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www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 5 CITY VIEWS January 9, 2026 NY Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s Bill On Improving Housing Becomes Law By a StaffWriter N ewYork State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajku- mar announced January 5, 2026, that her legis- lation A357B has been signed into law. The bill sought to modernize NewYork’s laws on accessing neighboring properties for improve- ment and repairs. Now in effect, her law cuts red tape, kickstarts construction, and completes projects fast—al- lowing sidewalk sheds to come down faster—all while protecting the rights of neighboring property owners, a press release from her office said. The Assemblywoman’s bill aims to create a clear, predictable framework when property owners need tem- porary access to adjoining property to safely complete projects. In the dense urban environment that is the Big Apple, such projects can easily require access to ten or more neighboring lots. The new law clarifies notice re- quirements; defines common construction activities such as scaffolding, sidewalk sheds, and safety netting; and gives courts greater discretion to resolve access disputes efficiently, according to Rajkumar. At the same time as it shortens construction timelines and speeding up sidewalk shed removal, A357B strength- ens protections for adjoining property owners. The law requires reasonable prior notice, mandates insurance coverage, holds builders liable for any damage, and en- sures neighbors are reasonably compensated for any loss of use and enjoyment during construction. “Rajkumar’s bill will swiftly resolve the occasions where adjoining property owners refuse access or demand extortionary compensation,” the press release said. “Before her law, people seeking to performmuch- needed repairs or build affordable housing faced the difficult choice of lengthy and expensive legal wrangling in Supreme Court and hoping for a favorable outcome— during which time costs pile up and construction sites and sidewalk sheds lie fallow—or caving in to neighbors’ demands,” it noted. The delay in some cases, added $1 million in costs to construct a 250 unit affordable hous- ing development, and an additional $800,000 for a devel- opment with 40% affordable units, her office estimates. Assemblywoman Rajkumar said, “Good contracts make good neighbors, and now all neighbors will enjoy a fair, efficient, and transparent process when one needs access to the other’s property. My bill makes home and building repairs faster, safer, and easier for all NewYork- ers. It gets unsightly sidewalk sheds down and affordable housing up. This is a win for homeowners, tenants, and safer communities.” The Assemblywoman’s bill passed unanimously with the support of a host of stakeholders, including the Busi- ness Council of NewYork, the NewYork State Association for Affordable Housing, the Associated General Contrac- tors of NewYork State, the Building & Realty Institute of Westchester & the Mid-Hudson Region, and the Office of the Mayor. PHOTO:OFFICE OF ASSEMBLYWOMAN RAJKUMAR NY Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar. Dr. Hari Shukla Receives Key To The City Of New York For Global Impact On Pediatric Medicine D r. Hari Shukla, a pioneering pediatric physician and longtime advocate for children and immi- grant communities, was awarded the Key to the City of NewYork on ec. 29, 2025, during a ceremony hosted by Mayor Eric Adams at City Hall. The event took place in the historic Blue Room in Lower Manhattan, where the mayor praised Shukla’s decades-long impact on medicine, particularly in pedi- atric and neonatal care. “I want to first start with Dr. Shukla,” Adams said in his remarks. “He’s a titan in medicine, a man whose work has changed medical science across the entire globe. Every child that you save goes on to have families and contribute to our society. You have helped shape the future of the hu- man race, and I cannot thank you enough for helping our children.” Adams also highlighted Shukla’s community leadership, citing his work through South Asians of NewYork Inc. and the New American Voters Association, two nonprofit organizations focused on civic engagement and advocacy within the South Asian American community. Shukla, an Indian American physician, professor and humanitarian, has spent more than four decades in pediatrics. He is triple board-certified in pediatrics, neonatal-perinatal medicine and forensic medicine, and serves as a clinical associ- ate professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Over the course of his career, he has trained more than 300 medical resi- dents and contributed to advancements in neonatal care that are used worldwide. One of Shukla’s most influential contributions is his 1986 research on the umbilical catheter equation, published in a journal of the American Medical Asso- ciation. The equation is now widely used in hospitals across the United States and internationally. Medical experts estimate that more than 400 million critically ill infants globally have benefited from cath- eter placements guided by Shukla’s work. The research remains freely accessible to clinicians. In 1987, Shukla became one of the first physicians in the United States — and the first of Indian origin globally — to use surfactant therapy in premature infants, a treatment that is now a standard of care worldwide. He has also received recogni- tion from Pasteur Mérieux Connaught, a polio vaccine manufacturer, for his com- mitment to polio eradication efforts. The Key to the City is NewYork City’s highest municipal honor. With this rec- ognition, Shukla becomes the first Indian American physician to receive the award. The honor adds to a growing list of accolades. In 2025, Shukla became the first South Asian physician to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the president of the United States. In 2024, he was awarded NewYork State’s high- est civilian honor, the Liberty Award. He has also been recognized by multiple governors, including NewYork Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, and former Gujarat Gov. K.K. Viswanathan. Photographs from the ceremony were taken by Onik Rahman. By a StaffWriter PHOTOS:courtesyDr.Shukla New York City Mayor Eric Adams presents the Key to the City to Dr. Hari Shukla during a ceremony at City Hall in Lower Manhattan on Dec. 29, 2025, as Dr. Shukla’s wife, Kirti Shukla, looks on. Dr. Hari Shukla speaks from the podium during a ceremony honoring him with the Key to the City at New York City Hall in Lower Manhattan on Dec. 29, 2025.