#PromoteTheVote

Unfortunately, New York has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country, but we can help change that. Not only is it important for you to vote, but employers are also obligated to properly inform their employees.

New York’s Primary is on 04.19.16. New York State Election Law 3-110 requires that employers notify employees that they may be eligible for up to two hours of paid time if they do not have enough time to vote. The Association for a Better New York (ABNY) and the Partnership for New York City launched #PromoteTheVote to raise awareness about this law and encourage employees to take advantage of it. Employers can join the effort at PromoteTheVote.nyc.

Pulse Points

• On 04.12.16 at the Center for Architecture, Maria Torres-Springer, President and CEO of the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), will discuss how NYCEDC encourages inclusive innovation and economic growth through the built environment as part of this year’s Presidential theme “Authenticity and Innovation.” Register online here.

• The NYC Office of Recovery and Resiliency is holding Housing Affordability and Climate Change: Confronting Financial, Regulatory, and Physical Challenges to Retrofitting Multifamily Housing at the Center for Architecture on 04.29.16. As part of this event, the City will release the East Village/Lower East Side/Two Bridges Resilient Neighborhoods report and the NYC Mayor’s Office Multifamily Insurance Affordability Study.

• The 2016 Architects in Albany Advocacy Day is on Tuesday, 05.03.16. Organized by AIA New York State, this annual event brings together members from local chapters around the state to meet with State Senators and Assemblymembers. Participants will discuss alternative project delivery, design liability reform, due process rights, the Emergency Responder Act, and other pressing issues for architects. If you are interested in attending with other AIANY representatives, send an email to Emma Pattiz at epattiz@aiany.org.

• Comptroller Scott Stringer and his Red Tape Commission released a report that concluded that small businesses are overburdened by bureaucracy and delay at City agencies. The report outlines 60 recommendations, including some to improve predictability and efficiency at the NYC Department of Buildings.

• NYC Department of City Planning Commissioner Carl Weisbrod testified at a New York City Council budget hearing on 03.29.16 to state that, without the now-expired 421a tax abatement, developers will build more luxury condos than rental housing. The success of the recently approved MIH and ZQA will also be muted without a renewed program. Albany has been slow to react, but possible replacement bills are now being introduced.

• The NYC Economic Development Corporation is rolling out a series of initiatives to support emerging developers and minority, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses (M/W/DBE) in New York City. Resources will include an MBA-style program to help firms create three-year plans for long-term growth, a $10 million fund to provide low-interest loans on New York City-based development projects, and a program through which training and support will be offered to prequalified contractors who will have exclusive access to bid on certain NYCEDC contracts.

• AIA National released the Reframing Resilience: Proceedings of the AIA 2015 Resilience Summit. The report includes a summary of the summit and resources on resiliency.