Applications accepted on a rolling basis until September 9, 2024.
Read below to apply for the Legal Policy Fellowship. Learn more about all four available Untaped fellowships here.
Project Overview
Untaped is a coalition-based project that looks at the regulatory barriers that are severely limiting New York organizations’ ability to activate the public realm and unlock community-based resources for all New Yorkers. The project will make the legal, economic, and social case for reducing these barriers with precise and well-researched model policies and recommendations. It will be led by the Design Trust for Public Space, in partnership with enterprise partners City Parks Foundation and the Trust for Public Land; and community-based partners Uptown Grand Central, the Brownsville Community Justice Center, the Point CDC, Queensboro Dance Festival, Alice Austen House, four Project Fellows, and an expansive network of public space producers.
Recently, New York City has made major efforts to create more public spaces and expand definitions of “public” assets. Open streets, sidewalk cafes, and outdoor concerts are just a few examples of creative community uses for the public realm, but access is still limited and extremely complicated, especially in underfunded neighborhoods lacking in volunteer organizers or without a Business Improvement District (BID) advocating for resources.
From hosting simple block parties to planning a performance in the park, community organizations and neighbors face an unwieldy maze of permitting and insurance requirements to use their communal spaces freely. In some cases, nearly seven city agencies are required to sign off on the permitting for one event, each with their own complicated processes.
Untaped recognizes the potential of public spaces as vibrant venues for the arts, local culture, education, culinary experiences, and more, seeking to make NYC’s shared spaces more open and inclusive. Through research and analysis of the challenges that community organizations, BIDs, and parks groups face in using public space, Untaped will propose policy reform recommendations that streamline permitting and insurance requirements and create new centralized public space activation resources.
This project, grounded in the learnings and coalitions built as part of Design Trust’s Turnout NYC and Neighborhood Commons initiatives, will identify and acknowledge the reasons why cities like New York have created red tape, such as the dramatic rise—and expense—of tort litigation and the expanded use of public-private partnerships. It will balance this understanding with an economic analysis of the missed opportunity costs faced every year by limited public programming, especially in underserved neighborhoods.
As a Design Trust Fellow, participants will serve as leaders of the project, using their professional and personal expertise to ensure the most positive outcome. Additionally, each Fellow will be tasked with specific tasks relative to their skillset. The overall inputs for the project include:
Research
Investigate and catalog regulatory processes related to insurance and permitting in the NYC Parks and SAPO system. Follow at least three, differently scaled, public space producers on their journey to receiving permits from varying agencies. Create a user journey map with associated pain-points and opportunities for improvements.
Identify existing research from peer-reviewed, industry, and professional sources in New York City and around the country on best practices for insurance and indemnity. Review the distinct models of indemnity in New York, such as revocable consents, license agreements, and concessions.
Within the Trust for Public Land’s national communities of practice, a city learning network, conduct a thorough analysis of how peer cities address issues such as liability, permitting, and maintenance. This benchmarking study of at least six cities will highlight best practices for New York and become an important, nationally publicized report.
Partner-Based Analysis
Shadow partner organizations, with a range of geographies, sectors, experiences, and sizes. Story-map their journey of identifying insurance, gathering permits, and securing resources.
Convene at least three focus groups of stakeholders. These will include a regulatory one with the City Law Department, Comptroller, and the Mayor’s Office; an agency one with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Cultural Affairs, SAPO, Small Business Services, and others; and community arts and place-based organizations of varying types. In these forums, gather insights as to the pain-points, workarounds, and opportunities perceived to be on the table.
At the end of this project, Fellows will deliver:
Socio-Economic Impact Statement (S-EIS)
Create a socio-economic impact statement about public space activation that establishes the direct social, economic, and community health loss of curtailed public programming and the additional indirect benefits to community that would have accrued based on that programming. Compare this annual settlement and legal outlays that come as a direct result of permitting and liability complexities.
Test additional value capture metrics that include non-traditional indicators such as health, joy, and or safety.
Final Recommendations
Model policies will be created with varying degrees of specificity to cut red tape in New York City’s public realm.
A final publication will also be created that includes the research, the final Economic Impact Statement, and the final recommendation.
Prototype a more streamlined digital user-experience could improve clarity and ease of securing permits and other required approvals.
Fellowship Overview
What is a Design Trust Fellow? A design-thinker. An instigator. A collaborator. And a champion of our values:
The cultural and democratic life of the city depends on viable public space.
Design excellence is the minimum requirement for all public space.
Social justice and environmental sustainability must guide public space design.
Rigorous engagement with all stakeholders plays a determining role in the quality of public space.
Cross-sector partnerships are vital to achieving and sustaining long-term change.
