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Newsletter

News

Below are notices and information from government agencies, community-based organizations, and other community stakeholders.

Film/TV Notifications & General Street Closures

View the Community District 4 Film/TV Shoot Notices + General Street Closures List

November 2022

Reminder Local Law 152 of 2016: Periodic Inspection of Gas Piping
Systems Required

Date Range of Inspection for Community District 4: January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022

Beginning January 1, 2020, gas piping systems in all buildings, except for buildings classified in occupancy group R-3, must be inspected by a Licensed Master Plumber (LMP), or a qualified individual working under the direct and continuing supervision of a LMP, at least once every four years according to the schedule set out in 1 RCNY §103-10.

Local Law 152 Frequently Asked Questions

June 2022

Join Us! FDNY Summer Block Party - July 9, 2022

May 2022

New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) Notice of Public Hearings and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rules

Pursuant to its statutory mandate, the New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) is proposing rent guidelines for October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. The deadline to submit comments is June 16, 2022. For more information, view the 2022 Rent Guidelines Board notice.

Alternate Side Parking Update

Beginning July 5, 2022 alternate-side parking regulations for street cleaning will be restored to pre-pandemic frequency as posted on the signage throughout the City. We are excited to be getting more of the tools we need to do our job of keeping the city healthy, safe, and clean.

Environmental justice begins at the street level, and clean streets are vital to vibrant neighborhoods and our city’s economic recovery.

Mechanical sweeping is the most cost-effective and efficient means of street cleaning! Mechanical brooms pick up several thousand pounds of litter and debris each day and are key components of a comprehensive public health and environmental justice program. Without this brief period of curb access, litter and debris build up causing a cleanliness problem and polluting our waterways.

No Penalty Sign Inspection

The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) No-Penalty Business Accessory Sign Inspection Program began on April 25, 2022 and runs through May 31, 2022.

This program allows small business owners in all five boroughs to request visual safety inspections of their accessory signs without the threat of receiving violations for the duration of the program. The inspection is free of charge.

By law, business owners must address the safety and maintenance of signs on their properties.

What You Need

You must provide contact information so DOB can contact you to schedule an inspection.

Call 311 for assistance.

No Penalty Deck and Porch Inspection

The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) No Penalty Deck and Porch Inspection Program began on April 25, 2022 and runs through May 31, 2022.

The program allows private property owners in all five boroughs to request visual safety inspections of their decks and porches without the threat of receiving violations for the duration of the program. The inspection is free of charge.

The program only includes inspections for decks and porches. Decks and porches are raised floors that are level with or below the first story of a house, supported by a structural frame and without a roof. Balconies and terraces, which are above the ground level, are not included.

By law, property owners must address the safety and maintenance of decks and porches on their properties.

What You Need

You must provide contact information so DOB can contact you to schedule an inspection.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Assistance

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Assistance Component benefit provides a limited number of air conditioners or fans on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants.

The 2021-2022 Cooling Assistance Component benefit application period opened on May 2, 2022.

You can apply online, by mail, or in-person. If you submit an application, you will receive the HEAP Cooling Assistance Notice of Eligibility Decision form after your application is reviewed.

Brooklyn Cease and Desist Zones

On November 7, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation requiring the Department of State to hold a public hearing and conduct an investigation to determine if additional real estate cease and desist zones should be established in all or part of Brooklyn. Cease and desist zones are designed to help prevent aggressive real estate solicitation from brokers, agents, or real estate speculators that target private residences.

If you are a resident of Brooklyn, please fill out the online Cease and Desist Questionnaire to help New York State gather evidence of aggressive solicitations.

The Department of State held a virtual public hearing on January 11, 2022. Another hearing is scheduled on Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 6pm to 8pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall.

For more information, visit the Department of State's website.

Alternate Side Parking

Alternate Side Parking (ASP) regulations allow for street cleaning. ASP rules are posted on signs with a "P" crossed by a broom and indicate the days and times parking isn’t allowed.

When ASP is in effect, you can’t park on the side of the street that is being cleaned. The rules apply for the entire time posted on the sign, even if a street sweeper has passed.

Note: residential streets without meters are only cleaned—with vehicles required to be moved—on the last day posted on the ASP sign because of ASP Reform Rules. These rules are in effect until July 5, 2022.

Holidays and Sundays

ASP rules are suspended on certain legal and religious holidays each year.

