It's up to neighbors to make sure city's new plantings survive hot summers and other cruelties of urban life ⧸ Full Story

The New York World has teamed up with Public Insight Network to deepen our reporting by putting questions to readers. We want to learn how newly planted trees are faring in your neighborhood. ⧸ Full Story

596 Acres identifies hundreds of vacant lots as prime sites for community gardens ⧸ Full Story

You might notice more schoolchildren running around today, thanks to this little-known holiday. Here's the story behind it. ⧸ Full Story

For some New Yorkers, the official opening of the city’s beaches is the most anticipated part of Memorial Day Weekend. But the miles of sandy surf can’t always be taken for granted. Shutdowns for pollution are a regular feature of urban beachgoing, like last year, when at the height of summer a fire at a Manhattan… ⧸ Full Story

At the end of this month, the Taxi and Limousine Commission will consider a taxi fare hike of up to 20 percent. It would be the first fare increase since 2004. But it’s not a done deal yet. We want to know: How does the TLC decide to increase taxi fares? If you have information or insight… ⧸ Full Story

Today, the City Council is expected to pass the Responsible Banking Act, which would require banks to report to a new board within the New York City Department of Finance about how they are meeting the credit needs of the city’s lower-income neighborhoods. The city would then be required to consider the information when deciding… ⧸ Full Story

Ministry of Christian Renovation has brought thousands of men from Puerto Rico to New York, for treatment that relies on prayer and welfare funds ⧸ Full Story

End to federal stimulus leaves city budget short of funds for child care and other services ⧸ Full Story

In New York City, the Rent Guidelines Board determines maximum rent hikes for about 1 million rent stabilized apartments. Tomorrow, the board will hold a preliminary vote on the next round of increases. We want to know: How does the Rent Guidelines Board calculate what landlords can charge their tenants? If you have information or… ⧸ Full Story

A 2010 state law allowing conversions of Brooklyn and Queens industrial spaces runs into court challenges ⧸ Full Story

Mayor Michael Bloomberg will introduce a bill that would require residential building owners to come up with rules for where people can or cannot smoke and to disclose such information to future tenants. While it does not ban smoking in residential buildings, groups on both sides of the issue see the proposal as a move towards… ⧸ Full Story

Today, the Siena Research Institute released a poll showing that Gov. Cuomo’s favorability rating is at an all-time high, with more than 70 percent of New Yorkers approving of his performance. These polls are often the way politicians gauge their relationship with voters and a powerful tool for the public to voice its views on… ⧸ Full Story

Using details on recent real estate sales, we calculate the value to developers of the public plazas on their property ⧸ Full Story

Earlier this month, the New York State Senate and Assembly reached a deal with Gov. Andrew Cuomo in which they pledged to introduce a constitutional amendment that would create an independent commission to draw future legislative districts. Gov. Cuomo declared, “This agreement will permanently reform the redistricting process in New York to once and for… ⧸ Full Story

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced last week it will launch a rebate program next year to encourage New Yorkers to replace about 800,000 toilets and replace them with basins that use significantly less water per flush. For each toilet replaced, the city will pay a $125 incentive. The city is… ⧸ Full Story

A Swedish company may install a system of vacuum-operated tubes to collect garbage in certain areas of the city, according to Forbes. Private developers, neighborhood groups and other agencies have expressed an interest in using these garbage vacuums near Chelsea, in Manhattan, and underneath the Coney Island boardwalk or the High Line. The vacuum system… ⧸ Full Story

Yesterday the City Council held its first in its annual series of hearings about the preliminary budget for New York City. These meetings are a chance for council members to question agency heads and allow community members to comment. While the Mayor is ultimately the one who approves the city’s budget, he needs the support… ⧸ Full Story

Last week, North Brooklyn parents and community leaders filed a lawsuit against Success Charter Network and the city Department of Education, alleging that the organization had conducted insufficient community outreach for a proposed charter school in Williamsburg in violation of state law. Officials from the charter school network said they gathered 1,400 signatures of parents… ⧸ Full Story

How many New York City workers earn minimum wage? A bill backed by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver would increase the minimum wage in New York from $7.25 to $8.50, The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports this morning. The state last hiked the minimum wage hike in 2009. Since then, the number of minimum wage… ⧸ Full Story