iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 11h

Come to this @citylimitsnews.bsky.social story for the map, stay for a sneaky important point: if the fast track works as hoped, it could cut into the city's residential segregation. buff.ly/44zJqqJ

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 24/09/2026

I was asleep when this story published at 5am, but the Neal family was up, beginning their journey to work and school. They are one of thousands of families in shelter that commute to school from outside their home borough, disrupting their health and education. citylimits.org/for-some-kid...

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 18/09/2026

Big week for cute locator maps @citylimitsnews.bsky.social 1. New public restrooms pilot (& their tech-forward electronic/phone entry, which may pose barriers to homeless NYers using them) 2. The proposed "Bay Ridge Triangle" rezoning, advanced b/c of the affordable hsg "fast track" 🔗 👇️

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 16/09/2026

A judge ordered discovery in landlords' rent freeze lawsuit against the Rent Guidelines Board, looking for a smoking gun. The judge admits the rarity of compelling the gov to do discovery in an article 78 case, and compels admin to turn over any communications b/w City Hall and RGB. Key parts:

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 15/09/2026

Bay Ridge Councilmember is proposing a rezoning, expecting to be on the new voter-approved "fast track" which will see affordable housing projects bypass city council review until they build more affordable housing in their neighborhood. "the only way out is to build our way out" buff.ly/8QHiVCc

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 04/09/2026

Tenants nervously watched as their rent-stabilized buildings were auctioned off Wednesday. The winning bid came from a small-town NJ mayor who says he will work with the tenants to help them own the 88 apts as a cooperative. Inside the auction room w/ @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/KBV0WvX

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 24/08/2026

A new acronym has entered the lexicon. NYC's new housing voucher is called CHAP (City Housing Assistance Program). Read @citylimitsnews.bsky.social for deets on who will be newly eligible in January and the big catch: the vouchers will be hard capped at around 5k, with a waitlist. buff.ly/vbW2Sd5

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 20/08/2026

How difficult is it going to be to get NYC neighborhoods to build more? New targets ask for 5,000 new units in Mid-Island Staten by 2030, but the local rep said the plan was "not worth the paper it's printed on." See the 55 of 59 community boards behind schedule in my map: buff.ly/QMOjnQ5

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 11/08/2026

In a building that was once a prison, recently incarcerated homeless men are reentering society and seeking permanent housing. There they find second chances and a "quiet, discreet hope." My latest for @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/xoV64Ey

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 22/07/2026

NEW: The Mamdani administration is getting involved in another rent stabilized real estate auction, backing a buyer for 887 units in 39 East Harlem buildings. It's a test of the new housing plan, which vows to steward housing from bad landlords into community hands. buff.ly/o65UBjE

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 21/07/2026

New entries include "Micromobility" and "Sustainability" new: www.nyc.gov/assets/plann... old: chpcny.org/wp-content/u...

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 21/07/2026

Big news for nerds: The Department of City Planning updated their city planning children's book (original was put out by the LaGuardia administration in 1937) They are giving them away at upcoming Summer Streets events across the boroughs.

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 21/07/2026

NEW: A judge will consider if the city discriminated by placing a trans woman in shelters with men, leading to her alleged assault. NYC has progressive LGBT policies but “there is a significant breakdown to the point at which the policies are just written pieces of paper” buff.ly/35x8k1b

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 13/07/2026

NYC's latest parking vs. housing fight is playing out at these affordable East Village coops, where residents are weighing how to get money they need to repair their buildings. “I don’t believe we should be fighting for parking when there’s so much homelessness” buff.ly/GxxqFCZ

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 02/07/2026

Pre-holiday weekend news dump from DSS... the 2026 unsheltered homeless count in NYC, 4,991, is the highest since the count started in 2005. Just 3.5% of NYC's homeless are unsheltered. This year's survey was conducted in March, rather than January, because of the cold spell.