Design Trust Fellows are leading professionals in their field or dedicated community advocates and are chosen for their talent, expertise, experience, and strong qualifications. Fellows must have demonstrated the ability to work independently and collaboratively and have direct experience producing deliverables similar to those stated in the Fellow Description. Fellows do not need to meet exact qualifications; however, they must show a willingness to explore topics outside of their previous work and demonstrate an interest and excitement for the project focus.
If chosen, the Fellow would join a network of over 100 Fellows from past Design Trust projects. Fellows will have the chance to build these relationships through participation in quarterly Fellows Forum salons tackling varying design issues in the City. The Design Trust’s strong local ties with many types of designers and urbanists in New York make this position ideal for someone looking to expand their professional network or thinking about making a career change in New York City.
The Design Trust process is open and collaborative. Fellows must work effectively with one another, the project partners, Design Trust staff, and community stakeholders. Fellows bring their skills and expertise to bear on the project, developing innovative responses to the City’s most vexing challenges, and pushing for creative thinking. With Design Trust, project partner, and community stakeholders, Fellows create unique design solutions that generate systemic or policy change for New York City’s public space.
Design Trust projects require significant time commitments from Fellows to work with multiple stakeholders, develop implementable strategies and recommendations, and produce final deliverables. The expectation is that Fellows will devote approximately 1 – 2 days per week to the project, for an approximate 12 - 18 month period beginning in October 2024. The Fellows' stipends are $15,000 each for the completed project work.
Eligibility: Firm principals and sole proprietors are encouraged to apply with the understanding that the fellowship is time intensive and the compensation is modest. Professionals with full-time positions may apply if they have the support of their employers; recognition of firms as sponsors of the project can be arranged. Students are not eligible to apply, except for Ph.D. candidates who meet the fellowship requirements. All applicants must, at the time of their application, have the legal ability to work in the United States and must reside in the New York City area for participation in project meetings and events. Design Trust encourages people of all abilities, ethnicities, genders, national origins or ancestries, races, religions, and sexualities to apply. Design Trust is also committed to accessibility and to working together with you to develop an accessibility plan.
Fellowship Description: Legal Policy Fellow
This individual will evaluate and analyze the legal issues responsible for liability and permitting requirements, especially those that pose burdens to small and medium-sized organizations. They will be able to analyze legal and governance models and conceptualize alternative, achievable solutions for policies set by the City’s Law Department and others.
Investigate and catalog regulatory processes related to insurance and permitting in the NYC Parks and SAPO system.
Identify existing research from peer-reviewed, industry, and professional sources in New York City and around the country on best practices for insurance and indemnity.
Review the distinct models of indemnity in New York, such as revocable consents, license agreements, and concessions.
Convene focus groups of stakeholders - These will include a regulatory one with the City Law Department, Comptroller, and the Mayor’s Office. In these forums, gather insights as to the pain-points, workarounds, and opportunities perceived to be on the table.
Assist the team of Fellows with stakeholder interviews and research as needed.
Create models for alternative approaches towards insurance and permitting, ranging from simple process reforms to new legal structures.
Work with the other Fellows to write and produce a final publication that features the consolidated recommendations and outcomes.
Candidates should have relevant work experience and/or a degree in public policy, governance, law, or a related field. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience working with city government. Additionally, candidates should have significant experience writing about complex issues for a broad public audience; working directly with and presenting to clients; working on collaborative projects or in teams
Fellowship Benefits
Design Trust Fellows receive benefits that advance their immediate and long-term career growth. Participation in a Design Trust project gives Fellows the opportunity to explore an urban issue in-depth and make a tangible effect on New York City’s public realm. Additional benefits include:
Introductions to and opportunities for significant engagement with policymakers, community leaders, and professionals from other disciplines
An honorarium of $15,000 for the full project work
Participation in speaking engagements associated with the project or related topic (both Design Trust events and programs organized by peer organizations)
Opportunities for recognition in local and national media coverage of the project
Credit as a Design Trust Fellow for life, including:
Recognition on the Design Trust website with biographic information and the opportunity to highlight awards and latest news.
Inclusion of professional milestones in the Design Trust newsletter
Invitation to Fellows Forum events
Honorary Membership in Design Trust Council, the leadership circle of the Design Trust for Public Space, for a year, including invitations to Design Trust Council events. For more information: https://www.designtrust.org/programs/dt-council/
How to Apply
Candidates should send an email with the name of the fellowship they’re applying for in the subject line and a single PDF attached (maximum of 10 pages and 5 MB), including a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and a sample of relevant work (writing, publications, links to digital work, etc.) to fellowship@designtrust.org.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until September 9 at 11:59pm.
Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. Please note: candidates under consideration will be contacted by e-mail. No phone calls to Design Trust, please.
Selected applicants should be available to begin work in October 2024 and remain available part-time through December 2025.