Governor Hochul Announces $10 Million Available Through Round One of New York’s Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program

Announced During Farm-to-School Month, Program Provides $50 Million Over Five Years to Help Improve Kitchens and Cook Meals for Students Using New York Farm Products

Program Will Facilitate Preparation of Fresh, Scratch Made Meals and Provide a Boost to New York Farmers

Builds on Governor’s State of the State Priorities to Combat Food Insecurity and Strengthen Local Food Production Across the State

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced, during Farm-to-School month, that $10 million is available through Round 1 of New York’s Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program. The program will support projects in New York schools that improve meal preparation and distribution for Kindergarten through Grade 12 students. First announced in the Governor’s 2023 State of the State, the program will provide $50 million over five years to eligible applicants to facilitate the on-site processing and preparation of fresh, nutritious meals, increase the use of more healthy, local New York food products, and provide a boost to New York farmers.

“Through our Farm-to-School program and our 30 percent New York State Initiative for schools, we have made huge strides in bringing our farmers and our schools together, making lasting connections to purchase more local foods for school meals than ever before,” Governor Hochul said. “This Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program will build on the success of these programs and provide the much-needed support to help schools cook delicious meals for our young people. Providing healthy, balanced meals equals better learning for students statewide and supports our agricultural community at the same time.”

Administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program will provide the resources schools need to aggregate, store, process, and prepare farm products, and make it possible to cook fresh, nutritious, scratch made meals for school children. It will also encourage workforce development by providing training to schools, communities, and students for culinary arts, food processing, safe food handling and storage, logistics, delivery, and more, based on community need.

Project proposals should be regionally focused on improving meal preparation for K-12 school children, reducing food insecurity, increasing market opportunities for New York State producers, and strengthening the resilience of our state’s food system. The program requires that funded facilities serve multiple school districts and support their local community, including by providing workforce development opportunities. In this round of funding, two regions will be awarded $5 million each. Two additional regions will be awarded $5 million each in subsequent rounds, until all regions are awarded.

Grant funds are available for the costs of capital projects to support the preparation and distribution of fresh meals for regional school infrastructure, such as aggregation, storage hubs, and/or commissary-type kitchens. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, local municipalities, school districts, and Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES).

Proposals are due on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 3:00 pm. For more information on the program, project eligibility, and how to apply, visit here. Additionally, an optional webinar will be held on November 29, 2023, at 12:00 pm. To register, visit here. The workshop will be recorded and posted on the Department’s website.

New York State’s Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted Budget includes additional tools to help school districts procure and purchase farm products from local producers, ensuring that New York remains New York's first and best customer. Specifically, the Budget raises the discretionary threshold for food purchasing for schools to $150,000, a significant increase from the previous threshold.

These initiatives build on New York’s many programs to support local foods in schools, including the successful Farm-to-School program, which connects schools with local farms and food producers to strengthen local agriculture, improve student health, and promote regional food systems awareness. Through the program, the Department of Agriculture and Markets provides financial, technical, and promotional assistance to schools, farms, distributors, and other supporting organizations to bring more local, nutritious, seasonally varied meals to New York students. The Farm-to-School program supports the New York State Council on Hunger and Food Policy’s priorities to initiate and facilitate public awareness campaigns about the economic benefits of a local farm and food economy; alleviate geographic and economic barriers to improve access to healthy fresh food; and promote well-balanced child nutrition.

The 30 Percent New York State Initiative further facilitates the provision of healthy New York sourced food products to children as part of their lunch meal in school. The initiative increases the reimbursement schools receive for lunches from 5.9 cents per meal to 25 cents per meal for any district that ensures their school lunches are made up of at least 30 percent eligible New York produced and processed products. Since the Department of Agriculture and Markets took over administration of the program as part of Governor Hochul’s 2022 State of the State commitment to better connect farms and schools across New York, the program has seen increased participation from school food authorities, with a total of 59 school food authorities approved to receive enhanced reimbursement during this school year, up from 51 approved for reimbursement last year. In total, more than $8 million was spent on New York agricultural products during the 2022-2023 school year by schools applying for the incentive. In addition, the Governor's recent actions to support Farm-to-School initiatives included in the FY 2024 State Budget significantly raised the discretionary threshold for schools to purchase local food and food products from $20,000 to $150,000.

 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: New York City Continues to Rebound and Regain Share of State Economic Activity

 

Economic indicators show New York City’s economy is recovering from the depths of the pandemic, with the city accounting for three-fifths of the state’s total wages and its sales tax collections rising to 43% of total statewide collections, nearing pre-pandemic levels, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Even with these and other positive developments, more people and jobs need to return to the city to fuel economic growth for the city and the state.