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 02/07/2026

Court records confirm State Judiciary Chair Luis Sepúlveda complained about a judge on one of his housing court cases to Court Administration. Sepulveda is trying to resuscitate the case after the Judge ruled for the landlord when Sepúlveda failed to show. Now he recuses himself

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 01/07/2026

After fighting two different mayoral administrations to stay open, Mainchance drop-in in Midtown East closed its doors yesterday after 30 years. Some Manhattan electeds worry it will leave a gap in the homeless network, but DHS is not backing down. Story @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/U8U6ziT

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 29/06/2026

Disagreement on that is why there’s no deal yet. Some of the progressives had told me the police budget Friday, which is probably a non starter for menin and maybe Zo as well. Politico has the most up to date:

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 29/06/2026

On IG, housing chair @pisancheznyc.bsky.social says there are 29 councilmembers holding out for a deal that funds CityFheps.

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 26/06/2026

The always excellent Adi Talwar captured the tension and joy at last night’s historic rent guidelines board meeting: citylimits.org/photos-scene...

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 17/06/2026

Frustrations are mounting over the long-delayed CityFHEPS expansion, which was missing from the Mayor and Council's budget proposals. Some progressive councilmembers are threatening a "no" if there is not significant funding for the voucher program. New @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/J8onUA8

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 12/06/2026

Must-see scenes at Thursday's RGB hearing, where the usually raucus tenant crowd was met by zombies (actors in makeup paid by landlords) who warned that a rent freeze would mean more undead vacant apartments. The board votes 6/25 citylimits.org/tenants-land...

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 09/06/2026

Backed by the Mamdani admin, Pinnacle tenants are fighting to hold their new owner to repair promises they made when they bought the buildings @ auction. They say the pressure & a one-of-a-kind relationship w City Hall secured forgiveness for rent debt. @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/UOyKybW

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 27/05/2026

The NYC agency that enforces housing & labor discrimination laws is taking a cut in Mamdani's budget. While he promised no cuts, the budget's vacancy reduction savings hits the already-slim agency particularly hard-just as they had hoped to staff up. Story @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/AesEvtG

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 26/05/2026

“Starting October 1st of this year inspectors will investigate every single heat complaint the city receives.” The city had overlooked tens of thousands of heat complaints during the winter cold spell, directly addressing an April @citylimitsnews.bsky.social investigation.

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 26/05/2026

This winter I reported how the city's response to heat complaints left 10s of thousands of calls unanswered. In his housing plan this AM, Mamdani announced that they would stop duplicating heat complaints, as part of broader legislative code reform. In @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/Z3AI6yV

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 14/05/2026

250 shelter beds lost from Bellevue shelter’s closure will be replaced in Brooklyn hotels, I report in @citylimitsnews.bsky.social this morning. Hotel conversions are no ideal solution and local community boards quibble with the process-but the city says they need the capacity. l1nq.com/2rn503u

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 12/05/2026

Mayor says that the executive budget accounts for CityFHEPS program (and some expected savings) as it exists today and DOES NOT include a potential expansion tied up in court. "Conversations continue" with the council around expansion, he says.

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 11/05/2026

Knocked on many doors and pored over at many documents to figure out who exactly is getting their homes flipped and who is flipping them? My @citylimitsnews.bsky.social story on the trend that is making homeownership feel even more out of reach & is prevalent in Black neighborhoods buff.ly/WNtxt93

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 23/04/2026

The city will close another Midtown homeless facility, Mainchance Drop-in, in June. Mainchance fought off closure in court 2 years ago under Mayor Adams. This time, DHS alleges the drop-in breached their contract by turning people away. The center has vowed to fight again. buff.ly/vJPe48D

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 22/04/2026

First in @citylimitsnews.bsky.social: The mayor will announce a $2.4 B commitment to add heat pumps to 20k NYCHA apartments, 10k gas stoves, and 45k with efficient lighting and plumbing. But there’s $1.2B of funding yet to be identified amid budget uncertainty->

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 16/04/2026

Should families have to prove they are homeless in order to access services? A new Council bill would make DHS take them at their word. In @citylimitsnews.bsky.social I dive into why city "fraud investigators" assess a family's eligibility for shelter-and whether it's necessary. buff.ly/RiL7QJq

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 10/04/2026

And here's what the admin themselves counts as their accomplishments on housing, from a press release today:

