NYC mayoral candidate Scott Stringer plans zoning change to stop Trump from selling fed buildings
The plan, dubbed Safeguarding Historic Infrastructure through Effective Land-use Defenses, or SHIELD, would create a new 'federal use' zoning category that would require any such deal to go through a lengthy public review, and it would give the City Council the ability to block it.
'As mayor, I will fight to protect our civic infrastructure, using all the tools at my disposal to protect it from Trump selling it to the highest bidder,' Stringer said in a statement. 'Under this new zoning rule, if Trump wants to hatch a scheme to line his or his cronies' pockets, he'll have to go through New Yorkers first.'
There are just four buildings in New York that could be at risk and would fall under this federal policy, including the 41-story Javits Federal Office Building in lower Manhattan, which is home to Immigration Court and Immigration and Custom Enforcement's local field office.
Stringer's proposal to take on this niche issue for the city would require a new text amendment to the city's zoning rules, which would itself require a months-long process in order to be put in place.
A Stringer campaign spokesperson said the proposal is relatively uncontroversial, so it could be adopted more quickly, and that a prospective developer might be turned off by the idea of going through a long process.
The Trump administration last month released, but then walked back a list of hundreds of buildings across the country that it was considering selling off. The administration has said it is continuing to identify government buildings that it potentially could put up for bids.
Under the proposed new designation, the structures would gain a 'special use' condition on top of their underlying zoning.
Then, if the feds tried to sell one of the properties, the developer would have to get a special permit from the City Planning Commission. That, in turn, would trigger the months-long Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, or ULURP, that goes through various levels of city government for approval, with the City Council getting the final say.
Mayoral candidates running in the Democratic primary election have been eager to show how, if elected, they each would stand up to Trump's threats, with many pitching plans to counter Trump's threats to pull federal funding.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo faced early criticism for saying he'd be open to working with the president, and has since leveled more blows at Trump — although he's still facing backlash for taking donations from Trump allies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
9 minutes ago
- CBS News
National Guard member ticketed for running a red light after crashing into car in D.C. during Trump's deployment
A National Guard member whose military transport vehicle collided with a car this week was given a traffic ticket for running a red light in Washington, D.C. — as Guard forces deploy to the streets of the capital amid President Trump's contentious anti-crime push. The collision took place early Wednesday morning, as a convoy of five National Guard vehicles drove through D.C.'s Capitol Hill neighborhood. One of the trucks — a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle — struck a civilian car, the D.C. Guard said in a statement. The five Guard vehicles and a D.C. Metropolitan Police Department cruiser stopped to help the driver, who was transported via emergency medical services, according to the Guard. The driver sustained minor injuries, but the D.C. Fire Department used extrication tools to remove the driver from the car, department spokesperson Vito Maggiolo told CBS News. The driver of the Guard vehicle was later ticketed for running a red light during the incident, the military's D.C. Joint Task Force said Thursday. Red light tickets cost $150 in D.C. "Our priority is ensuring the well-being of all involved. We are grateful for the response of D.C. police and EMS. Safety is our top priority. We will take action based on the investigation. This type of vehicle is authorized, and safety protocols are in place," Army Col. Larry Doane, commander of the joint task force for D.C., said in a statement. National Guard personnel have been deployed in the capital city since last week, when Mr. Trump ordered the D.C. Guard — which is controlled by the president — to crack down on what he called an "epidemic of crime." Federal agents have also patrolled the city, and Mr. Trump has asserted control over the local Metropolitan Police Department. Just under 2,000 Guard personnel were activated in the capital as of Wednesday, including members of the D.C. National Guard as well as forces from six GOP-led states. The Guard members "may be armed, consistent with their training, depending on the mission, operating under civilian law enforcement," the Joint Task Force said in a statement. Guard forces and heavy military vehicles have been spotted throughout the city, including at Union Station and near the Washington Monument. The moves have drawn pushback from local officials who argue the surge is unnecessary. Violent crime in D.C. has been declining for the last year-and-a-half after spiking in 2023, according to local police data — despite Mr. Trump's claim that crime is on the Walsh contributed to this report.
