Patrick Spauster

Some personal news: I'm joining @citylimitsnews.bsky.social to cover housing and homelessness. Today is my first day! It's a publication I hold in great regard and a topic crucial to NYers. Hit me up with tips and all things housing, policy, and NYC patrick@citylimits.org

A years-long push to give nonprofit and community partnerships a chance to buy distressed buildings broke through in the City Council Thursday. Supporters expect the mayor to sign the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) into law, @patrickspauster.com reports. citylimits.org/council-pass...

NEW: The City Planning Commission, already getting some new powers to approve "fast track" affordable housing projects, is also getting some new faces—if the City Council approves. Story on @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social nominations in @citylimitsnews.bsky.social

Half a dozen electeds, led by Gov. Hochul, applauded a new affordable housing development on church land Friday, but have been quiet on efforts to permit the practice as-of-right across the state-a measure sidelined in two straight state budgets. citylimits.org/more-apartme...

City Limits gets results!

A recent change to how the city approves CityFHEPS vouchers, aimed at saving money on rent, required additional review that dragged out an already-protracted application process—causing some shelter residents to lose out on apartments. via @patrickspauster.com: citylimits.org/savings-meas...

Come to this @citylimitsnews.bsky.social story for the map, stay for a sneaky important point: if the fast track works as hoped, it could cut into the city's residential segregation. buff.ly/44zJqqJ

The UES and UWS, Elmhurst, and Bayside are among the communities that have built little affordable housing over the past 5 years, and now will see certain projects fast-tracked under new city rules. Check our map for the full list, via @patrickspauster.com: citylimits.org/see-the-12-c...

NYCHA's first Trust project at Nostrand houses has closed. It's a new, third path, different from the less-popular PACT that brings in private mgmt and the cash-starved efforts to rehab public housing without conversion. Sunny @citylimitsnews.bsky.social has the story! citylimits.org/public-housi...

I was asleep when this story published at 5am, but the Neal family was up, beginning their journey to work and school. They are one of thousands of families in shelter that commute to school from outside their home borough, disrupting their health and education. citylimits.org/for-some-kid...

I was asleep when this story published at 5am, but the Neal family was up, beginning their journey to work and school. They are one of thousands of families in shelter that commute to school from outside their home borough, disrupting their health and education. citylimits.org/for-some-kid...

Is it finally COPA’s year? The answer is YES! The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act has majority support of @council.nyc.gov, @mayor.nyc.gov, and @nyccli.bsky.social. The time is now! Thank you @patrickspauster.com & @citylimitsnews.bsky.social for the write up! citylimits.org/is-it-finall...

My bathroom bill, Local Law 58, requires over 2,100 functional public bathrooms by 2035. Getting there requires solutions that work for all New Yorkers, especially our most vulnerable. Thank you @patrickspauster.com of @citylimitsnews.bsky.social for covering! citylimits.org/nyc-is-getti...

A new pilot program for public restrooms requires tap access with a phone or key card. Homeless advocates say it could be another barrier for unhoused New Yorkers. via @patrickspauster.com: citylimits.org/nyc-is-getti...

A judge ordered discovery in landlords' rent freeze lawsuit against the Rent Guidelines Board, looking for a smoking gun. The judge admits the rarity of compelling the gov to do discovery in an article 78 case, and compels admin to turn over any communications b/w City Hall and RGB. Key parts:

Bay Ridge Councilmember is proposing a rezoning, expecting to be on the new voter-approved "fast track" which will see affordable housing projects bypass city council review until they build more affordable housing in their neighborhood. "the only way out is to build our way out" buff.ly/8QHiVCc

I spoke w/ tenant activist Samuel Stein about his new book, "A Right to Housing?" and how close/far we are to making the right reality. “It’s impossible to change something if you don’t understand what it is. But it can also be paralyzing to realize just how much we’re up against.” buff.ly/0LaNLUX

Tenants nervously watched as their rent-stabilized buildings were auctioned off Wednesday. The winning bid came from a small-town NJ mayor who says he will work with the tenants to help them own the 88 apts as a cooperative. Inside the auction room w/ @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/KBV0WvX

You've heard of City of Yes, but are you ready for 'State of Yes'? @citylimitsnews.bsky.social w deets on the state legislators taking the "yes" housing moniker to Albany w a slew of pro-housing proposals. buff.ly/Yw9akBg

“The new plan estimates that the city needs 700,000 new homes over the next 10 years to catch up with current demand and accommodate future growth.” citylimits.org/see-which-ny... By @citylimitsnews.bsky.social’s @patrickspauster.com

A new acronym has entered the lexicon. NYC's new housing voucher is called CHAP (City Housing Assistance Program). Read @citylimitsnews.bsky.social for deets on who will be newly eligible in January and the big catch: the vouchers will be hard capped at around 5k, with a waitlist. buff.ly/vbW2Sd5

How difficult is it going to be to get NYC neighborhoods to build more? New targets ask for 5,000 new units in Mid-Island Staten by 2030, but the local rep said the plan was "not worth the paper it's printed on." See the 55 of 59 community boards behind schedule in my map: buff.ly/QMOjnQ5

The city needs 700,000 new homes over the next 10 years to catch up with current demand and accommodate future growth, officials announced Wednesday. See which neighborhoods they say aren’t growing fast enough, via @patrickspauster.com: citylimits.org/see-which-ny...

