As the COVID-19 situation develops there are a number of changes throughout all of the city agencies. While we have outlined the specific changes to the Department of Buildings in detail we have comprised a list of all changes for the different city agencies.

***Please note that the agencies are listed in alphabetical order. ***

Department for the Aging (DFTA)
Service modified:

• Friendly visiting suspended for in-person and moving to all phone visiting

Service suspensions:

• Senior Centers and Social Clubs (meal pick up only and social engagement virtually)
• Foster Grandparent program
• Senior Employment Services/Title V
• Reserve/Reemployment for older adults
• Social Adult Day Care (some businesses providing home delivered food)

Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA)
Service suspensions:

• In-person public hearings suspended – proceeding online via Zoom teleconference/YouTube livestream, with more frequent smaller hearings
• Application reviews proceeding digitally and by phone

Department of Buildings (DOB)
Services that are modified:

See Service Notice Links below which outline DOB’s modified services to limit face-to-face interactions:

• Application Processing
• Administrative Enforcement Unit & Licensing Unit
• Full Demolition and Site Safety Plans
• Enforcement
• Appointments for Standard Plan BIS Jobs
• Façade Inspection & Safety Program
• Cranes & Derricks/eFiling Authentication/Limited Alteration Applications/Local Law Enforcement/Permit Renewals

Department of City Planning (DCP)
Service suspensions:

• ULURP and other land use processes suspended
• CPC hearings suspended for now.
• Application filing by appointment only

Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)
Service suspensions:

• Civil Service exams have been suspended until late April

Civic Engagement Commission (CEC)
Services that are being modified to happen online/by phone only:

• CEC Commissioners meeting to vote on final methodology will be held as a phone call, rather than in person, in accordance with Governor’s temporary suspension of Open Meetings Law.

Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB)
Service reduction:

• Walk-in complaint intake: While in-person intake is suspended as of 3/23/20, intake will continue by all other means.
• Outreach is limited due to restrictions on public gatherings affect primary outlets. The agency continues outreach operations by electronic means.

Service cancellations:

• In-person mediations are postponed as of March 16, 2020.

Office of the City Clerk
Service Suspension:

• All offices of the City Clerk – including the NYC Marriage Bureau – will be closed until further notice

Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
Services that are being modified to happen online/by phone only:

• Process License Applications
• Free Financial Counseling

Service suspensions:

• Free Tax Preparation
• Collections for fines and fees owed
• Settlements for violations
• Enforcement (outside of price gouging)

Department of Corrections (DOC)
Service reductions:

• Records Room, the Shield Room (responsible for issuing Shields and Legal Passes) has limited hours.
• DOC’s Application Investigation Division has postponed conducting candidate psychological and medical exams.
• Training/Academy has curtailed 75% of training activity thru the Training and Development operation.

Service cancellations:

• Contract and volunteer in-person programs are suspended but are being transitioned to remote methods to the greatest extent feasible; other modifications made to the provision of programming by DOC staff to increase social distancing.

Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA)
Service suspensions:

• Shopping, donation drop-offs, and public events at the Materials for the Arts warehouse in Long Island City have been cancelled until further notice.

Department of Design and Construction (DDC)
Service suspensions:

• Construction projects requiring residential water shut down limited to emergencies only

Department of Finance (DOF)
Service suspensions:

• In-person business tax conciliation hearings suspended
• Field visits to taxpayers by auditors suspended
• Tax mapping services suspended
• In-person parking ticket hearings are suspended through April 19, 2020.

Fire Department New York (FDNY)
Service disruption:

• FDNY Business will be undergoing maintenance and unavailable  between 9 am – 4pm on Saturday April 4, 2020.

Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)
Service suspensions:

• HPD Section 8 Customer Service Office at 100 Gold Street is closed & Enforcement and Neighborhood Services Borough Office Walk-In Centers are closed. Customer assistance is available through email, phone, fax.
• HPD’s inspectors are only inspecting hazardous violations for heat, hot water, and other dire conditions. HPD will log non-emergency housing complaints and schedule when regular inspections resume. HQS inspection for vacant Section 8 units should resume next week.
• Supportive housing placements are delayed due to a process that is not adaptable to current conditions (paper applications, in person briefings, and unit inspections). HPD is working to adapt this process.
• Affordable housing projects may be delayed due to suspension of the ULURP Process

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Service suspensions:

• Grease and industrial inspections suspended
• Interior air/noise inspections suspended
• Maintaining and planting of stormwater rain gardens suspended

City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR)
Service suspensions:

• In-person workshops and outreach, especially school and community based programming.

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
Service reductions:

• Birth/death certificates (mostly remote, exceptions for emergency request, burial desk open in Manhattan)
• Sexual health clinics (only Chelsea open, emergency appointments only)
• TB clinic (only Ft. Greene open, all others closed)
• Food Service Establishment inspections (remote, response to complaints only)
• Poison Control Center (transitioning to remote this week)
• Childcare enforcement (remote; response to complaints)

Service suspensions:

• Health Immunization Clinics
• Dog license processing

NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H)
Service reductions:

• Medical-legal services (provided telephonically)

Service suspensions:

• NYC Care outreach

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
Service reductions:

• We are only able to perform emergency work orders and are not able to respond to non-emergency work orders
• There will be no in-person rent collection.  Rent should be paid via mail, phone, MYNYCHA App and online through authorized banks.
• All planned heat, hot water and water outages are suspended until further notice, but special heating and elevator crews, and other emergency teams, continue to provide 24/7 coverage and repairs.
• NYCHA Senior Centers in-person programming is suspended but centers are serving as grab-and-go sites for seniors to pick up food
• Property Management Offices are open with reduced staff, but we have suspended direct-contact meetings and wednesday evening hours. Staff will continue to assist residents via telephone, email, and from behind the reception desk only.

Service suspensions:

• DYCD Community Centers are currently closed
• Postponed all in-person public meetings and events at NYCHA offices and developments for 30 days
• Brooklyn and Bronx Customer Contact Walk-in Centers are closed to the public until further notice
• Weekend maintenance blitzes have been suspended

New York City Housing Development Corporation
Service suspensions:

• In-person public hearings suspended – proceeding online
• Affordable Housing project closings and asset management functions proceeding digitall

Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA)
Current service slowdown:

• We Speak NYC –English language classes—shifting to remote
• Know Your Rights programming—shifting to remote
• NYC Care—outreach & enrollment paused per H&H

Services that are being modified to happen online/by phone only:

• IDNYC renewal

Service suspensions:

•  Immigrant information desks
• IDNYC new enrollment

Department of Investigation (D1OI)
Service cancellations:

• Appointments scheduled through April 6, 2020 for fingerprinting daycare workers have been cancelled
• In-person interviews of witnesses are suspended until further notice, except as required in investigations that may have an immediate impact on public health or safety.
• Background Interviews of applicants are suspended until further notice
• Anti-corruption lectures and trainings conducted by DOI personnel are suspended until further notice

Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC)
Service suspensions:

• In-person public hearings suspended. Will resume online in April
• Application reviews proceeding digitally, with new instructions to e-file

Law Department (Law)
Service cancellations:

• Representing City government in civil litigation matters, claims, and disputes, where such matters have been suspended by the courts, etc.
• The temporary closure of the Law Department’s Service of Process window (with service now being accepted by email).

Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD)
Services that are being modified to happen online/by phone only:

• Constituent Services: Intakes calls/visits from people with disabilities and connects them to appropriate City/non City resources.
• NYCATWORK: The program connects job seekers with disabilities to employment opportunities.
• ASL Direct: In-take calls through video relay programs from the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Community and connects them to City/ non City resources.
• Accessibility Waivers: If the Dept. of Buildings rejects architectural plans for a building due to an accessibility issue, a waiver may be obtained from MOPD. Architects submit the appropriate paperwork and MOPD makes a recommendation to DOB.
• Project Open House: Make minor home modifications/ add accessibility features so to allow people with disabilities to remain in their homes. For now, home visits are on hold.

Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME)
Service suspensions:

• All film permits are suspended until April 17, 2020 (or later), with an exception for news media

Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (OMWBE)
Services that are being modified to happen online/by phone only:

• All meetings internal/ operational and with the public (i.e. M/WBEs constituent inquiries)
• Interagency Coordination and Oversight
• Vendor Engagement and Management
• Trainings and workshops (via teleconferences)

Service suspensions:

• In-person meet and greets, trainings and workshops
• M/WBE networking events (i.e. – Citywide Procurement Fair

Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH)
Services that are being suspended:

• All in person hearings are suspended until at least April 13, 2020 due to the OATH offices being closed.

Services that are being modified:

• Due to in-person hearings being suspended, OATH is holding remote hearings, trials and conferences. Click here to learn more.
• OATH is accommodating all requests to   reschedule cases, and they will also be transitioning to providing the option of telephonic hearings for all cases.  Learn More
• OATH is accommodating all requests to beginning March 19th, 2020 OATH will be staying default judgements and will reschedule hearings.
• With respect to the  Trials Division, all trials that were scheduled between March 18, 2020 and April 17, 2020, with the exception of Krimstock Vehicle Seizure/Forfeitures, TLC Summary Suspensions, and TLC Drug Cases are adjourned to a later date.

Mayor’s Office of Operations (OPS)
Service cancellations:

• The Scorecard inspection program, which measures and reports on street and sidewalk cleanliness across the city’s five boroughs, has been postponed.
• The Street Conditions Observation Unit’s (SCOUT) operations have been postponed. The unit’s inspectors drive the city’s streets to check for  quality of life conditions and report their findings through 311.

Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)
Service suspensions:

• All permits suspended
• All concessions closed
• Solitary exercise only

Department of Records & Information Services (DORIS)
Services that are modified:

• Retrieval of city agency, court and district attorney files from storage by appointment only.
• Vital record and photograph copy requests fulfilled on-line only; mail-order and hard copy requests temporarily suspended.

Service Suspensions:

• The public reading rooms are closed until further notice.
• Public programs are suspended until further notice.

NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
Service suspensions:

• NYCEDC assets which have been deemed non-essential and services temporarily suspended include: Bush Terminal, National Lighthouse Museum, South Street Seaport, Staten Island 9/11 memorial, 125th street parking garage, Skyport garage, Staten Island Minor League Stadium.
• Graffiti Free NYC and CleaNYC programs are currently suspended.
• Cruise operations
• NYC Ferry operating on reduced schedule on weekday

Public Design Commission (PDC)
Services reductions:

• In-person commission meetings suspended – proceeding online via Zoom teleconference/YouTube livestream
• Application reviews proceeding digitally and by phone

Small Business Services (SBS)
Construction safety services that are likely moving to virtual:

• Catholic Charities Community Services Archdioces of NY
• New Immigrant Community Empowerment Inc.
• NY Committee for Occupational Safety & Health Inc – Day Laborers – Manhattan
• Staten Island Community Job Center, Inc- WDD
• Sustainable South Bronx, Inc.

Service suspensions:

• In-person workforce services are suspended; SBS is setting up the ability for people to connect with these services remotely.
• SBS is working to make Workforce1 Centers and Business Solutions Centers available remotely.

