Gov. Cuomo's tax relief commission recommended a package of tax reductions costing $2 billion over three years. Much of its tax-cutting attention went to the suburbs and upstate, including a two-year property tax freeze that would apply to residents outside the city. There were proposals to help renters in the city, but details were sparse. Another proposal included lowering the corporate tax rate to 7.1 percent from 6.5 percent. The Assembly leader signaled some opposition to the plan, saying the state should focus on providing money for public education.
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NEWS FROM CITY HALL — The City Council approves a law, named in memory of a 4-year-old girl struck and killed by an SUV fleeing from police, that will require more detailed reporting of emergency response times. By Chester Soria. READ MORE
PLUS — Council approves lobbying reform ... As well as Kingsbridge Armory plan for ice-skating rink.
Other Stories We're Following
Corruption Probe Appears To Target Hikind, Maimonides (Crain's)
City Launches Nation’s Largest Free Public WiFi Network (NY Observer)
New Data Shows Hospital Charges All Over The Map (WNYC)
Two City Colleges Draft Rules That Restrict Protests (NY Times)
Walcott Admits Charter School Rollout Could've Been Better (WNYC)
Report: Hospital-Acquired Infections Decline (Associated Press)
Port Authority Inspector General Investigating Bridge Closures (Wall Street Journal)
The Man Who Makes Cuomo's Commission Look Credible (Capital)
As Bloomberg Departs, A Soccer Arena Deal Emerges (Capital)
New York Asks Cellphone Carriers To Explain Antitheft Switch Rejection (NY Times)
Incoming Police Commissioner Wants To See Supervisors' Resumes (Daily News)
Tourism Set To Bring In Record 55 Million Visitors In 2014 (Daily News)
Push To Diversify City Contracting Falls Short Of Goals (City Limits)
>The incoming Brooklyn District Attorney, Kenneth Thompson, named Mark Feldman as his chief assistant yesterday. The former state and federal prosecutor previously served in three different city district attorney’s offices as well as the U.S. attorney’s office. Meanwhile, the Post reports that Bill de Blasio's first pick for education chancellor, Stanford University professor Linda Darling-Hammond, turned down his offer to take the post, although she denies it. Other sources tell Capital that de Blasio is trying to convince his longtime adviser, Carmen Farina, to fill the position.
Other Stories We're Following
NYPD Sergeant First To Fall In Ticket-Fixing Scandal (Daily News)
The Story Of One Of The City's 22,000 Homeless Kids (NY Times)
Advocates Seek Overhaul Of State Board Of Elections (Albany Times Union)
Are Ethnic Enclaves Bad for Immigrants? (WNYC)
City Subpoenas Secret Tapes By Police Officer (NY Times)
Major Retailers To List Shoppers' Rights (Associated Press)
Record Snowfall Expected Tuesday Morning (DNAinfo)
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Today's Report
Thousands of City Homeowners Could Lose State Property Tax Break
The Basic STAR tax abatement for homeowners has been around for 15 years, but this is the first year they are required to register for it. The deadline is December 31 and only half of eligible New York City homeowners have registered for the $300 tax break. The statewide average of 66 percent. (read the full report)
Recent Reports
Building a Progressive Policy Framework to Educate All of New York’s English Language Learners, One In Five NYC Children Hungry, Loose Change Means Millions For MTA, Spike In Heating Costs, City Payphones Turn Profit, more recent reports.
A week after a Metro-North train derailment killed four people, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it was making “immediate” safety improvements at “critical curves” and movable bridges. The MTA also said it had upgraded its signal network at the curving section of track north of the Spuyten Duyvil station in the Bronx where the crash occurred on Dec. 1. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Federal Railroad Administration called for the safety improvements. U.S. safety regulators have also called for Metro-North to use two train operators during some stretches on routes. Also on Sunday, two Senators called for cameras to be installed on Metro-North Railroad trains to help prevent similar deadly accidents.
Why Ban Foam Food Containers? The Recycling Program Bloomberg Doesn't Want: Foam makes up one half of one percent of New York City’s total waste, takes decades if not centuries to biodegrade and can end up polluting waterways. And it could cost the city millions a year to recycle. By Chester Soria. READ MORE.
Countdown to Approval For Rockaway Pipeline Project: Today is the last day the public will be able to submit comments on a draft Environmental Impact Statement for major sections of the Rockaway pipeline project. By Sarah Crean. READ MORE.
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Other Stories We're Following
Tale Of A Small-Time Pot Arrest (BuzzFeed)
The Season's Most Dangerous Toys? So Says One Group (am New York)
De Blasio Family 'Close' To Decision On Gracie Mansion (Capital)
City Releases New Online Map of Crime (NY Post)
Encounter With Ray Kelly (New York Magazine)
This Is Bloomberg's Poverty Researcher (NY Times)
School Construction Authority Hit With Staggering Insurance Increase (Crain's)
Opening Of Whole Foods Expected To Transform Gowanus, Brooklyn (Wall Street Journal)