Latest News

2025

Mayor Adams Invests $50 Million to Further Revitalize "The Arches," Public Space on Manhattan Side of Brooklyn Bridge
June 5, 2025
New York City Mayor Eric Adams cut the ribbon on a newly-revitalized portion of "The Arches" – the public space on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge adjacent to City Hall that is named for the 53 adjacent arches under the Brooklyn Bridge – and announced $50 million in additional funding to improve the public space. As part of Mayor Adams' Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget – referred to often as the city's "Best Budget Ever" – this investment will add additional amenities to the public space, including public seating, plantings, lighting, and more.

Mayor Adams Takes Action to Make City Streets Safer: Announces Citywide Speed Limit for E-Bikes and E-Scooters, Presses City Council for Action on Stalled Legislation To Protect Delivery Workers
June 4, 2025
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a slate of new policies to enhance street safety, including a citywide 15 mile-per-hour speed limit for e-bikes and e-scooters on city streets. Recognizing that enforcement and physical safety measures can only go so far, Mayor Adams also renewed a push for the City Council to take up legislation he announced to create a commercial delivery license to strengthen delivery worker, battery, and traffic safety. 

Mayor Adams Kicks Off "We Outside Summer" by Announcing new Effort to Transform Vacant, Abandoned Lots into Greenspace Across New York City
May 27, 2025
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Departments of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue today announced a new effort to transform vacant, abandoned lots into green space for New Yorkers and put more residents of the five boroughs within walking distance of a park.

Mayor Adams Announces New Investments, Totaling Over $400 Million, to Fully Fund Transformation of Fifth Avenue Into World-Class, Pedestrian Centered Boulevard as Part of "Best Budget Ever"
May 21, 2025
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that total investments of over $400 million to fully fund the city and the Future of Fifth Partnership's plan to transform Fifth Avenue – between Bryant Park and Central Park – into a world-class, pedestrian-centered boulevard, cementing the iconic corridor's status as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation in New York City. Mayor Adams is providing an additional $250 million in new investments today to build on the $152.7 million initial investment he first announced in December 2024.

Mayor Adams Signs Historic Legislation to 'Get Sheds Down' Remove Unsightly Scaffolding Across Five Boroughs
April 17, 2025
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed several pieces of legislation to address the city's long-standing scaffolding shed epidemic, giving the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) new tools to remove unnecessary, unsightly scaffolding and create more appealing designs for sheds that are still needed. The legislation establishes new penalties, compelling property owners to complete building repairs in a timely manner and remove sheds more quickly; reduces the duration of sidewalk shed permits; increases the cycle of façade inspection requirements; expands the variety of sidewalk shed colors; improves lighting requirements for sheds; and more.

Al Fresco is Back: Mayor Adams, DOT Commissioner Rodriguez Celebrate Return of Outdoor Dining Season at Dining Out NYC Kick Off
April 1, 2025
Food establishments participating in 'Dining Out NYC' may now operate roadway dining set ups from April 1 through November 29. As outdoor dining seasons kicks off, nearly 2,450 roadway and sidewalk set ups across the city will give New Yorkers the opportunity to dine al fresco, with more expected to be added in the coming weeks and months. 

2024

Mayor Adams Celebrates Milestone in Making NYC Most Women-Forward City in Nation, Announces New Efforts to Address Women's Safety
March 24, 2025
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced progress toward making New York City a national leader on gender equity, including for transgender and gender expansive New Yorkers, with the ambitious goal of becoming the most women-forward city in the United States. Mayor Adams unveiled "Women Forward NYC: An Action Plan for Gender Equity" a more than $43 million investment aimed at making New York City a national leader on gender equity.

Mayor Adams Lays out Ambitious Agenda to Make New York City Best Place to Raise a Family in Fourth State of the City Address
January 9, 2025
After driving crime down, passing historic housing legislation, and helping New Yorkers save billions of dollars through tax relief, child care, free internet, and more in 2024, Mayor Adams used today's address to unveil new initiatives that will create a safer, more affordable city for working-class people, especially those raising a family, all across the five boroughs.

Mayor Adams Announces Initial $150 Million+ Investment in Transformation of Fifth Avenue Into World-Class, Pedestrian-Centered Boulevard
December 8, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced an initial $152.7 million city investment in the city and the Future of Fifth Partnership's plan to transform Fifth Avenue between Bryant Park and Central Park into a world-class, pedestrian-centered boulevard – bolstering the iconic corridor's status as a catalyst for economic growth and job creator for New York City. The proposed design expands sidewalks by 46 percent, shortens pedestrian crossings by a third, reduces the number of traffic lanes from five to three, and adds plantings and lighting to make for a more walkable, greener, and safer boulevard.

Mayor Adams, Future of Fifth Partnership Unveil Transformation of Fifth Avenue into World-Class, Pedestrian-Centered Boulevard
October 17, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Future of Fifth Partnership today unveiled their plans to transform Fifth Avenue between Bryant Park and Central Park into a world-class, pedestrian-centered boulevard, bolstering the iconic corridor's status as an economic engine and job creator for New York City. The proposed design, revealed today, expands sidewalks by 46 percent, shortens crosswalks making for safer crossings, reduces the number of traffic lanes from five to three, and adds plantings and lighting for aesthetics and safety.