The Hill
10 minutes ago
- The Hill
US says it killed top ISIS official in Syria
U.S. forces on Tuesday killed a senior ISIS official in Syria, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a statement Thursday. The 'successful raid' in northern Syria targeted an unnamed senior ISIS member who also served as a 'key financier who planned attacks in Syria and Iraq,' according to the CENTCOM statement. CENTCOM said the senior ISIS member had relationships in the region, 'posing a direct threat to U.S. and Coalition forces and the new Syrian Government.' 'We will continue to pursue ISIS terrorists with unwavering determination, throughout the region,' CENTCOM Commander, Adm. Brad Cooper, said in the statement. 'Together with our partners and allies, CENTCOM remains steadfast in our commitment of ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS and the protection of the U.S. homeland,' he continued. Trump has moved to ease sanctions significantly on Syria in the wake of the ousting of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. A delegation of Congressional members recently visited Syria and met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa and other senior officials in the administration. CENTCOM forces last month killed another senior ISIS leader, Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. U.S. officials similarly said the ISIS members posed a threat to US and coalition forces, including the Syrian government.
10 minutes ago
'It's alarming': Education Department revokes guidance on English learning services
The U.S. Education Department has rescinded critical guidance to schools regarding how they provide English language learning services for roughly 5 million students in U.S. schools. The Education Department on Tuesday rescinded a 2015 Dear Colleague letter on its website, which served as a guide for school districts that are serving English learners to ensure they're providing adequate resources to their students under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In a statement to ABC News, the Education Department said the document was "overly prescriptive" and that it micro-managed states. "States have vastly different needs for this important population of students and are best equipped to determine how best to educate these students while following all applicable federal laws," the department said in the statement. The document is still available online for "historical purposes only," according to a notice. The Washington Post was the first to report the guidance had been rescinded. Advocates worry the decision removes federal oversight and accountability, which could lead to school districts opting to discriminate against English learners. Despite those concerns, removing the guidance does not strip resources from schools nor does it alter state curriculums, which are handled by state and local agencies. Roxanne Garza, director of higher education policy at the Education Trust, suggested the move could further the fears of immigrant students wary of returning to school amid the Trump administration's measures to curb illegal migration. "I think it could add to the overall feeling of fear -- like making these people, these families, feel like they don't belong in their communities." Montserrat Garibay, former assistant deputy secretary and director of the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) during the Biden administration, equated the now-rescinded English-learners document to the Bible for English language instructors. During her tenure, she said the letter was instrumental to her office in providing resources to the students who needed it most. Garibay, who said nearly three quarters of students in English Language Acquisition programming are U.S. citizens, argued the move could have a lasting impact if it results in scaled-back resources. "These are children who eventually are going to be paying our Medicare and Medicaid, right? Our Social Security, because they are U.S. citizens. And it's outrageous that we are not providing them with the resources that they need to be successful in the 21st century." Garibay also said lifting the long-standing guidance appears to fly in the face of an executive order Trump signed earlier this year designating English as the official language of the United States. Education advocates decried the agency's decision. ImmSchools Co-Founder Viridiana Carrizales told ABC News "It's alarming because, you know, it feels like this administration is stripping away every right, every protection, funding, access to resources etc. that are so critical for those 5 million students in the country who are learning English." Carrizales, whose organization partners with school districts to create more welcoming and safe schools for K-12 immigrant students, said the recent move is a significant shift for classroom educators because immigrant protections, overall, are "diminishing." "We're hearing a lot more concerns from educators themselves, who're trying to figure out how they can meet and support this population when their resources and protections are being taken away," she said. Anne Kelsey, senior policy analyst for disability rights at the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights, argued the decision will harm immigrant children and families. "Language access is a fundamental right that builds safer, smarter, and more connected communities, and ensures children can receive a full and fair education while keeping their parents actively involved," Kelsey wrote in a statement to ABC News, adding "These programs welcome parents and families fully into the school community and we know it leads to stronger educational outcomes for students." The effort to return education responsibilities and decisions to the states is arguably President Donald Trump's top K-12 education priority. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon kicked off her 50-state "Returning Education to the States" tour last week.
