MAYOR ADAMS RELEASES PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024

 

FY24 Preliminary Budget Includes Investments in Affordable Housing, Street Cleanliness, and Public Safety

 

Budget Underscores Mayor’s Commitment to Strong Fiscal Management to Ensure Robust and Equitable Recovery

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released New York City’s balanced $102.7 billion Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). The budget reflects the mayor’s ongoing commitment to promoting an equitable recovery by making investments in affordable housing, keeping city streets clean, ensuring the safety of communities, and promoting a greener, healthier city. The Preliminary Budget also doubles down on Mayor Adams’ commitment to fiscal responsibility by spending limited city resources wisely amid the ongoing economic and fiscal challenges facing the city, state, and nation, and maintaining the city’s budget reserves at a record level of $8.3 billion.

 

“As our city continues its recovery, our administration continues to make investments in our core priorities — including public safety, affordable housing, and clean streets — while exercising strong fiscal management,” said Mayor Adams. “By asking agencies to self-fund new needs with preexisting resources, the Fiscal Year 2024 Preliminary Budget continues our strong track record of making prudent use of taxpayer dollars while continuing to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for New Yorkers.”

 

The Preliminary Budget was crafted in response to slowing economic growth, which impacts revenue, and fiscal uncertainties.

 

The city’s revenue forecast was updated to reflect an additional $1.7 billion in FY23 and $738 million in FY24. The windfall increase in FY23 is driven by continued momentum from the record Wall Street activity in 2021, though the city expects that continued slowing growth in the economy will lead to slowing growth in tax revenue over the financial plan.

 

At the same time, the city faces budget pressure related to the costs of meeting its legal obligation to shelter approximately 40,000 asylum seekers that have moved through the intake system since last spring, which is currently estimated to cost at least $1 billion in FY23 alone, the need to fund billions of dollars in upcoming labor contract settlements over the financial plan, growing annual health care expenses, and waning federal stimulus funds that sunset in Fiscal Year 2025.

 

In response to the perfect storm of slowing revenue growth and rising costs, Mayor Adams continued the strong fiscal management he has practiced over the course of his administration by remaining focused on savings, maintaining high levels of reserves, and controlling spending.

 

Total savings achieved by the administration over the November Financial Plan Update and the Preliminary Budget is more than $3 billion over Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024. Nearly all the savings in the Preliminary Budget were driven by the administration’s 50 percent Vacancy Reduction Initiative citywide, which reduced vacancies by more than 4,300 across the financial plan and contributed savings of $181 million in FY23 and $350 million in FY24. About 23,000 vacancies remain open citywide, leaving agencies ample room to hire for critical positions.

 

The Preliminary Budget maintains a record level $8.3 billion in reserves. This includes $1.6 billion in the General Reserve, $250 million in the Capital Stabilization Reserve, $4.5 billion in the Retiree Health Benefits Trust fund, and $1.9 billion in the Rainy-Day Fund. Agency new needs in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) and FY24 are funded with savings or existing agency resources. By exercising fiscal discipline, the administration was able to ensure FY23 remained balanced. A combination of savings and FY23 revenue was applied to balance FY24. Gaps are now $3.2 billion in FY25, $5.0 billion in FY26, and $6.5 billion in FY27.

 

INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

 

In his first year in office, Mayor Adams has made affordable housing a key priority of his administration. In June of last year, he unveiled “Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness”, a comprehensive plan to tackle the city’s housing crisis. The budget invests an additional $20 million in FY24 to advance the goals of the plan, including funding to assist low-income prospective homeowners with down payments and expand enforcement against tenant harassment.

 

The administration is also committed to expediting the creation of affordable housing to address the severe housing shortage throughout the city. In December, Mayor Adams announced “Get Stuff Built,” which aims to build 500,000 new homes over the next decade. To meet these goals, the administration is allocating an additional $2.8 million in new funding in FY24 to streamline the building and land use process across several city agencies. This is anticipated to cut months off the current process for certain affordable housing projects and accelerate the production of new homes.

 

ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE

 

Ensuring all students in our city are given the opportunity to succeed has been at the forefront of Mayor Adams’ vision for a more equitable New York. In his first year in office, Mayor Adams introduced universal dyslexia screenings in all New York City public schools, expanded job opportunities for youth over the summer to serve up to 100,000 young people, provided enriching summer academic opportunities for more K-8 students through the Summer Rising program, increased the city’s commitment to the Fair Futures program to help youth aging out of the foster care system, and deepened financial support for foster students in any New York City college or university through the ‘College Choice’ program.

