Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governors Island

Mayor Michael Bloomberg led the groundbreaking ceremony for the first $260 million worth of developments on Governors Island today, the New York Times reported. The initial renovation phase of the increasingly trafficked island – visitors jumped to a half-million last year from 8,000 in 2005 – will add formal gardens, lawns, play areas and woodlands. But the bulk of the budget will be spent on much-needed infrastructure: repairing 2.2 miles of seawall, building a water-line to Brooklyn, demolishing 18 abandoned buildings and improving electrical and telecommunication facilities. [more]

From the May issue: With Mayor Michael Bloomberg nearing the end of his third (and final) term, it’s no surprise that many of his top aides have now caught a case of government fatigue and fled to the private sector. And a high percentage of those who’ve worked for the pro-development mayor have been tapped for jobs in the real estate industry.

While hiring a former administration official (or former City Council member) doesn’t get a real estate firm the keys to City Hall, it can provide valuable insight when it comes to navigating the ins and outs of government. [more]

From left: Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Seth Pinsky, president of the city's EDC

Despite having Mayor Michael Bloomberg — who is widely considered to be pro-development — leading New York City for the past 10 years, a top official in his administration says the city is “decades behind” the rest of the world in some construction practices.

“If you talk to people who do construction in places outside of New York, they will tell you that we are in some cases decades behind the rest of the world in the methodologies that we use,” said Seth Pinsky, president of the city’s Economic Development Corporation. [more]

Mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed a bill yesterday that aimed to increase the wages of maintenance workers in privately owned buildings that have business with the city, the New York Post reported. Bloomberg also said that he would also veto a separate living wage bill that the City Council is expected to pass. [more]

City Hall

For the second time in a year, the estimated cost of City Hall’s rehabilitation has increased by millions. According to the New York Post, Mayor Michael Bloomberg allocated an additional $25 million to the repair after workers said the cost would rise to nearly $150 million because of unforeseen structural damage. The previous $123.8 million estimate was already double what the city had once expected the renovations would cost. [more]

From left: Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a rendering of NYU 2031

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has voiced his support for the proposed NYU 2031 expansion plan for the first time yesterday, DNAinfo reported. He said, at an unrelated press conference, that growth is key to the university’s success. [more]

Jackson Heights

The US Census Bureau rejected the city’s appeal to redo the 2010 population count, costing it federal funding and representation, the New York Daily News reported. The Census Bureau counted the city’s population at 8.175 million, roughly 225,000 less than city officials believed it to be.

In a sharp critique that ultimately led to an official challenge filed last year, the Bloomberg administration said the problem stemmed from housing units in Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Jackson Heights and Astoria that were erroneously counted as vacant. [more]

From left: mayoral candidates Bill Thompson, Tom Allon and Gracie Mansion

Not only will the 2013 New York City election bring a new mayor to work in City Hall, it will also likely bring a new mayor to turn the Gracie Mansion property into a home again, the Wall Street Journal reported. [more]

From left: Deputy Mayor Robert Steel and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn

New York City officials are expanding a business program aimed at streamlining the process of opening a new restaurant to include the entire retail spectrum, officials announced today. The first step is the launch of a survey to collect information on obstacles that impede businesses opening in the city.

The program is based on the New Business Acceleration Team that Mayor Michael Bloomberg created in his 2010 State of the City speech. [more]

From left: EDC President Seth Pinsky and Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Now in its 20th year of existence, the city’s Economic Development Corp. has transcended simple real estate development and used its increased power to boost the New York City economy, according to Crain’s.

Initially formed to build structures for job creators and lure manufacturers to the city with tax incentives, the EDC has also begun to create new business incubators, training programs and venture funds for entrepreneurs. [more]