New York City landlords are challenging city housing discrimination laws after a State Supreme Court ruled that a requirement for Section 8 housing vouchers was unconstitutional, @patrickspauster.com reports: citylimits.org/landlords-ai...

"A lot of brothers here [are] trying to change their lives," said Dexter Joseph, who recently graduated from a workforce development program the facility runs. "They’ve been through the fire, and they’re here to make a change." citylimits.org/in-former-br...

In a building that was once a prison, recently incarcerated homeless men are reentering society and seeking permanent housing. There they find second chances and a "quiet, discreet hope." My latest for @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/xoV64Ey

The Fulton Correctional Facility was shuttered in 2011 and transformed into transitional housing for formerly incarcerated men. The program is now helping them find jobs, permanent homes, and second chances. via @patrickspauster.com: citylimits.org/in-former-br...

DSA-backed congressional candidates won their primaries in June--but lost the precincts that overlap with NYCHA campuses. Great @citylimitsnews.bsky.social story: buff.ly/y9JM2vY

The land value tax bit in here is very interesting but the IBX will not benefit from city of yes because it doesn’t apply to new mass transit, only the existing network. So prepare for another fun round of upzoning debate if this ever comes to pass.

See the 100 city-owned lots where the mayor plans to develop 50,000 units of affordable housing, taking advantage of reforms that the administration hopes will make it easier to build. via @patrickspauster.com: citylimits.org/the-mamdani-...

Mayor Mamdani’s administration is backing a bid from a developer to preserve a portfolio of 887 rent-stabilized units in East Harlem, in a test of the mayor’s housing goals. citylimits.org/pinnacle-pla...

NEW: The Mamdani administration is getting involved in another rent stabilized real estate auction, backing a buyer for 887 units in 39 East Harlem buildings. It's a test of the new housing plan, which vows to steward housing from bad landlords into community hands. buff.ly/o65UBjE

NEW: The Mamdani administration is getting involved in another rent stabilized real estate auction, backing a buyer for 887 units in 39 East Harlem buildings. It's a test of the new housing plan, which vows to steward housing from bad landlords into community hands. buff.ly/o65UBjE

NYC's shelter policy for transgender people was considered among the most progressive in the country. But it hasn’t lived up to that standard, some say. "There is a significant breakdown to the point at which the policies are just written pieces of paper." citylimits.org/court-to-con...

The initial ruling establishes that NYC could be held liable for discrimination by failing to place the woman in a shelter according to her gender identity. If proven, the case could significantly impact the shelter system, @patrickspauster.com reports: citylimits.org/court-to-con...

NEW: A judge will consider if the city discriminated by placing a trans woman in shelters with men, leading to her alleged assault. NYC has progressive LGBT policies but “there is a significant breakdown to the point at which the policies are just written pieces of paper” buff.ly/35x8k1b

Crucial info about how to apply for limited affordable housing spots - and the waitlist is open for just 12 days >>>>

The city's latest housing vs. parking battle is playing out at an East Village Mitchell-Lama co-op, where the board is considering the sale to raise money for their 60-year-old buildings. Supporters say it could be a sign of things to come. via @patrickspauster.com: citylimits.org/east-village...

NYC's latest parking vs. housing fight is playing out at these affordable East Village coops, where residents are weighing how to get money they need to repair their buildings. “I don’t believe we should be fighting for parking when there’s so much homelessness” buff.ly/GxxqFCZ

Pre-holiday weekend news dump from DSS... the 2026 unsheltered homeless count in NYC, 4,991, is the highest since the count started in 2005. Just 3.5% of NYC's homeless are unsheltered. This year's survey was conducted in March, rather than January, because of the cold spell.

After fighting two different mayoral administrations to stay open, Mainchance drop-in in Midtown East closed its doors yesterday after 30 years. Some Manhattan electeds worry it will leave a gap in the homeless network, but DHS is not backing down. Story @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/U8U6ziT

After an attempt to save it failed in court, Manhattan elected officials are urging the Mamdani administration to reconsider its decision to close Mainchance, "the only homeless drop-in center located in East Midtown." via @patrickspauster.com: citylimits.org/midtown-home...

Great, practical guide to the city's new rental voucher program, by @patrickspauster.com City Hall expects the new vouchers will serve ~ 5,600 households, or 14,000 people, while City Council estimates it could cover 9,600 households, or 30,000 individuals. citylimits.org/city-to-expa...

What to know about CityFHEPS deal: who will be newly eligible? It creates a new program for people at risk of eviction in rent stab housing + other shelter residents not eligible b/c of work requirements or income limits. The existing CFHEPS program remains the same. citylimits.org/city-to-expa...

BREAKING: A final budget deal will expand city-subsidized rental assistance, @patrickspauster.com reports. Thousands of new households will be eligible for vouchers under the expansion, but the scope is far smaller than lawmakers originally intended: citylimits.org/city-to-expa...