Contact: Ross Sandler, Professor
of Law and Director, Center for New York City Law,
212.431.2869, rsandler@nyls.edu, www.citylaw.org
Jim
Hellegaard, New York Law School Public Affairs, 212.431.2191, jhellegaard@nyls.edu
New York, NY, June 19, 2003-In partnership
with the Center for New York City Law at New York Law School, the New York City
Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) announced today that all of BSA's decisions
beginning in January 2003 are now available online at www.citylaw.org. Moving
forward, all agency decisions will be added monthly and a link to the Center's
Web site will be available on the BSA website on www.nyc.gov.
"The Center for New York City Law's online
library of New York City decisions is the first and only searchable, comprehensive
online database that allows visitors to search and read agency decisions free
of charge," said Ross Sandler, Director of the Center for New York City
Law. "Adding BSA decisions provides an important service as the decisions
have precedential value and shape the landscape of the city."
Created as part of the City's system for regulation
of land use, development and construction, the Board of Standards and Appeals
hears and decides appeals from property owners whose applications to construct
or alter buildings or establish new uses have been denied as contrary to law
by the enforcement agencies - the Department of Buildings, the Fire Department
and the Department of Business Services. In such instances, the City Charter
confers the power on the Board to interpret the meaning or applicability of
the provisions of the Building Code, Fire Code, Multiple Dwelling Law, Labor
Law and the New York City Zoning Resolution, and it is given the power, in certain
cases, to vary these regulations for specific sites or projects.
This broad range of powers brings before the
Board a large number of issues that affect the development of the City and the
effectiveness of its building safety regulations. Among the functions of the
Board which is most visible is its zoning power, particularly its power to grant
variances and special permits, which cases are frequently of vital interest
to Community Boards, civic organizations and neighborhood residents. The Board
meets regularly in public review session and to hold public hearings and vote
on applications as described above. All of the Board's Resolutions are available
on the Web site beginning in 2003 and are posted as issued.
BSA joins seven other government agencies that
make their administrative decisions available on the Center for New York City
Law web site including:
- Department of Consumer Affairs (decisions
dating back to January 1, 2003)
- Tax Appeals Tribunal (decisions dating
back to 1995)
- Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings
(opinions dating back to 1978)
- Office of Collective Bargaining (decisions
dating back to 1968)
- Conflicts of Interest Board (advisory
opinions and enforcement actions dating back to 1989)
- Commission on Human Rights (decisions
dating back to 1995)
- Loft Board (decisions dating back to 1996)
ABOUT CENTER FOR NEW YORK CITY LAW:
Founded in 1993, the Center for New York City
Law publishes CityLaw, a bi-monthly journal reporting New York City legal and
administrative decisions, and CityRegs, a bi-weekly newsletter on new and proposed
city regulations. The Center's Web site, www.citylaw.org, makes available city
administrative decisions from seven agencies: Tax Appeals Tribunal, Office of
Administrative Trials and Hearings, Office of Collective Bargaining, Conflicts
of Interest Board, Commission on Human Rights, Department of Consumer Affairs,
and the Loft Board. The Center's Director, Professor Ross Sandler, is former
Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. New York Law
School, old.nyls.edu, is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United
States. Located near the centers of law, government, and finance in Manhattan's
TriBeCa district, New York Law School enrolls 1,400 students in its day and
evening divisions.
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