How is NYC Overcoming the Recession?

Mike Bloomberg gave his State of the City (NYC) Address today. He is doing a good job at bringing the City into the new technologically savvy world. In his address, he covered four very key points. They were:

1. How can we help those who’ve been hit hardest by these tough times?
o To help those about to lose their homes to foreclosure, his administration is implementing some things that no other city in the nation has done. He is creating credit unions for home owners to get more favorable loans, creating checking accounts that have no minimum balance penalties or hidden fees, and giving grants to home owners so they can qualify to refinance their mortgages.
o The City will also be giving out bracelets with GPS devices to families with disabled family members. This is to protect them from getting lost and hurt.

2. How can we make it easier to open and grow small businesses?
o To help open and grow small businesses, his administration is making it easier for businesses to start up with less red tape. This can save entrepreneurs three months of waiting, allow hiring to begin 3 months earlier, and put 3 extra months of income into their businesses.

3. How can we connect Black and Hispanic young people to the opportunities and support that can lead them to success?
o To help minorities, they are supporting youth risk centers that help young teens learn new trades and learn how to be better parents of their newborns.

4. How do we find new ways to stretch every dollar to the limit?
o To stretch every dollar to the limit, he already has put into place a 311 call center where New Yorkers can call in to find out information about where they can receive certain services. Now, he is expanding this by creating on point of contact where people can register, fill out, and file certain forms that would normally require people to go to many different locations and stand in many different lines to get the same things accomplished. It would be really great if he could allow architects to file on-line their drawings and filing documents instead of needing to hire expediters to stand in lines at the New York City Department of Buildings to meet with plan examiners and other municipal officials.

Mayor Bloomberg referred the citizens of NYC as customers of the City. He said that in this global high tech world, it is getting more challenging for cities to keep their citizens “customers” from moving out. He wants to improve customer services so people will not want to leave NYC.

In a nut shell, here is a concluding quote from his address:
"The spirit of innovation and enterprise that fuels the Big Apps competition is encoded in the very DNA of this City. And it's that spirit that gives me confidence we can meet all the challenges we face, including those highlighted by our four questions: helping struggling New Yorkers find jobs and financial security, helping small business owners open their doors, helping our most troubled, at-risk young people build their futures, and the future of our City. And helping City government provide better service - at lower costs.”

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How do architects serve their clients?

Ever wanted to have a bigger office space, smaller office space, a new conference room and didn't know when to hire an architect or a contractor? Also, you might be curious as to what can an architect actually do for you besides draw up plans. Our radio show this week covers some of the basic services that you should expect from an architect. Check it out at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LaneArchitecture

Mayhem in the NYC DOB

Today, I received an email from an expediter that files many of our projects at the New York City Department of Buildings. Since the change over from the old to the new building code and forms, the NYC DOB has been falling all over themselves trying to catch up.

This will undoubtly affect your future filings for permits in NYC!

Her letter to me reads:

"DOB is extremely busy these days and all of the lines are triple digits. All of the applications are changed. Especially TR_I forms.
It takes a lot longer to get anything done these days. Simple sign off takes a few weeks and we end up spending a lot of time locating the submitted folder.
Therefore my price is higher now. You should expect longer time for plan examination too.

The fire department checked on DOB building and issued violations. Now we can not even get to the main room on 3rd floor. Only 74 people could go in. We have to wait till some people leave and then the guard would let us in. Their TCO is expired too. People are making lines on the street from 5:30 am. They stop giving out tickets around noon. It never takes less than an hour or two just to get to the window for Q-matic tickets. "

I hope your week has gone better than hers.

Have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend,

Larry