NYC Council Stated Meeting - September 24, 2026: Land Use, Fair Fares, and Resolutions

The New York City Council held its stated meeting on September 24, 2026, at 1:30 PM in City Hall. Presiding as Acting President Pro Tempore was Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, with 46 members present (4 absent, 1 medical). The meeting began with an invocation by Rabbi Steven Exter, followed by adoption of the minutes from September 10, 2026. Speaker Julie Menin delivered opening remarks highlighting climate week initiatives, the expansion of the Fair Fares program to nearly 1.3 million New Yorkers, and a $5 million allocation to Bellevue Hospital for psychiatric care. The council then voted on a consent agenda encompassing land use items, finance resolutions, and multiple pieces of legislation, all passing unanimously by a 46-0 roll call. Resolutions were adopted by voice vote, and numerous new bills were introduced and referred to committees. General discussion featured remarks from 15 councilmembers on topics ranging from tenant protections and public health to international affairs and community recognition.

Consent Calendar

• Roll Call and Minutes: Quorum established with 46 members present. Minutes of September 10, 2026 adopted as printed.
• Invocation: Spread upon the record by Council Member Dinowitz.
• Committee Reports and General Orders: All items from the Committees on Criminal Justice (Int 0246-2026-A – commissary accounts), Finance (Res 0652-2026 – organization funding), General Welfare (Int 0248-2026-A – Fair Fares enrollment), Housing and Buildings (Int 1015-2026-A – J51 tax abatement extension), and Land Use (Int 0833-2026-A – Eastern Parkway restrictions; LU 0120-0122 and Res 0659-0661 – rezoning applications; LU 0141 and Res 0662 – sidewalk café disapproval) were approved by consent roll call, 46 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions.

Discussion Items

• Speaker's Remarks: Speaker Menin announced a $5 million investment to expand Bellevue's adult psychiatric department (adding approximately 40 inpatient beds), noted the 98% occupancy rate, and highlighted the Fair Fares expansion to 1.3 million New Yorkers. She also introduced several bills on the agenda.
• Land Use Presentations: Speaker Menin summarized key rezoning projects: 815 Hutchinson River Parkway (Bronx), 862-868 Kent Avenue (Brooklyn) – which will include 75 residential units (18 income-restricted via MIH) and a synagogue – and the disapproval of a sidewalk café application for Cali Tajadas Bakery & Restaurant (Queens).
• General Orders Discussion: Council Member Pierina Sanchez spoke on Int 1015-A, extending J51 tax abatements to 300,000 co-ops and condos through June 2036, with a $212.7 million program cost. Council Member Crystal Hudson discussed Int 246-A (commissary funds return) and Int 248-A (streamlined Fair Fares enrollment), emphasizing that government should return what is owed to New Yorkers.
• Resolution Presentations: Council Member Farías presented Res 0184 declaring October 3 as Korean Cultural Awareness Day. Council Member Riley presented Res 0142-A calling for a state Center for Fatherhood Initiatives. Council Member Stevens presented Res 0606 (Black Pride Month) and Res 0607 (African Immigrant Heritage Month).

Resolutions Adopted

• Res 0142-2026-A: Calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation establishing the Center for Fatherhood Initiatives under the Office of Children and Family Services. Adopted by voice vote.
• Res 0184-2026: Declares October 3 as Korean Cultural Awareness Day annually. Adopted by voice vote.
• Res 0606-2026: Declares August as Black Pride Month. Adopted by voice vote; Council Members Ariola and Paladino formally noted intent to vote no. (During roll call, Paladino voted no.)
• Res 0607-2026: Declares September as African Immigrant Heritage Month. Adopted by voice vote.

Introductions & Referrals

• Bills Introduced (Int 1069-1099): Covered topics including safe delivery time standards, low-traffic neighborhood pilot, sidewalk repairs, rent freeze program information, tree planting requests, delivery worker scheduling, campaign finance disclosures, immigration detainer limits, gender-based violence hotline reporting, sidewalk cafe fee waivers, CityFHEPS reporting, Legionella testing, adopt-a-catch basin program, homeowner displacement outreach, building violation disparities, veterinary price disclosures, and campaign finance disclosures for digital content. All referred to appropriate committees.
• Resolutions Introduced (Res 0645-0658): Covered nutrition program protections, Hindu American Awareness Month, Consent Awareness Week, AirTrain JFK fare discounts, Head Start program opposition, extreme weather tenant protection, 9/11 first responder assistance, defibrillator tax credits, veterans' source of income discrimination, FIFA legacy contribution, MTA deck project, Iota Phi Theta Day, and AI in classrooms. All referred to committees.
• Land Use Applications (LU 0142-0145): Four preconsidered rezoning applications in Brooklyn and Queens (1455 Coney Island Avenue, 135-27 Sapphire Street) referred to the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Vote: Passed 46-0, approving all committee reports and general orders items.
• Resolutions: Four resolutions adopted by voice vote, with no recorded opposition on three and two members opposing Res 0606.
• Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 31 new introductions (19 local laws and 12 resolutions) referred to respective committees for further consideration.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned by Speaker Menin, with the next stated meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026.

General Discussion

• Council Member Hanif: Spoke on participating in civil disobedience to reject Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit, calling for an end to U.S. arms shipments to Israel and funding for life, not bombs.
• Council Member Schulman: Introduced Int 1094 lowering the Legionella reporting threshold from 1,000 to 10 colony-forming units per milliliter to prevent outbreaks.
• Council Member Thomas-Henry: Introduced Res 0655 calling on FIFA to pay the $1 million legacy contribution promised for hosting the 2026 World Cup.
• Council Member Banks: Introduced Int 1072 expanding outreach for rent increase exemption programs (SCRIE/DRIE) to include people with disabilities and annual training.
• Council Member Farías: Introduced Res 0647 (Consent Awareness Week), Res 0648 (state consent definition), and Res 0646 (Hindu American Awareness Month).
• Council Member Wilson: Introduced Int 1098 (PET Act) requiring veterinary price disclosures, noting 60% price increase over a decade and 50% corporate ownership of practices.
• Council Member Morano: Introduced Int 1089 creating an Office of Assistance for 9/11 first responders and survivors, calling it a fulfillment of the promise “never forget.”
• Council Member Brewer: Introduced Int 1073 to allow supplemental tree planting funding beyond Parks’ neighborhood program, citing a need for 30% tree canopy by 2040.
• Council Member Santosuosso: Introduced Int 1058 (not listed in agenda) to allow commercial tenants to recover legal fees if they successfully defend against eviction.
• Council Member Zhuang: Wished colleagues a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and Moon Festival.
• Council Member Hankerson: Spoke on climate week and the need for equitable green infrastructure, noting that black New Yorkers die of heat stress at double the rate of white counterparts.
• Council Member Narcisse: Introduced Int 1091 providing early notice to homeowners about tax lien applicability for building violations.
• Council Member Maloney: Introduced Int 1087 requiring sexual assault prevention protocols at large public events (over 1,000 attendees, or 500 if alcohol served).
• Council Member Cabán: Spoke on struggles of delivery workers (deliveristas) and the need for scheduling flexibility; also opposed funding for the Israeli military.
• Council Member Louis: Introduced Int 1085 (AEP fee increases) and Int 1086 (expanding alternative enforcement program to at least 400 distressed buildings annually).
• Council Member Dinowitz: Responded to earlier remarks, criticizing use of the term “genocide” regarding Israel and arguing it prevents constructive policy discussion.