SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, March 2, 2019
MAYOR DE BLASIO NAMES ONENYC ADVISORY BOARD
Experts from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors are supporting the expansion of New York City’s blueprint to build a strong and fair city
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced his appointments to an advisory board that will support the process of creating a new One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City (OneNYC) by April 2019. Originally released in 2015 as the world’s first resilience strategy and a model for sustainable development, OneNYC provided a blueprint for tackling New York City’s most significant challenges. The new OneNYC strategy will continue to evolve to address the changing nature of challenges that confront our city.
“OneNYC provides a comprehensive blueprint to build a more resilient and just city, showing us the value of setting a bold vision to improve the lives of New Yorkers. With the support of the experts on the OneNYC advisory board, we will go even further,” said Mayor de Blasio. “We’re excited to have such a talented and diverse group of experts contributing to the development of our new OneNYC blueprint, and help build a fairer city for all.”
“OneNYC has demonstrated the necessity of addressing the challenges of the 21st century head on. As New York City looks toward the future, we’re committed to bringing together the brightest minds to support our work,” said Daniel Zarrilli, OneNYC Director and NYC’s Chief Climate Policy Advisor. “With the advisory board’s help, the City will produce a new long-term strategic plan that will help to create a more resilient and inclusive city.”
The 39-person board is comprised of experts from a wide variety of disciplines, including civic leaders, businesspeople, academics, and community leaders. Several board members who advised the city on the original 2015 OneNYC strategy will be returning to offer their expertise for 2019. The advisory board will help craft New York City’s long-term strategy for tackling 21st-century challenges such as population growth, aging infrastructure, stubborn inequality, an evolving economy, climate change, and other emerging risks.
As part of the OneNYC update, the City is also engaging in a campaign to solicit feedback from the public and a diverse set of stakeholders. As part of this engagement campaign, the de Blasio administration is holding events and meetings with civic associations, advocacy groups, business groups, youth and senior organizations, and local elected officials in all five boroughs and has developed an online survey where all New Yorkers can make their voices heard. To date, over 13,000 New Yorkers have responded. To access the online survey, please visitnyc.gov/OneNYCsurvey.
The OneNYC Advisory Board members include:
· Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University (OneNYC Advisory Board co-chair)
· Larisa Ortiz, City Planning Commission (OneNYC Advisory Board co-chair)
· Vincent Alvarez, Central Labor Council
· Christine Appah-Gyamfi, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
· John Banks, REBNY
· Michael Berkowitz, 100 Resilient Cities
· Nancy Brous, NYC Watertrail Association
· Costa Constantinides, City Council
· Andy Darrell, Environmental Defense Fund
· Donna DeCostanzo, Natural Resources Defense Council
· Ingrid Ellen, Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy
· Robert Englert, Staten Island Deputy Borough President
· Henry Garrido, DC37
· Peter Goldmark, Climate and Social Change Advisor
· Ibrahim Greenidge, BOLT Architecture
· Hank Gutman, Chairman of Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp.
· Corey Johnson, City Council
· David Jones, Community Service Society
· Jennifer Jones Austin, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
· Kyle Kimball, Con Edison
· Eric Klinenberg, NYU Institute for Public Knowledge
· Gary LaBarbera, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York
· Bill McKibben, 350.org
· Cheryl McKissack, McKissack Construction
· David Miller, C40 Cities
· Emily Nobel Maxwell, The Nature Conservancy
· Michael Northrop, Rockefeller Brothers Foundation
· Adam Parris, Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay
· Francine Rosado-Cruz, Microsoft
· Carlo Scissura, Building Congress
· Allison Sesso, Human Services Council
· Peggy Shepard, WEACT
· Tony Shih, United Hospital Fund
· Kate Sinding Daly, NorthLight Foundation
· Amy Sugimori, 32BJ
· Julie Tighe, New York League of Conservation Voters
· Tom Wright, Regional Plan Association
· Kathy Wylde, Partnership for NYC
· Elizabeth Yeampierre, UPROSE
Bronx Borough President Ruben O'Diaz Jr. - Irish Heritage Month Celebration
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
Invites you to join him at his annual
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Rambling House
4292 Katonah Avenue, Bronx, N.Y.
5:30 - 8:30 P.M.
