The Broadsheet - Lower Manhattan’s Local Newspaper

Seniors and disabled residents who rent apartments in Battery Park City are days away from being able to claim exemptions on rent increases, according to City Council member Christopher Marte. During a Town Hall meeting held Sunday at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Mr. Marte said, “we’re going to pass legislation this Thursday to extend SCRIE and DRIE to Battery Park City and to any former Mitchell-Lama developments, such as Independence Plaza.”

The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption program (SCRIE) and the Disabled Rent Increase Exemption program (DRIE) allow renters who are over 62 years of age or disabled and have annual incomes of less than $50,000 to have rent increases limited or frozen. (Landlords who collect less revenue under these programs are compensated by offsets in their property taxes.) These benefits have long been available elsewhere in the five boroughs, but Battery Park City residents have been excluded, because of the technicality that the community is governed by a state agency, rather than the municipal government.

“This is going to help a lot of our seniors remain and age in place,” Mr. Marte continued. “I’ve already talked to the Mayor’s office and they said he is going to sign it immediately. And state-elected officials are making sure this will be retroactive for the last two years. So for seniors who are paying more than their fair share, more than they can afford, they’ll be able to get money back for the last two years. We’re super-excited to be able to deliver this for the community.”

This bill, which Mr. Marte sponsored in the City Council, is an adjunct to state legislation enacted last year, which was sponsored by State Senator Brian Kavanagh. In March, Mr. Kavanagh noted, “unfortunately, the City has determined that they will need a piece of City-enacted legislation” before activating these protections for the newly covered residents. “This has added a little time to the process. We’re working very closely with the City Council and City Hall to get those done. I don’t think there’s any objection. But it’s another step in the process, which has been long and complicated.”

The original state measure, which was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul last December, included similar affordability protections for senior and disabled condominium owners. The Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption program (SCHE) and the Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption program (DHE) provided for abatements in property taxes for elderly or disabled residents, analogous to those offered to renters. Thus far, however, the City Council has taken no action to extend SCHE and DHE protections to Battery Park City.

Kings College, an evangelical Christian institution of higher learning located at 56 Broadway, is set to lose its academic accreditation today. On May 26, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) announced that it had taken “immediate adverse action to withdraw accreditation from the King’s College. The final date that accreditation will cease is to be determined based on the supplemental information report due June 2, 2023.” The Commission notes that its decision is subject to appeal. Read more...

Watch for the Viking Saturn to arrive in New York Harbor tomorrow morning, June 6, and head up the Hudson River. (A more precise arrival time was not available.) After docking at the Passenger Ship Terminal, Viking Saturn will be christened by her “godmother,” Ann Ziff, chairman of the Metropolitan Opera. On June 7, Viking Saturn will embark on a trip to Reykjavik, Iceland. 

Viking Saturn is the newest vessel in Viking’s fleet, classified as a “small ship” and able to host 930 guests. Since 2020, Viking has welcomed 17 new ships to its fleet—including eight new Viking Longships on the rivers of Europe; new purpose-built vessels on the Mekong, Nile and Mississippi rivers; four new ocean ships; and two Polar Class expedition vessels. 

On the evening of Thursday, May 25, immediately before the start of the Memorial Day weekend, an email message from a City official representing the administration of Mayor Eric Adams was received by a handful of Lower Manhattan residents—but very few community representatives—announcing that a pledge by City Hall to pause the controversial demolition of the Manhattan Detention Complex was being reversed. Read more...

Weekly writing session. Free, space is limited, registration required.

This spray painting demontration and lesson will culminate in a Pride-inspired mural, created by participants. For children ages 5+.

The American Heart Association will host hands-only CPR demonstrations.

Quarterly review.

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Conversation, local news, and informal card and board games.

Play the popular strategy game while getting pointers from an expert. Ages 5 and up (adults welcome).

Walk with poets Rae Armantrout, Chen Chen, Rigoberto González, Kimiko Hahn, Terrance Hayes, Tommy Pico, and Tracy K. Smith as they celebrate the poetic richness of New York City through historical poems and their own work. All proceeds benefit Poets House, reservations are required. $300.

Agenda