On the following major legal holidays, parking meters are also suspended:

New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

On Sundays, ASP is not in effect and you don’t have to pay the parking meters.

Holidays and Sundays

ASP rules are suspended on certain legal and religious holidays each year.

On the following major legal holidays, parking meters are also suspended:

New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

Rats

Rats can be a problem for residents, property owners, businesses and entire neighborhoods. Their gnawing and burrowing can cause damage and they can contaminate food, spread disease and reduce our quality of life.

Rats seek out places to live that provide them with everything they need to survive: food, water, shelter and safe ways for them to get around. To keep rats out of your property or neighborhood, you and your neighbors can take steps to make life more difficult for rats:

Clean up. Garbage and clutter give rats a place to hide.

Rats eat your garbage, so store all garbage in hard plastic rat-resistant containers with tight fitting lids. Provide enough trash containers for all of the occupants of your property. Any exposed garbage will attract rats.

Keep landscaped areas around your property free of tall weeds and trim shrubs that are close to the ground.

Check for cracks or holes in the foundation of your building, sidewalk and under doors and repair them by filling and sealing them.

On the street or in a park, put your litter in a can and do not feed birds or other wildlife.

To learn more about how you can help your community and the Health Department prevent rats, visit www.nyc.gov/rats and/or review the Preventing Rats on Your Property guide.

Local Law 152 of 2016: Periodic Inspection of Gas Piping
Systems Required

Date Range of Inspection for Community District 4: January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022

April 2022 - LL152 Frequently Asked Questions

New York State Service Line Inspection Program

NYS Public Service Commission Order
Natural gas customers in New York State are currently undergoing natural gas service line inspections. These inspections are in accordance with the mandated New York State Public Service Commission Order in Case 15-G-0244, “Order Establishing Statewide Inspection Schedules and Procedural Requirements” making sure that all natural gas services are working properly and that there are no safety issues. In New York City, these inspections are carried out by our hired contractor, Precision Pipeline Solutions. These contractors carry identification notifying the customer that they are working on behalf of National Grid to complete this important safety work. Being that these inspections are performed on inside meter services, the contractor is required to gain access to the customer’s home/business.

New York City Region - Fact Sheet

Wolff-Alport Superfund Site

The Wolff-Alport Chemical Company Superfund site is located 1125 to 1139 Irving Avenue and 1514 Cooper Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens, New York, which borders Bushwick, Brooklyn New York. The adjacent streets, sidewalks, sewers, and commercial and residential properties where radiological contaminants have migrated or have the potential to migrate in the future are also included as part of this site. This nearly triangular area covers approximately 0.75 acres and is bound by Irving Avenue to the southwest, Cooper Avenue to the northwest, and a former cabinet manufacturing facility to the east. At present, the property is covered, primarily, with connecting structures, except for a former rail spur along its edge, which is an unpaved area where tracks are no longer present and is currently used for automobile storage. The on-site buildings contain a delicatessen/grocery, office space, residential apartments, several auto-repair shops, and warehousing space.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in May 2014.

April 2022 - Community Update fact sheet

For more information, visit the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website.

Trees New York Citizen Pruner Course

Stewardship and pruning hugely reduce a tree’s vulnerability to common urban threats such as pedestrian and vehicular traffic, drought and storms. In New York City, where there is limited funding for tree maintenance but significant need, Citizen Pruners provide a great asset to our urban environment.

The 12 hour Citizen Pruner Course consists of 5 sessions – 4 in the classroom and 1 field outing.

CITIZEN PRUNER COURSE DETAILS

8 hours in the classroom – Students meet for four 2-hour classroom sessions. The comprehensive curriculum includes tree biology, street tree identification, common tree problems and solutions, tree stewardship and pruning.

4 hours in the field – The Saturday field outing is designed to provide students with the opportunity to practice pruning with their peers under the tutelage of their teacher.

Upon successful completion of the final exam, students receive a license from Trees New York and NYCParks to legally prune NYC street trees. Trees New York is the only institution designated to train and license Citizen Pruners in New York City.

The weekend field outing is mandatory. All sessions must be taken at the same location.

We are the only institution designated by NYCParks to license New Yorkers to legally prune street trees. All Citizen Pruners must follow Trees New York’s Citizen Pruner Code of Conduct. Please click on the link to read the Citizen Pruner Code of Conduct.

Please Click to view course schedule and register.

For more information, visit the Trees NY website.