To confirm your attendance call 718-590-3989 or email smalave@bronxbp.nyc.gov
BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ ANNUAL DOMINICAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION
On Thursday, February 28, 2019, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted his annual Dominican Heritage Month celebration at the Beverly Hills Manor on Jerome Avenue, honoring individuals who have contributed to the growth and promotion of Dominican and Dominican-American community and culture.
“The Dominican Republic is a land of hard-working people, excelling in different walks of life and business. A great number of prominent Dominican Americans right here in The Bronx are setting examples and paving the way for other Dominicans in New York City by working hard towards their goals,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
This year’s honorees include Supreme Court Appellate Division Presiding Justice Hon.Rolando Acosta, New York State Senate Secretary Alejandra N. Paulino, Esq. and Dr. Amarilis Jacobo.
STATEMENT BY FIRST LADY CHIRLANE MCCRAY ON COMPTROLLER STRINGER’S THRIVENYC COMMENTS
“I welcome Comptroller Scott Stringer’s “hard look” at ThriveNYC. Experts in behavioral health and health policy professionals have recognized Thrive as the most comprehensive mental health plan of any city in the nation. There is far too little understanding out there about mental health conditions and treatments. It is my hope that this examination will encourage elected officials like the Comptroller to take our Mental Health First Aid course and take time to learn more about this area of health that has been so sorely neglected. Perhaps now we can go beyond political posturing and lip service, and have the kind of public conversation our city must have to promote the mental health of our children and families.”
ThriveNYC has been recognized by various organizations, including the International City and Urban Regional Collaborative (I-CIRCLE), as a model approach that uses best practices and public health concepts to address mental health.
MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE UPGRADES NEW YORK CITY’S GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND CREDIT RATING FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2007
Rating now equal to New York State, a rarity for the State’s municipalities
For the first time since 2007, Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the City of New York’s General Obligation Bond credit rating. The rating was upgraded from Aa2 to Aa1, their second highest rating and equivalent to New York State’s Aa1 rating, which is significant because a local government is rarely rated as high as its home state. The Aa1 rating is the highest Moody’s credit rating the City has ever received.
Moody’s increased the City’s rating due to its increased economic diversity and decreased reliance on revenue from Wall St., its highly skilled workforce, first-class education and medical centers and low crime rates, among other factors. The upgrade is attributable to the City’s ongoing strong financial management – including the highest level of reserves the city has ever seen, affording it greater flexibility to respond to the next economic downturn.
Moody’s Investors Service rating can be found here.
“For the last five years, we’ve used the City’s budget to improve the lives of New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Moody’s credit rating is validation of what we’ve always known: that you can be both a progressive and a strong fiscal manager.”
Additionally, Moody’s upgraded the City’s outstanding appropriation-backed debt, including debt issued by the Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corporation, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, the New York City Educational Construction Fund, and the New York City Industrial Development Agency (New York Stock Exchange Project) from Aa3 to Aa2.
The City expects the upgraded rating to lower debt service costs, enabling it to more efficiently borrow and finance its capital projects, such as maintaining the city’s infrastructure.
Next week the City plans to offer approximately $986 million of General Obligation bonds to refund outstanding bonds.
In January, Mayor de Blasio announced his $92.2 Preliminary Budget for FY2020, a balanced budget that continues to fund critical services for New Yorkers and promotes fairness across New York City while also demonstrating fiscal responsibility. In addition to expanding programs such as 3-K for All, the Mayor called for $750 million in mandatory savings which will be achieved in part by deepening the City’s Partial Hiring Freeze and implementing the Administration’s first Program to Eliminate the Gap.
Statement from New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer on Moody’s Investors Services
“I am thrilled with Moody’s vote of confidence in New York City’s economy. A higher bond rating means lower borrowing costs for the City, which means additional resources to help fund our city schools, parks and other critical services, as well as more money to help us weather whatever economic challenges may come our way. That said, maintaining the city’s fiscal strength is a full-time job, so while we celebrate today’s good news, we at the Comptroller’s Office remain doubly committed to continuing our progress through careful oversight of the city’s budget and economy.”