Department of Social Services (DSS)
Service reductions:

• Job and service centers where you can get cash assistance, Medicaid, and SNAP/food stamps been consolidated in each borough. For a full list of open and closed sites, click here.  All services also available online.
• Legal services (remote)
• Supportive housing applications (remote)
• Rental assistance (remote)
• Burial assistance (remote)
• Energy assistance (remote)
• Rapid rehousing (remote)

School Construction Authority (SCA)
Service reduction:

• Work has slowed/stalled in schools that are grab/go or RECs

Service cancellations:

• Some Real Estate functions are suspended due to suspensions of Council hearings and ULURP

Department of Sanitation (DSNY)
Current service slowdown:

• Refuse, recycling and organics collection may be delayed. Residents should continue placing material out for collection after 4PM the night before their scheduled collection day.

Service suspensions:

• Alternate Side Parking regulations have been suspended through Tuesday, March 31.
• Food Scrap Drop-off Sites
• Household Hazardous Waste:
• The spring SAFE events canceled.
• Special Waste Drop-off sites will be closed until further notice.
• Compost Giveback:
• Compost giveback events scheduled in April have been canceled.
• Electronics Recycling:
• Curbside electronics recycling appointments are not being accepted at this time.
• Pickup requests for RecycleNYC are not being accepted at this time.
• Textile Donation and Recycling:
• Pickup requests for refashionNYC are not being accepted at this time.
• Greenmarket clothing collections are suspended until further notice.

Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)
Service slowdown:

• Licensing office in Long Island City, Queens, remains open but capacity for in person visits has been reduced.
• Individuals with existing appointments will continue to be served.
• Walk-ins will be accepted for only driver’s license, decal and rate card replacements.

Department of Transportation (DOT)
Service suspensions:

• Sidewalk violation issuance
• Sidewalk repairs (except in emergencies)
• Parking permit issuance (except in emergency circumstances)
• Bus, pedestrian, and bike infrastructure (except in emergencies)
• Roadway milling and paving (except in emergencies)
• Traffic studies

Service reductions:

• Staten Island Ferry weekday service and weekend overnight service are moderately reduced

Department of Veteran Services (DVS)
Services that are being modified to happen online/by phone only:

• Funeral honors program
• Housing support services
• Constituent services: Providing critical support to at-risk veterans, such as housing, employment, veteran benefits, and general guidance on where to locate support resources

Service suspensions:

• DVS-sponsored events
• In-person community engagement at Veteran Resource Centers across the five boroughs
• Veteran Peer Coordinator’s operating at shelters across NYC

Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD)
Modified to meet DOHMH rec’s, including electronic doc submission and digital learning for participants and staggered work hours and telework for relevant staff:

• Summer Youth Employment Program
• Learn & Earn
• Train & Earn
• Advance & Earn

Limited services/hours:

• Runaway and Homeless Youth Drop-in Centers
• Runaway and Homeless Youth Street Outreach Services
• COMPASS Elementary (Non-Public Programs)

Service suspensions:

• Work, Learn & Grow
• COMPASS Elementary (School-based Programs)
• COMPASS SONYC (School-based Programs)
• COMPASS High School
• Beacon Community Centers
• Adolescent Literacy
• HS Education Support- Afterschool Programs

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to us at cahill-construction-division@cahillstrategies.com

Cahill Strategies is a construction solutions firm specializing in government and communications crisis problem solving.

NYC DOB Service Bulletins:

March 2020 – COVID-19 Response: Appointments for Standard Plan Review BIS Job Filings

Preventing and Remediating the Contamination of Germs on Construction Sites

Industry Notice – Recommended Best Practices for Dust Mitigation/Control in Occupied Buildings with Active Construction

Robert “Bobby” D’Alessio, is a former New York City Department of Buildings Senior Executive Director of Construction Safety. Mr. D’Alessio’s focus is predominately in the areas of construction code and safety analysis for our clients’ major new building and renovation projects in the New York City and surrounding regions.

As Cahill Strategies’ Construction Code and Safety Consultant, Bob brings an unparalleled level of knowledge and practical experience to our growing construction solutions practice area.

More about Bob D’Alessio…