Order. As of the issuance of this Executive Order, all City Planning Commission meetings, including public hearings and votes required as part of land use review processes, are suspended and the time periods for hearings and votes will not run.”

The Real Deal

Build, baby, build — but not in a pandemic.

Brooklyn City Council member Carlos Menchaca is calling for a moratorium on construction work citywide, in what would be one of the most significant industry-related disruptions since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak.

“I’m calling on the moratorium of all construction site work in NYC,” tweeted Menchaca, who represents District 38 including neighborhoods such as Sunset Park and Red Hook. “Again, we are putting workers in danger.”

His calls for suspension of all construction were echoed by Council member Brad Lander, who represents District 39 and is the Council’s deputy leader for policy.

“It is essential right now to build new hospital capacity,” Lander tweeted. “It is NOT essential right now to build new condos.”
 
New York’s Department of Buildings notified active construction sites this weekend to follow the latest guidance from the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on the coronavirus, but as of Monday afternoon had not shut down the industry.

“We will continue to closely monitor the situation,” agency spokesperson Andrew Rudansky said in a statement, “and will issue further guidance to the industry as needed.”

Richmond Hill High School has some major behavioral issues

From the NY Post:

Richmond Hill HS is suspending more of its students than any other school in New York City.

The Queens secondary school, which has 2,169 students, handed out 492 suspensions as of May 5, according to city records.

That’s more than the 473 school officials doled out all of last year — and there’s still about six weeks left before classes end.

Vishnu Mahadeo, the school’s PTA president, blamed the high punishment rate on overcrowding and “weak leadership.”

“We have a new principal that is trying to bring up a behavior code,” he said. “When you don’t have strong leadership, the kids tend to be a little bit out of control. When you have a strong leadership, things change.”

Parents familiar with the school said overcrowding and disciplinary problems go hand-in-hand.

“When you push kids into overcrowded conditions, many will react in frustration and anger because it shows a school system doesn’t care about them,” said parent advocate Leonia Haimson.

The school’s principal, Neil Ganesh, didn’t return calls. He’s the third person appointed to lead the school in the last three years.

Problem students to get a reprieve

From the Daily News:

Teachers and principals will have a tougher time kicking troublemakers out of class in the upcoming school year, thanks to a new city mandate for softer punishments.

City educrats have altered the “Discipline Code” so that staffers can only suspend students who commit more serious offenses.

Kids who engage in “disorderly behavior,” such as smoking, gambling, swearing, lying to teachers and leaving school without permission, will get a slap on the wrist instead of their walking papers.

Educators will now respond to such behavior with reprimands, parent conferences and lunchtime detentions.

Meanwhile, students who display “disruptive behavior,” such as disobeying teachers, pushing other kids, or vandalizing school property, can still be suspended.

Students who are caught committing relatively minor crimes multiple times in a single school year may still be suspended.

Education Department spokeswoman Margie Feinberg said the new rules will keep kids who commit “low-level infractions” in class, where they can learn from their mistakes.