Mayor Adams Releases New Study Finding Sidewalk Sheds and Scaffolding Cost Manhattan Businesses Between $4,000 and $9,500 Each Month
August 14, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released a new study – commissioned by New York City and conducted in cooperation with Mastercard – exploring how sidewalk sheds and scaffolding negatively impact Manhattan businesses. Evaluating aggregated and anonymized spending averages from Mastercard, the study shows that cardholders spend between $3,900 and $9,500 less each month at businesses located in buildings with sidewalk sheds.

Mayor Adams Highlights Improvements to Public Space Following Appointment of City's First-Ever Chief Public Realm Officer
June 13, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released a new report highlighting capital improvements and policy changes the Adams administration has made and continues to make to improve the public realm over the last year, following his appointment of the city's first-ever chief public realm officer, Ya-Ting Liu, as he delivered on a key 2023 State of the City commitment. The report highlights the ways in which New York City is improving how people experience public space; speeding up delivery of new spaces for rest and leisure; and cutting red tape for the city's private partners, who are instrumental to maintaining and activating the city's public spaces.

Mayor Adams Launches "UR in Luck," new Effort to Make NYC Public Restrooms More Accessible, Equitable
June 3, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today launched "Ur In Luck," a new effort to expand New Yorkers' access to public restrooms across all five boroughs, including in Flushing. Over the next five years, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) will build 46 new restrooms and renovate 36 existing restrooms, adding to New York City's nearly 1,000 existing public restrooms. 

Mayor Adams Announces More Than $120 Million In Federal Grants, Secures Administration's Largest Federal Competitive Grant
March 13, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today continued his administration's unprecedented success in securing federal infrastructure funding by winning two federal "Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program – Neighborhood Access and Equity Program" grants worth a total of $123.6 million. The grants – issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation – will support key infrastructure projects in New York City, including the second phase of the QueensWay and planning for the future of the northern and southern sections of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE).

Mayor Adams Opens Dining Out NYC Portal For Restaurants To Apply To Participate In New York City's Outdoor Dining Program
March 5, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today opened applications for restaurants to apply for and participate in Dining Out NYC. The online application portal will serve as an easy access point for restaurants to apply to participate in the program, understand the guidelines that the program establishes, and download sample blueprints from the Dining Out NYC Set-Up Menu.

Mayor Adams Announces Selection of Two Firms to Redesign Scaffolding Sheds, Pedestrian Safety Equipment as Part of 'Get Sheds Down' Initiative
February 29, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner (DOB) Jimmy Oddo, and Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS) Director Lisa Flores today announced the selection of Arup US and Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) to deliver six new better-looking, more cost-efficient designs for scaffolding/construction sheds and pedestrian safety equipment.

Mayor Adams Launches "Chinatown Connections" Plan to add new Public Space and Improve Traffic Safety in Chinatown
February 9, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today launched "Chinatown Connections," a joint city and state investment that will make Row and Chatham/ Kimlau Square safer, more-pedestrian friendly, and more welcoming to both residents and visitors.

Mayor Adams Takes Major Steps To Advance 'Dining Out NYC,' Nation's Largest Outdoor Dining Program
February 2, 2024
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, and Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu today released the final rules for the city's permanent outdoor dining program, prioritize equity by expanding access to safe, clean outdoor dining in all five boroughs.

New Yorkers Offer Praise Of Mayor Adams' Future-focused Vision For Working-Class New Yorkers In Third State Of The City Address
January 25, 2024
Mayor Adams outlined ambitious plans to continue to deliver for New York City: making the country's safest big city even safer, building a forward-looking economy that works for working-class New Yorkers, and making the city more livable for all.

2023

Mayor Adams Takes Down City's Longest-Standing Sidewalk Shed, Scaffolding
December 22, 2023
Through the "Get Sheds Down" plan, the Adams administration has expediated the removal of sidewalk construction sheds and scaffolding while reimagining the future of pedestrian protection in New York City.

Mayor Adams Brings Back, Expands Popular Holiday Season Open Streets in Midtown Manhattan
November 6, 2023
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today unveiled plans to set a record for New York City's largest-ever holiday season-specific Open Street. along Fifth Avenue and around Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan.  

Mayor Adams Launches Historic Greenway Expansion With More Than 40 Miles Of New Greenways In Five Outer Borough Corridors
October 12, 2023
the Adams administration will build more than 40 miles of new protected bike infrastructure and explore improvements to existing infrastructure along the corridors to expand safer, greener transportation options to Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

Mayor Adams Announces Holiday Season Open Streets Boosted Local Businesses by Millions of Dollars in 2022, Advances "Future of Fifth" Permanent Reimagining of Fifth Avenue
October 10, 2023
The transformation of 11 city blocks into pedestrian-friendly public spaces as part of New York City's largest-ever holiday season-specific Open Streets drove an estimated $3 million in additional spending at businesses along pedestrianized streets.