“New York City is a key driver of the state’s economic strength,” DiNapoli said. “When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it brought much of the city’s economic activity to a standstill. While the city’s economy has rebounded in many ways, some important indicators show there is more work to be done to bring people back to the five boroughs, improve affordability for working- and middle-class families, and fuel economic activity.”

The city is a major contributor to growth in the state’s economy, even as its population is smaller than it was. DiNapoli’s office is closely tracking the city and state’s post-pandemic economic bounce back, issuing a series of reports and online tools that examine demographic, economic, and other data.

The analysis of three dozen key demographic and economic indicators released today shows that in many areas New York City has returned to, and in some cases exceeded, pre-pandemic levels. However, some individual and household-level indicators show increased financial stress and need.

DiNapoli’s report found:

• The city’s population fell 1.2% from 2017 to 2022. That lowered its share of the state’s population marginally, to 42.4%, but the city’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 8.2% during that period, accounting for more than 57% of the state’s GDP during each of those years.
• Total employment in the city grew 1.9% from 2017 to 2022, while its share of the state total increased 1 percentage point to 46.8%. The number of businesses rose throughout the pandemic in New York City but also rose in the state in 2022, leaving the city’s share close to 2017 levels.
• Wall Street wages in New York City, a critical driver of local and state personal income tax revenue, remain well above 90% of total wages in the securities sector statewide.
• The number of city tax filers, including those with an adjusted gross income of greater than $1 million, and the city’s state personal income tax liability all declined as a share of the state total during the pandemic.
• In 2022, the number of city households in poverty increased over 2021 and is up 8.7% since 2017, reversing a downward trend seen before the pandemic. New York City households represented 43.4% of state households, but 54.7% of households in poverty in the state.
• The number of city residents receiving public assistance rose 16.6% from 2017 to 2022, likely reflecting several federal COVID relief programs ending in 2022.
• The numbers of cost-burdened homeowners and renters in the city both rose from 2017 to 2022, up 11% and 4.1% respectively. People are considered cost burdened when their housing costs exceed 30% of their income.
• The city’s number and share of the state’s Black, Hispanic, and Asian populations remained below the 2017 level in 2022.

Report

New York City Economic and Demographic Indicators in Relation to New York State

Fiscal Tracking Tools and Other Reports

Fiscal Cliffs Dashboard

Industry Sector Dashboards

COVID-19 Relief Program Tracker

Review of the Financial Plan of the City of New York

MAYOR ADAMS APPOINTS SIDEYA SHERMAN AS CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER AND COMMISSIONER OF NEW OFFICE OF EQUITY & RACIAL JUSTICE, LINDA TIGANI AS CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMISSION ON RACIAL EQUITY

 

Newly Created Office, Commission, and Appointments Follow New Yorkers’ Landslide Approval of 2022 Racial Justice Ballot Proposals

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointments of Sideya Sherman as the city’s chief equity officer and commissioner of the newly created Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ) and Linda Tigani as chair and executive director of the New York City Commission on Racial Equity (CORE). Both Sherman and Tigani currently serve in leadership roles in the Adams administration, advancing equity and racial justice for New Yorkers. MOERJ and CORE were created by voters as part of the 2022 racial justice ballot proposals, which voters overwhelmingly approved to advance racial justice and equity for all.

“New Yorkers spoke clearly at the voting booth — and this administration listened. The fight for racial equity and justice still continues, and I am proud to have Commissioner Sideya Sherman and Linda Tigani on the frontlines,” said Mayor Adams. “With this new office and leadership, we are tackling the root causes of racism to transform systems, address historic injustices, and deliver equity to our city.”

“With the appointment of Commissioner Sideya Sherman and Linda Tigani, we are taking bold steps towards a future where every voice is heard, every perspective is valued, and every New Yorker’s rights and dignity are upheld — regardless of their background,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “This administration is proud to ‘Get Stuff Done’ and deliver on our promise to voters by establishing this new office and commission, marking a pivotal moment in our commitment to a more inclusive and just community.”

“This administration is thoroughly committed to progress and innovation, which is made evident by the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice and the Commission on Racial Equity,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar. “As we embrace this historic chapter in our city’s journey to equity for all, we are thrilled to entrust Commissioner Sideya Sherman and Linda Tigani with the authority to build a path to a brighter future for New York City.”

