City Council passes store front vacancies bill

The City Council passed a series of bills last week requiring the Department of Finance to establish a database tracking vacancies across the city’s storefronts. Council Speaker Corey Johnson explained that the city “lacks the data necessary to make informed policy decisions” on empty storefronts.

• The law: Landlords will be required to register vacant space within 120 days of the law taking effect in spring 2020. Property owners who do not comply could face fines.