Open Primary Petition, Vacant Rent-Stabilized Apartments Rise,…

Politics & Policy

• Open primary advocates petition to force question on ballot · Unite NY submitted over 45,000 petitions signed by registered New York City voters to the city clerk’s office Thursday to force a question on open primaries onto the ballot. (Gothamist)
• Would a $10 prescription fee help pharmacies or drive up New Yorkers’ medical bills? · The state Legislature passed a bill providing pharmacies a $10 fee per prescription, which Gov. Hochul will soon decide on, while critics warn it may raise costs for consumers across New York. (Gothamist)
• Why Mamdani canceled a plan to expand the NYPD · Mayor Zohran Mamdani reversed his plan to hire more NYPD officers during budget talks within a month of first proposing it, reflecting a shift in his approach to public safety funding. (Gothamist)
• Civil rights attorneys slam ruling saying people can’t record officers in station lobbies · The Court of Appeals ruled last week that New Yorkers cannot record police officers inside station lobbies, sparking backlash from civil rights attorneys and elected officials who argue the decision undermines transparency. (PoliticsNY)

Housing, Transportation & Infrastructure

• Rate of Vacant Stabilized Apartments on the Rise After Pandemic-Era Spike · Landlords reported roughly 57,000 vacant rent-stabilized apartments in NYC in 2025, a 5.6% vacancy rate compared to 3.7% in 2016, highlighting a rise in empty affordable units. (Samantha Maldonado)
• 50-story Brooklyn Heights mixed-use tower with 136 apartments and a jazz club breaks ground · Construction started on One Montague Place in Brooklyn Heights, a 50-story tower featuring 46 condos, 90 rentals, 40,000 sq ft of retail space, and a jazz club. (6sqft)
• $5B plan unveiled to finish Brooklyn’s Pacific Park megadevelopment · Developers released a $5 billion plan Monday to complete Pacific Park with seven new towers containing 5,600 residential units, pushing forward the long-stalled Atlantic Yards project. (6sqft)
• NYC launches program to crack down on problem landlords · NYC rolled out a new initiative targeting the city’s worst landlords following reports of widespread tenant complaints including flooding, broken stoves, roaches, and unsafe conditions. (AM New York)

Culture & Lifestyle

• One of New York’s greatest movies is getting a free outdoor screening at the Battery · Celebrate America250 with a free waterfront screening of “On The Town,” accompanied by live performances and giveaways at the Battery. (Laura Ratliff)
• A tree that orbited the moon is getting its own party in Madison Square Park · Madison Square Park’s Moon Tree marks its first birthday with a free day of space-themed activities and programming. (Laura Ratliff)
• Someone just climbed to the top of the Empire State Building for a proposal · Climbers scaled the Empire State Building’s antenna, displayed a banner, and appeared to celebrate an engagement atop the iconic NYC landmark. (Laura Ratliff)
• Revisiting 35 Years of an Iconic Newark Artist-Led Space · Aljira, an artist-led space, highlighted socially engaged artists like Dawoud Bey and Firelei Báez who critiqued gentrification and capitalism over its 35-year history. (Hyperallergic)
• Ditch your phone and join the Summer of Ludd, the offline festival happening in NYC · The Summer of Ludd, an eight-day anti-Big Tech festival mostly in Lower Manhattan, offers various events encouraging attendees to disconnect from digital devices. (Gothamist)

Civic Services & Government

• Upper East Side Legionnaires’ cases rise to 14 · NYC confirmed 14 Legionnaires’ disease cases on the Upper East Side since July 2, prompting ongoing public health investigations and warnings for residents. (AM New York)
• ‘Yes, this does suck’: NYC health officials brace for new Medicaid work rules · NYC officials plan strategies to maintain Medicaid enrollment as new work requirements take effect, aiming to prevent coverage loss for tens of thousands. (Gothamist)
• NYC Legionella inspections rose only gradually before latest Legionnaires’ cluster in Manhattan · City inspections of cooling towers increased slowly after near-record lows last year despite risks, preceding the current Legionnaires’ outbreak in Manhattan. (Gothamist)
• Separate shootings in Coney Island, Crown Heights cap July Fourth Celebrations · Shootings occurred late July 4 and early July 5 in Brooklyn’s Coney Island and Crown Heights neighborhoods, marring holiday celebrations. (Gothamist)
• Wednesday’s Headlines: Sticker Shocker Edition · The Department of Sanitation announced it would reinstate “shame stickers” on cars that fail to move during street cleaning cycles. (Streetsblog NYC)

DEEP DIVE

City To Expand Housing Vouchers in Budget: What You Need To Know

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City Council agreed Monday night to expand NYC’s housing voucher program with a $175 million budget boost, creating a new rental assistance program through the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. The expansion will make thousands more households eligible, including some living in rent-stabilized apartments and a broader group residing in homeless shelters, addressing urgent housing needs. While smaller than original Council proposals, the deal settles a lawsuit between the mayor and City Council.

The new vouchers build on the existing CityFHEPS program and are projected to serve between 5,600 and 9,600 households, or 14,000 to 30,000 individuals according to estimates from the mayor’s office and City Council respectively. This investment comes after intense budget negotiations and reflects longstanding tensions over how aggressively to expand rental assistance to prevent evictions and homelessness amid NYC’s affordable housing crisis.

As the City Council and City Hall finalize the budget deal Tuesday morning, tens of thousands of New Yorkers stand to benefit from increased access to stable housing. The enactment of this program will shape NYC’s approach to housing insecurity going forward, with advocates closely monitoring implementation and funding adequacy in the months ahead. (City Limits)