“I am deeply honored to continue working alongside Mayor Adams and leaders across this administration to root out inequities and help level the playing field for all New Yorkers,” said Chief Equity Officer and MOERJ Commissioner Sideya Sherman. “We have made great strides in addressing inequities through policies and programs, but there is structural work we must undertake to repair the harms of the past and bring about lasting change. I look forward to partnering with newly appointed chair and executive director Linda Tigani and the commission to engage New Yorkers and ensure our city fulfills its promise.”

“Our nation stands at a critical juncture, where regressive policies are eroding the progress made in advancing racial equity,” said Commission on Racial Equity Chair and Executive Director Linda Tigani. “I am honored to work on behalf of New Yorkers, specifically communities who experience the impact of longstanding racial oppression, to bring their perspectives into the decision-making process. I look forward to working with Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner Sherman to ensure that community priorities inform racial equity planning and action in New York City.”

The appointments of Sherman and Tigani, along with the launches of the new office and commission, fulfill the city’s promises made to New Yorkers last year. In November 2022, New York City voters overwhelmingly passed all three racial justice measures on the ballot: adding a statement of values to guide the city’s charter; requiring the city to establish a racial equity office and commission, as well as racial equity plans; and calling for the city to measure the true cost of living for city residents.

The Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice — established as the city’s Racial Equity Office — will lead implementation of these measures and start by producing the city’s first citywide racial equity plan. The office will work closely with the Commission on Racial Equity, an independent commission charged with engaging New Yorkers, to ensure community voice and racial equity priorities shape the city’s plan.

About Sideya Sherman 

Sherman has served as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity, which she has led since its inception in 2022, and will now expand its scope to become MOERJ. In her new role, she will lead the implementation of groundbreaking racial justice amendments to the City Charter and continue to oversee the New York City Young Men’s Initiative, the New York City Unity Project, and the New York City Commission on Gender Equity, as well as multiagency entities like the New York City Pay Equity Cabinet and the New York City Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity.

Sherman brings nearly two decades of equity-focused community and economic development experience to the role, after serving as executive director of the New York City Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity (TRIE) and executive vice president for community engagement and partnerships at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).

In her time at TRIE, Sherman worked across over 60 city agencies and offices to advance new programs, policies, and initiatives that center equity in the city’s ongoing pandemic response and recovery. At NYCHA, she implemented new high-impact resident programs, established innovative, cross-sector partnerships, and garnered new resources to support resident health, social services, youth, economic opportunity, and community engagement initiatives.

Prior to her career in government, Sherman served diverse communities in the nonprofit sector, working at the Municipal Art Society of New York, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the Lower East Side Business Improvement District.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Utica College and a master’s degree in urban affairs from Hunter College.

About Linda Tigani

Linda Tigani served as acting chief equity and strategy officer for DOHMH since 2022 and will now serve as chair and executive director of the Commission on Racial Equity. With a proven track record of strategic planning and extensive experience in implementing programs, Tigani has served as a critical force on moving racial justice forward across the city, driving key interagency efforts and effectuating change citywide. Tigani was jointly approved by Mayor Adams and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, and will serve as chair of the commission, leading the efforts of this new body and its 15 commissioners.

While at DOHMH, Tigani led the “Race to Justice” team and reforming the agency internally in line with the principles of anti-racism. She worked with DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan and across the agency to implement an equity-focused strategic plan in all agency programming and operations.

She has also served as senior director for children, youth, and families in the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health and as an education policy advisor for former First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan.

Tigani holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Bard College and a master’s degree in social work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.

“A deep commitment to and sustainable investment in equity points our city in the direction of justice. The Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice and the Commission on Racial Equity are necessary infrastructure for implementation to move us from words to action,” said New York City Chief Engagement Officer Betsy MacLean. “If anyone can get this job done, it's Chief Equity Officer Sideya Sherman and Executive Director Linda Tigani, whose extensive track records in the tough work of advancing equity speak for themselves. We know that meaningful community engagement must be the foundation of the upcoming racial equity planning process, and I can't wait to work with Sideya, Linda, and their teams to shift the paradigm and create the conditions for a just and inclusive city for all New Yorkers.”

“When it comes to making our city healthier, fairer, stronger, and more inclusive, all roads run through equity,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “The new Mayor's Office of Equity & Racial Justice and the Commission on Racial Equity will ensure that New York City leads with action and accountability. As this is a transformational moment for our city, it is also an extremely proud moment for public health and for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as our very own Linda Tigani has been tapped to lead the new commission. We are proud and glad that she will carry the torch for public health in all that she does in leading the commission and partnering with the outstanding Commissioner and Chief Equity Officer Sherman to increase racial equity citywide.”