Mayor Adams, DOT Commissioner Rodriguez Unveil Action Plan With Innovative Tools to Reimagine City's Curb Space
September 12, 2023
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today launched The "Curb Management Action Plan" which includes 10 concrete steps to better design and manage the curb

Mayor Adams Announces new Expansion of Popular "Broadway Vision" Plan
August 21, 2023
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced a new phase of the Adams administration's popular Broadway Vision plan to connect Manhattan's Flatiron District to Union Square. Today, DOT is launching public outreach to design pedestrian, cyclist, and public space improvements along Broadway from East 21st Street down to Union Square at East 17th Street.

Mayor Adams Signs Bill to Create Nation's Largest Permanent Outdoor Dining Program
August 16, 2023
New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled "Dining Out NYC"  which permanently expands outdoor dining to all five boroughs, building on the temporary program that saved 100,000 jobs during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mayor Adams, DOB Commissioner Oddo Unveil Plan to Remove Unsightly Sheds, Scaffolding From NYC Sidewalks
July 24, 2023
New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled "Get Sheds Down," a plan that will improve public safety and quality of life by removing sidewalk sheds more quickly and replacing them, where possible, with more aesthetic or less intrusive alternatives.

Mayor Adams, Parks Commissioner Donoghue, DOT Commissioner Rodriguez Announce More Than $40 Million Investment in Safer, More Vibrant Downtown Brooklyn
July 20, 2023
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue, and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced  a project that will deliver streetscape improvements, transportation and public space upgrades and pedestrian and roadway user safety enhancements along Fulton Street and across Downtown Brooklyn

Mayor Adams, DOT Commissioner Rodriguez Open Latest Phase of "Broadway Vision," Creating Improved Public Spaces and Street Safety From Madison Square to Herald Square
June 23, 2023
The Adams Administration completed a new phase of their "Broadway Vision" plan delivering two new plazas, two new blocks of shared streets, and a two-way bike connection along Broadway, from West 25th Street to West 32nd Street

Mayor Adams to Honor 140th Anniversary of Brooklyn Bridge with Revitalized Public Space in Chinatown
May 12, 2023
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a plan to honor the 140th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge's opening by opening the Arches a site that will feature space for basketball, pickleball, shuffleboard, and publicly available seating

Mayor Adams, MTA Announce new Investments in Public Space, Good Jobs, Affordable Housing Around Broadway Junction Subway Station
May 2, 2023
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a $95 that will be used to activate underutilized public spaces around the subway complex; improve street safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and all road users; and create approximately one acre of new open space.

Mayor Adams, DOT Commissioner Rodriguez Kick off new Phase of "Broadway Vision" Plan to Create new Public Spaces, Enhance Street Safety From Madison Square to Herald Square
March 12, 2023
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez kicked off construction on a new phase of the plan, which will deliver two new plazas, shared streets, and a two-way bike lane on Broadway from West 25th Street to West 32nd Street.

Mayor Adams Appoints Ya-Ting Liu as NYC's First-Ever Chief Public Realm Officer
February 16, 2023
Liu will coordinate across city government, community organizations, and the private sector to create extraordinary public spaces across the entire city and continue to drive the city's economic recovery.

Mayor Adams Outlines "Working People's Agenda" for NYC in Second State of the City Address
January 26, 2023
Mayor Adams' agenda is built on four pillars that are essential to building a city that meets the needs of working New Yorkers and represent the focus of his administration's work in 2023: jobs, safety, housing, and care.

Mayor Adams Moves to Reimagine Fifth Avenue From Bryant Park to Central Park
December 18, 2022
New York City Mayor Eric Adams launched a major new visioning process to reimagine Fifth Avenue – from Bryant Park at 42nd Street to Central Park at 59th Street – as a safer, less congested, pedestrian-centered boulevard that also prioritizes cyclists, mass transit, and the public realm.

Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul Release "Making New York Work for Everyone" Action Plan
December 14, 2022
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul today released a set of 40 proposals intended to make New York City the best place to work and serve as a roadmap for the city's next chapter of equitable, inclusive growth.

Mayor Adams Unveils Sweeping Plan for Holiday Season Car-Free Open Streets in Midtown Manhattan, Highlights Campaigns to Shop Local
November 22, 2022
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today unveiled a plan to cement Midtown Manhattan as the premiere international holiday destination by opening 11 city blocks to pedestrians in December.

Mayor Adams Announces $35 Million Investment in Phase One of New Linear Park in Queens
September 16, 2022
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a $35 million investment for design and construction of the Metropolitan Hub (Met Hub) in Queens – phase one of a new multi-phase greenway and park project called QueensWay. This phase of the project will transform a vacant, city-owned corridor in Forest Hills into a five-acre park with 0.7 miles of greenway, providing residents with new open space, improved access to recreational amenities, outdoor education opportunities for students, and a safe transportation corridor connecting people to schools, businesses, and 10 bus lines.