Welcome to the December issue of the BTEA FAST FOUR. This month’s construction industry brief offers important information about New York State’s reopening and moving the construction industry forward.

The Biden Administration Suspends Vaccine Mandate

The Biden administration has suspended enforcement of its vaccination and testing requirements for private businesses after a federal appeals court halted the rules pending review. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in a statement on its website, said the agency “has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement” of the requirements “pending further developments in the litigation.”

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Now that policy leaders in Washington, D.C. have passed President Biden's infrastructure bill, how will the influx in funding impact projects throughout New York State? Join BTEA New York on December 14 at 8:30 a.m., as key industry thought leaders from the private and public sectors discuss projects, industry trends and what to expect in New York State in 2022!

NYC Construction Filings Near Pre-Pandemic Levels

The number of permits filed to build new buildings around New York City has returned to near pre-pandemic levels, but the total size of projects remains significantly lower than before COVID, according to a report from the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY). President and CEO of the Building Trades Employers Association, Louis J. Coletti said, “Getting more large-scale construction off the ground will be vital for New York City’s economic recovery, and we are looking forward to seeing new federal infrastructure funding distributed to support major projects as quickly as possible.”

City Council Approves New York Blood Center Rezoning

The City Council on November 23 approved a contentious plan to rezone the New York Blood Center — bucking a year-long tradition of local deference with a supermajority vote that exceeded a threshold invoked by a recent legal challenge.

How New York’s Construction Industry Weathered COVID and What Comes Next

The New York region was among the U.S. localities hardest hit by the first wave of the coronavirus, and, as state and local leadership scrambled to respond, the area’s construction business was scrambling along with them. Organizations including the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (NYC Building Trades), and the Real Estate Board of New York began working together on protocols that could address the needs of a wide range of industry players. “It was, I think, an amazing organizational effort where the industry, from real estate to labor to construction, all came together to say, how do we do this in a way that is consistent on all job sites in New York?” said Louis Coletti, President and CEO of the Building Trades Employers Association.

Building Trades Employers Association is the construction contractor's unified advocate for construction safety standards, professional development. government affairs, public relations and fostering communication between public officials, public and private owners, labor and the general public. Realizing that a construction industry is essential to the vibrant future of New York City, its activities are dedicated to a building environment meeting the highest of environmental standards, integrity, cost efficiency, productivity and value that contributes to improving the quality of life in New York City. BTEA represents 26 Construction Manager, General Contractor, Subcontractor and Specialty Trade contractor associations with over 1,200 individual contractor members.

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