 

Last year, to protect schools that had lost enrollment from the impacts of funding reductions, Mayor Adams provided additional support to help provide a glidepath for schools adjusting to lower enrollment, with $160 million allocated for FY23, and $80 million for FY24. This temporary support was on top of the administration’s commitment to keeping every school at 100 percent of Fair Student Funding. Mayor Adams today announced that the administration added an additional $80 million to that funding pool for FY24. This keeps the total at $160 million for another academic year. Additionally, Mayor Adams previously announced, in the November Financial Plan Update for FY23, that schools would be held harmless for mid-year enrollment changes.

 

PROMOTING A SAFER, CLEANER, AND GREENER CITY FOR ALL

 

Mayor Adams has made clear that an equitable recovery depends on making the city safer, cleaner, and more sustainable. The Preliminary Budget includes investments to build on the progress the administration made in its first year, targeting resources to the communities that need them most. All new expense investments in the Preliminary Budget are paid for with savings or self-funded by agencies. FY24 investments include:

• DOB will develop, adopt, standardize, and implement a citywide building code ($2.6 million);
• Expansion of the Neighborhood Rat Reduction Initiative into Harlem ($1.8 million); and
• Hiring of chief decarbonization officers across multiple agencies to elevate and streamline greenhouse gas emission reductions in agency operations. ($1.62 million).

FY24 capital investments include:

• Accelerating projects to meet carbon reduction targets set forward in Local Law 97 ($259 million);
• Funding high-priority street reconstruction projects related to Vision Zero, the Streets Plan, and more ($228 million);
• Transforming the Willets Point community and creating jobs as part of a public-private partnership that builds 2,500 affordable homes and creates a soccer stadium, 40,000 square feet of public open space, and a hotel ($153 million);
• Reconstructing and upgrading the Riverside Park Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument and plaza ($62.3 million);
• Installing new locks and security measures in New York City Department of Education school facilities to make them safer for students and staff ($47.5 million);
• Doubling signal installation to 200 annually and making related upgrades ($77 million); and
• Making repairs and upgrades to marine infrastructure in Staten Island and Manhattan, including piers and barges ($46 million).

Attorney General James Takes Action to Stop Gun Distributors from Illegally Shipping Ghost Gun Parts into New York

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against ten national gun distributors, demanding that they immediately stop selling and shipping illegal unfinished and/or unserialized frames and receivers, or “ghost gun” parts, to New York consumers. Attorney General James is asking a federal court to order these businesses to immediately stop selling, shipping, distributing, or supplying unfinished frames or receivers to any person or entity with a New York address. Today’s action builds on the lawsuit that Attorney General James filed against these companies in June 2022 and is part of the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) ongoing efforts to stop the flow of illegal and dangerous ghost guns into New York.

“Companies that sell ghost gun parts and kits present a clear danger to all New Yorkers,” said Attorney General James. “These deadly weapons are unregistered, untraceable, and do not require any background check to purchase, which means they can easily end up in dangerous hands. Once again, we are taking action to stop the flow of ghost guns into New York and to protect our communities from gun violence.”

Attorney General James is seeking a preliminary injunction against ten national gun distributors that were named in her lawsuit filed in June 2022 that unlawfully sold tens of thousands of unfinished frames and receivers to New Yorkers violating several laws, including New York’s licensing laws, by selling weapons to felons and others without a background check. Between May and June of 2022, six of the ten Defendants — Arm or Ally, LLC, Brownells Inc., Salvo Technologies, Inc. (a/k/a 80 P Builder or 80P Freedom Co.), Indie Guns, LLC, Rainier Arms, LLC, and Rock Slide USA, LLC — were caught shipping one or more unfinished frames or receivers to undercover investigators in New York, and several defendants advertised ghost gun components for sale and shipped their products to individuals who went on to commit crimes involving ghost guns in New York State. 

This case is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and Attorney General James asserts that these businesses sell these unfinished firearms with the understanding that their customers will convert them into working weapons and have even offered instructions on how to do so. They routinely sell their products inside a “jig,” a plastic structure that guides the user’s tools through the simple steps required to finish the frame. By Defendant 80 Percent Arms’ own admission, the jigs “make it ridiculously easy for a non-machinist to finish their [handgun frame] in under 1 hour with no drill press required.” This process is designed to work around federal gun serialization, recordkeeping, and background check requirements. Once turned into a working firearm, these illegal weapons have been used to commit crimes and harm New Yorkers.

