NYC Politics 101: Driverless cars and garbage cans in NYC?!
PLUS: NYC Politics 101 is going in-person!
What you need to know:
3 stories from the last week in local and state politics:
New York City is now accepting applications from companies that make autonomous vehicles and want to test them on city streets. A trained safety driver will still be required to sit behind the wheel of autonomous vehicles at all times. Unions are against the move, as well as Uber and taxi drivers.
The promise of driverless cars has great potential– and allowing testing with guardrails for safety is an important step to getting there.
Starting March 1, all city businesses were required to use a lidded garbage bin for curb collection. There was a one-month warning period, and this month actual enforcement began. Fines start at $50, then $100 for a second offense, and $200 for all subsequent offenses.
Containerization of commercial trash is an important start, and enforcement is critical in order for residents to see improvements in street sanitation. There’s a plan for residential containerization, slated to begin this fall.
State lawmakers are getting close to a deal on housing. The rough outline is that it’ll likely include:
More renter protections
Allowing more dense residential development in NYC
Letting landlords increase rent by more than $89/month if they renovate a unit.
Maybe a new tax break for building rental units? But real estate developers and the construction workers union have to agree on how much workers will be paid for jobs on buildings qualifying for the new tax break. And they don’t seem to be close to a deal.
Compared to the governor’s housing 2023 housing proposal, this deal won’t go nearly far enough to build the amount of housing needed in New York. But it looks like a step in the right direction.
New things to celebrate
We love NYC for its dynamism! Great cities are always innovating, creating, and adapting. 2 new things:
Trader Joe’s just opened a new concept in Union Square called Trader Joe’s Pronto (138 E 14th St). Pronto is the only location of its kind for Trader Joe's — and according to a spokesperson, it might stay that way. There aren’t any new products here –it’s just Trader Joe’s’ grab-and-go snacks, quick lunches, and picnic items. Basically a faster way to buy a couple things and bypass the people who are doing their whole shopping for the week.
Nana’s Green Tea, a Japanese chain of matcha cafes, opened their first NYC outpost last month (Broadway and 32nd). Specialties include matcha espresso shots, lattes, and parfaits with fruit, mochi and cream. Dessert bowls, savory rice bowls and udon noodle dishes will eventually be on the menu. The lines still go out the door on the weekend, but I imagine weekdays might be better.
What are your plans on Monday, April 15 at 6pm?
I’m putting together an informal session called NYC Politics 101 where I’ll be sharing a short overview of NYC politics. Open New York is hosting, and it’s open to non-Open New York members as well– truly anyone who wants to learn!
Let me know if you’re interested, and I’ll send along the address.