“To chart a path toward a more equitable New York City, we have to ensure we have the right people with the right vision advancing this invaluable work. The new appointments of Commissioner Sherman and Linda Tigani affirm that we are heading in the right direction,” said New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock. “Mayor Adams’ administration has long championed building inclusive, safe spaces that reflect the diversity of the city we serve. I look forward to working closely with this new office and commission to increase equity and access for all.”

“New York City is stronger when we prioritize racial justice and confront long-standing structural and systemic inequities that impact New Yorkers,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The appointments of Sideya Sherman as chief equity officer and commissioner and Linda Tigani as chair and executive director of the Commission on Racial Equity are important steps forward to address racial disparities in our city. I look forward to working with them to create a more just and equitable city for all.”

“The development of the new NYC Mayor's Office of Equity & Racial Justice and the NYC Commission on Racial Equity marks an unprecedented, historic chapter in our city's journey towards equity for all," said Dr. Hazel Dukes, president, NAACP New York State Conference. “With the office under the leadership of Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner Sherman, and CORE under the leadership of Chair & Executive Director Tigani, we embrace the change to come and look toward building a path to a higher future of New York City.”

“The appointments of Sideya Sherman as commissioner and chief equity officer and Linda Tigani as chair and executive director of the NYC Commission on Racial Equity by Mayor Adams evidence his sincere commitment to advancing justice and equity for all New Yorkers, especially those who’ve been marginalized intergenerationally because of their identities,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and executive director, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies “As the chair of the former New York City Racial Justice Commission, I am heartened to learn that Ms. Sherman and Ms. Tigani, both proven leaders, will be leading the city in the implementation of the racial justice charter revisions that were articulated by the commissioners and subsequently embraced by New York City electorate.”

“The launch of the new NYC Mayor's Office of Equity & Racial Justice and the NYC Commission on Racial Equity are crucial steps toward transforming our city into a more just and equitable home for all New Yorkers,” said United Way of New York City president and CEO Grace C. Bonilla, and inaugural executive director of New York City’s Taskforce on Racial Equity & Inclusion. “I have immense confidence in Commissioner and Chief Equity Officer Sherman and Chair & Executive Director Tigani as they work to dismantle the systemic barriers that have adversely affected people of color in New York City for so long. I know I speak on behalf of my entire organization when I say we look forward to collaborating with them in our work to help all New Yorkers thrive.”

Statement from NYGOP Chair Ed Cox on Rep. Mike Johnson's Election as Speaker

 

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox today released the following statement:

 

“On behalf of the entire New York Republican Party, I am thrilled to congratulate Congressman Mike Johnson on his election as Speaker of the House. Mike is a proven member of our leadership team in the House and a strong advocate for conservative values. He is a tireless fighter for the American people, and I have no doubt that he will lead the House with distinction. We look forward to working with Speaker Johnson and his team."

Pelham Parkway Clean Up

 

Tuesday, members of the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association, Albanian American Open Hands Association, Morris Park Community Association, The Indian Village Alliance, and Staff from Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr.'s office did a major clean up of Pelham Parkway from White Plains Road to Williamsbridge Road and beyond. 

Litter grabbers were loaned and large trash bags given to the people to collect the litter, empty plastic bottles, and trash that was on the islands and along the curb at the Pelham Parkway South adjacent to the grassy area. In all twenty one large bags of garbage were filled by the people on the clean up. See photos below.

The clean up crew met on Pelham Parkway at Williamsbridge Road and worked down to White Plains Road.

PPNA President Steven Glosser reaches for a piece of liter with a grabber.

Bags of garbage like this one were found along the parkway service road. 

Frank from the Morris Park Community Association is tying up a full bag of stuff picked up. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - November 1st: Deadline to Apply for Congressional App Challenge and Service Academy

November 1st: Deadline to Apply for Congressional App Challenge and Service Academy

Middle and high school students who live in OR attend a school in NY-14 are invited to create a software application for the Congressional App Challenge. Students may register as individuals or as teams of up to four. No more than four students are allowed to form a team. Winners will be invited to gather in D.C. to be publicly recognized. Register here by November 1st.

Our office is accepting Service Academy Nominations for the academic year starting in the fall of 2024. Students interested in applying to the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy must receive a letter of recommendation from their Member of Congress or Senator. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. Learn more here and complete the nomination form by November 1st.