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 08/04/2026

It was a scene in housing court Monday. Attorneys told me it was sloppy work that--if they did it--might get them fired After one judge ruled against the frustrated senator last month, the judge abruptly resigned, only to appear back on the bench earlier this week. buff.ly/m4dgx37

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 08/04/2026

State Sen. Luis Sepúlveda-who chairs the NY Sen. judiciary committee-has no-showed court appearances in 4/5 recent eviction defense cases he's argued, frustrating judges and risking his client's eviction. My scoop in @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/m4dgx37

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 06/04/2026

The mayor is doing a Reddit AMA for tenants this afternoon at 1:45. Comments and questions are already pouring in. www.reddit.com/r/nyc/s/nYmg...

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 02/04/2026

Ever called 311 because you didn't have heat? Did your complaint go nowhere? I traced what actually happens to 311 complaints about heat and hot water issues, which are at all time high in NYC. Only a small fraction get an inspection or result in a violation.

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 01/04/2026

During the winter cold spell, when the city's housing agency received a record number of complaints of no heat or hot water, over half of them were tagged as duplicates and were closed out without direct follow up. buff.ly/gpAKiTx

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 01/04/2026

For lack of heat, it doesn’t just feel like tenants’ complaints are going unanswered; in some cases, they actually are. My @citylimitsnews.bsky.social investigation on how a duplicate-tagging system shortchanges some tenants to maximize efficiency + what the mayor might do about it buff.ly/gpAKiTx

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 26/03/2026

First look at this years income and expense data from the Rent Guidelines Board, which will shape debate on the “rent freeze” the mayor has called for

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 25/03/2026

The Mamdani admin was forced to appeal in the CityFHEPS case after they were unable to strike a deal on an expensive program expansion, the latest development in a long fight. in @citylimitsnews.bsky.social both sides say they expect negotiations on a compromise to continue. buff.ly/ut7mylq

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 25/03/2026

In @citylimitsnews.bsky.social: Joseph Jones says his landlord is retaliating against tenants with vouchers who spoke up about the prohibitively high cost of amenities in his building. After he did, they removed all the furniture from the lobby-the one place they could hang for free buff.ly/PBrdPGs

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 25/03/2026

Crazy graph in today's piece on wild gas bills in NYC this winter in @citylimitsnews.bsky.social $340 average gas bill in February! buff.ly/tt69t1m

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 24/03/2026

Some market tenants in mixed-income buildings are getting amenity fees waived while lottery & voucher tenants say they are priced prohibitively high. My follow up on how amenity fees create income-segregated spaces, a new sort of "poor door" in @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/PBrdPGs

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 23/03/2026

Hit the streets & talked to homeless NYrs & advocates about the Mamdani admin's approach to homeless encampments, which it says centers outreach. Much skepticism remains--it's not outreach but having the right housing placement that makes a difference. w/@jeanmarieevelly.bsky.social buff.ly/4rMR3KI

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 11/03/2026

Mamdani wants to build Mitchell-Lama style aff hsg at Sunnyside. But the city's existing Mitchell-Lamas are in tough shape, a new report finds. Exactly how its governed is fraught, and tenants often pay the price of poor conditions. In @citylimitsnews.bsky.social buff.ly/PYbJ5An

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 09/03/2026

Housing leaders are previewing city housing plan @thenyhc.bsky.social. It has 4 pillars: preservation, production, NYCHA, and tenant protection. On the last, HPD boss Dina Levy says small group of bad LL has been torturing tenants “it’s time we put professional slumlords out of business.”

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 06/03/2026

Skepticism of Mamdani's street sweeps plan. 7 days of daily outreach seems unlikely to move the needle on getting someone into housing. But the right housing placement might.

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 06/03/2026

Park thinks any compromise on the CityFHEPS expansion needs to be targeted at those most likely to use the city's homeless services---not people at risk of eviction.

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Patrick Spauster @patrickspauster.com · 06/03/2026

The agency placed more people than ever before in permanent housing through the city's housing voucher program - which Park says should primarily be used to reduce the number of people in shelter to be fiscally viable.

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