Comptroller Stringer on FY 2020 Preliminary Budget: City Needs a Robust Savings Plan to Protect Vital Services for New York Families
Agency Watch List reveals lack of accountability and results despite record spending at the Department of Correction, Department of Buildings, and multi-agency spending on homeless services
Comptroller’s analysis of the City’s proposed FY 2020 budget shows budget gaps closed using numerous one-time actions instead of recurring savings
Stringer calls for increasing the City’s budget cushion to 15 percent of total spending by FY 2023 to protect the social safety net
New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer delivered his annual analysis of New York City’s Preliminary Fiscal Year 2020 budget which revealed a lack of financial preparedness for potential future economic uncertainty, and an absence of tangible results despite increased record spending at three City agencies. Comptroller Stringer’s analysis found the proposed FY 2020 budget relies on numerous one-time actions to balance the budget and called for a goal of increasing the City’s budget cushion to 15% of total spending to sufficiently prepare the City for unforeseen events and protect programs that lift up New Yorkers. Additionally, the Comptroller’s Agency Watch List – which spotlights city departments without demonstrable results for their spending – revealed record multi-agency spending on homeless services, which is projected to reach nearly $3 billion even as the shelter population continues to rise. Meanwhile, the Department of Correction is spending over $300,000 per detainee as incidents of violence increase. New for this year, Comptroller Stringer added the Department of Buildings to his Agency Watch List due to a 252% increase in construction accidents since FY 2014, despite increasing spending by 62% over the same period.
“The City’s budget is a statement about our values, it’s our opportunity each year to consider how we are serving working families and promoting policies that will empower all New Yorkers. While there are some critical initiatives included in the FY 2020 budget, we must be doing more to reach a balanced, sustainable budget and ensure that city agencies are accountable for the public money they spend,” said Comptroller Stringer. “Our budget needs to be balanced for the long term, not just for the next year, so that we can ensure that vital initiatives and services for families and seniors go uninterrupted regardless of the broader economy. To reach that goal we need to build up our budget cushion and conduct a more rigorous review of agency spending to root out inefficiencies and waste.”
The Comptroller’s wide-ranging presentation covered several aspects of the City Preliminary Budget and the state of the City’s economy, including:
Overview of the FY 2020 Preliminary Budget
- Spending growth is 2.1%, adjusted for the anticipated use of the FY 2019 surplus to prepay certain FY 2020 expenses;
- Spending is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.3% over the entire Plan period, fiscal years 2019 to 2023;
- In contrast, revenues are projected to grow at an average rate of 1.8% each year until FY 2023, resulting in budget gaps of $3.5 billion in FY 2021, $2.9 billion in FY 2022, and $3.3 billion in FY 2023; and
- So far this year, the February Plan shows a projected $3.2 billion budget surplus in FY 2019, $1.4 billion less than the $4.6 billion budget surplus of FY 2018.
The Economic Outlook is Clouded with Risk
- While the City’s economy is still growing, the Comptroller’s office forecasts that growth will slow in coming years;
- The short-run stimulus effects of federal tax cuts and spending will wear off just as the national economy reaches the late stages of the nearly decade-long expansion, and global growth slows sharply;
- As a result, economic growth in the City is expected to decelerate, with job growth falling from nearly 90,000 new jobs per year since the end of the Great Recession in 2010, to under 35,000 on average from 2020 through 2023; and
- The State Budget faces growing challenges, following a $2.3 billion personal income tax revenue shortfall – which puts State aid to the City at increasing risk.
City Must Manage the Budget More Aggressively to Address the Growing Risks
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The City’s projected budget cushion – the budget resources available at the beginning of each fiscal year to help the City weather unexpected events without cutting vital services for New York families – is currently in
Use of One-Shots
Need for Vigorous Agency Savings Plan
The Mayor will re-institute a Program to End the Gap, or PEG, of $750 million for FY 2019 and FY 2020, with targets to be set individually by agency.
Agency Watch List
This year the Comptroller continues the Agency Watch List of City agencies that are of most concern when it comes to budgeting, and adds to them the Department of Buildings.
DHS: Citywide Spending for Homeless Services Continues to Rise While Homeless Population Grows
DOC: Jail Population Continues to Fall, but Spending – and Violence – Still Rising
DOB: Spending and Headcount Have Grown, but Construction Safety Has Gotten Worse
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Friday, March 1, 2019
Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study: Draft recommendations for Morris Park and Parkchester/Van NestBronx Metro-North Station Area Study: Draft recommendations for Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest
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Let's continue the conversation!
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