At Bell Environmental, performance has always been built on substance I recently borrowed Lady Gaga for an unusual lesson about transportation. In “Transportation Has Entered Its Gaga Era”, I looked at something that has become increasingly noticeable after four years of writing the BOMA Transportation Report. Transportation agencies have discovered personality. New Jersey's clever highway
Bird flu has faded somewhat from the headlines, but it has not disappeared. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called H5N1 or bird flu, continues to circulate among wild birds in the United States and around the world. For property managers, that deserves attention—but not panic. The CDC continues to describe the risk to the general
The costume only works if you can sing. For four years, the BOMA Transportation Report (September 2026 BOMA Transportation Report versions are here: New Jersey Edition - BOMA Transportation - September 2026 and New York Edition - BOMA Transportation - September 2026 ) has mostly been about the substance: trains, tunnels, bridges, buses, congestion, construction, airports,
New York City appears to be making real progress in its long-running battle with rats. That's good news. Bloomberg recently reported that rat sightings reported through NYC's 311 system fell approximately 22% during the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period last year. The decline coincides with New York City's continuing effort
Good bird control shouldn't call attention to itself. It should solve the problem, protect the building and, whenever possible, disappear into the architecture. There is no single “best” bird control product. Every choice should be the right fit for your property to safely remove the birds who are unwanted guests. At Bell Bird Control, we
The Best Clues to a Bird Problem May Be Right in Front of You Property managers usually notice a bird problem when they see birds. At Bell Bird Control, we often look for something else first: the evidence the birds leave behind. Droppings on the pavement. Nesting material tucked above a loading dock. Feathers around
New York City restaurants may soon get something many have wanted: year-round roadway outdoor dining. On August 13, the New York City Council approved legislation allowing restaurants to operate roadway dining throughout the year and to winterize outdoor dining areas. For an industry facing high costs and difficult operating conditions, that is welcome news. But
From Bird Strikes to Bird Droppings: Why Proactive Bird Control Matters For millions of people, the words “bird strike” still bring to mind one event: the Miracle on the Hudson. On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 encountered a flock of large birds shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport. Birds were ingested into
New York City's 2026 Legionnaires' disease outbreak has put cooling towers and rooftop mechanical systems back in the spotlight. It has been a serious public-health event. The outbreak began on Manhattan's Upper East Side in early July. The NYC Health Department ultimately ordered 76 buildings to clean and disinfect cooling towers after positive initial PCR
Yesterday we wrote about how destination restaurants are becoming part of the identity and leasing strategy of New York’s best office buildings. That creates opportunity. It also creates a management challenge. Once a restaurant is part of the building experience, pest control can no longer be treated as something that happens only inside the restaurant.
