L.L. 2005/072

Enactment date: 7/20/2005

Int. No. 664

By Council Members Liu, the Speaker (Council Member Miller), Barron, Fidler, Gentile, Koppell, McMahon, Stewart, Vallone Jr., Gonzalez and Reyna

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to clean air taxis.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Declaration of legislative findings and intent. The Council of the City of New York hereby finds that use of alternative fuel vehicles is important to the City's goal of improving air quality and conserving fuel. The use of alternative fuel vehicles is especially appropriate with taxicabs, many of which operate 24 hours per day, spewing an enormous amount of emissions into the air.

The burning of fossil fuels is a major source of greenhouse gases that contribute to the growing problem of global warming. Furthermore, fuel prices continue to escalate while our reliance on fossil fuels has also increased our dependence on foreign sources of oil. Therefore, it is important to encourage the use and development of alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles, to increase fuel efficiency, reduce air pollution and lower our dependence on foreign oil.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has promulgated rules mandating specifications for taxicabs. These specifications, while important to passenger comfort, have prevented many promising alternative fuel vehicles, which do not meet specifications by minimal amounts, from being used as taxicabs. To further the City's policy of improving air quality and conserving fuel, this Council is enacting this law to designate certain alternative fuel vehicles to be used as taxicabs.

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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

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§ 3. This local law shall take effect immediately after its enactment into law.

L.L. 2005/073

Enactment date: 7/20/2005

Int. No. 665

By the Speaker (Council Member Miller) and Council Members Rivera, Perkins, Weprin, Quinn, Monserrate, Koppell, Katz, Brewer, Clarke, Comrie, Dilan, Gentile, Gerson, James, Liu, Nelson, Palma, Reed, Reyna, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Vann, Moskowitz, Gennaro, DeBlasio, Gioia, Vallone, Jr., McMahon, Stewart, Yassky, Boyland, Jackson, Barron, Gonzalez, Martinez, Recchia, Jr., Lopez and the Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum) (in conjunction with the Mayor)

A Local Law in relation to the expenditure of payments in lieu of taxes and the reporting thereof.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Payments in lieu of taxes that have not been remitted to the general fund may only be spent pursuant to one or more agreements between the mayor and the council. Such agreement or agreements shall be approved by resolution of the council.

§ 2. On January 1, 2006 and each quarter thereafter, the mayor, or such person as the mayor shall designate, shall issue a quarterly report to the council, setting forth for each payment in lieu of taxes the amount of and entity making the payment in lieu of taxes, the difference between the amount of the real property or other tax that would have been due but for the exemption and such payment in lieu of taxes, and the manner in which such payment in lieu of taxes is collected, held and expended.

§ 3. For purposes of this local law, "payments in lieu of taxes" shall mean all payments that are due pursuant to actions of the New York city industrial development agency or the New York city economic development corporation or any city agency with respect to any project when such payments are made in lieu of real property taxes or other taxes which would have been levied by or on behalf of the city if the project were not thereby exempted from the payment of such taxes.

§ 4. This local law shall take effect on the date that is the earlier of (i) the date the council adopts a resolution approving the first agreement between the mayor and council pursuant to section one of this local law; or (ii) September 30, 2005.

L.L. 2005/079

Enactment date: 8/17/2005

Int. No. 186-A

By Council Members Gerson, the Speaker (Council Member Miller), Brewer, Jackson, Stewart, Lopez, Yassky, Gentile, Clarke, Palma, Gonzalez, Reyna, James, Monserrate, Perkins, Barron, Avella, Reed, Quinn, Vann, Seabrook, Nelson, DeBlasio, Koppell, Martinez, Foster, Weprin, Recchia Jr., Liu, Moskowitz, McMahon, Sanders Jr., Katz, Arroyo, Gioia, Rivera, Boyland, Gennaro and The Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum)

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating a right of first refusal and a first opportunity to purchase.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Declaration of legislative findings and intent. The Council of the City of New York hereby finds that the increasing scarcity of affordable housing in the City makes it crucial to preserve existing subsidized housing units. Private owners are electing to prepay subsidized mortgages or to opt out of project-based subsidy programs at an alarming rate. No longer constrained by such programs, owners are putting their buildings up for sale, with the new purchasers forcing out low- and moderate-income tenants as the buildings open to market rents.

One in ten federally subsidized assisted rental housing units in New York City has been or is in the process of being removed from the affordable housing stock, according to data compiled by the Community Service Society. Compounding this problem, the federal government has eliminated funding for programs designed to promote the preservation of subsidized housing, and it does not appear that any new federal programs will be funded to create new subsidized housing. In the face of such conversions from affordable housing to market rate housing, some city and state governments have enacted legislation granting a right of first refusal and a first opportunity to purchase to low to moderate-income residents who will maintain the buildings as housing for low- and moderate-income residents. The City of New York has an obligation to safeguard against the loss of affordable housing and the Council is enacting this local law to help ensure that the assisted rental housing stock is maintained for the people of New York.

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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

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§ 3. If any sentence, paragraph, section or part of this local law shall be adjudged invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction such judgment shall not impair or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall be confined to that part deemed invalid.

§ 4. This local law shall take effect ninety days after its enactment into law except that the commissioner of housing preservation and development shall take all actions, including the promulgation of rules, necessary for the implementation of this local law prior to such effective date.