Four Gun Traffickers Charged with Selling Over 50 Firearms in Brooklyn

 

Defendants Allegedly Distributed Semi-Automatic Handguns, Untraceable “Ghost Guns” and Guns with Defaced Serial Numbers; Defendant Also Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl

Prosecution Is First In New York To Publicly Charge the Gun Trafficking Provisions of The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

A seven-count indictment was unsealed charging David Mccann, Tajhai Jones, Raymond Minaya, and Calvin Tabron with allegedly conspiring to illegally traffic more than 50 firearms.  Mccann and Minaya are also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; Mccann is additionally charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.  Mccann, Jones, Minaya, and Tabron were arrested.  Mccann and Minaya are scheduled to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl. Jones and Tabron will be arraigned in Virginia.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) and Frank A. Tarentino, III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division announced the charges.

“As alleged, the defendants are responsible for attempting to flood the streets of Brooklyn with over 50 deadly weapons, including ghost guns, as well as narcotics, feeding the cycles of gun violence and drug abuse,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “As the first prosecution utilizing new federal legislation in New York, and one of the first in the country, these arrests demonstrate this Office’s commitment to utilize all tools available to more effectively stop gun traffickers from endangering our community.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said: “This groundbreaking legislation is intended to address the sobering reality of the link between guns and drugs; the two biggest public safety threats in New York.  DEA New York and our law enforcement partners are aggressively taking every step to protect communities from gun violence and drug trafficking in order to save lives. I commend the NYPD, ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York on their diligent efforts and collaboration throughout this investigation.” 

“This case, initiated in direct response to complaints from the New Yorkers we serve, underscores some disturbing truths,” stated NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell.  “First, that illegal guns proliferate and circulate in many neighborhoods that still need our help. And second, that every day the women and men of the New York City Police Department perform incredibly dangerous work to prevent these firearms from getting into criminals’ hands.  I commend and thank the NYPD undercover officer who so successfully worked this long-term investigation, all of the detectives with our Violent Crimes Squad, and our invaluable partners at the ATF, the DEA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their critical work in helping to get these guns – and these gun traffickers – off our streets.”

As alleged in the indictment and court documents, the defendants engaged in multiple transactions involving the sale of at least 50 illegal firearms in Brooklyn between January 2022 and August 2022.  The defendants sold these firearms in broad daylight from vehicles in and around New York City Housing Authority’s Breukelen Houses, which are located across the street from a church and blocks away from a preschool and grade school in Canarsie, Brooklyn.  The defendants would often carry the guns they trafficked in whatever they could find, including gloves and shopping bags.

Two members of the gun-trafficking operation obtained the firearms in Virginia and then transported them to New York to be sold on the streets of Brooklyn.  Some of the firearms had defaced serial numbers or were made from ghost gun kits, making them harder for law enforcement to trace.  Two defendants also engaged in significant narcotics trafficking conspiracies, including a fentanyl distribution conspiracy that introduced thousands of lethal doses of fentanyl into our community. 

The defendants sold the guns and drugs to an undercover officer who recorded many of the transactions.  The undercover officer told the defendants that he was a drug dealer who needed guns and that he was also going to resell some of the guns that were provided to him.  Despite this knowledge, the conspirators continued to sell large quantities of drugs and guns to the undercover officer without hesitation.

Firearms sold in the conspiracy have also been linked to several shootings in Brooklyn.  For example, on June 22, 2022, Minaya sold an undercover officer a Glock 30, .45 caliber handgun.  The investigation revealed that this gun was used in an August 16, 2021 shooting in Bedford-Stuyvesant, during which armed perpetrators shot into a large crowd gathered for a family day celebration.  In total, eight individuals were struck by gunfire.  Another gun trafficked by the conspirators—a Glock 43, 9-millimeter caliber handgun—is linked to a December 18, 2021 shooting of an individual in Canarsie, in the blocks surrounding the Breukelen Houses complex.  That individual sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body, including his right hand, shoulder, neck, and the base of his skull.

When agents arrested Minaya in Brooklyn this morning, he was in illegal possession of two handguns, including one with an extended magazine.  The defendant threw one of the guns out a window in an attempt to hide it; both guns were recovered.

This prosecution is the first in New York, and among the first in the country, to charge the gun trafficking provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress and the President enacted in June 2022.  The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target gun trafficking.  Among other provisions, it creates a standalone firearm trafficking conspiracy offense, which the government has charged in this case to hold accountable those who conspire to illegally sell firearms.  The Act provides for sentences of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR UNVEILS STRENGTHENED SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION POLICY

 

New Yorkers Can View the Revised Policy and Provide Comments

Proposed Updates Strengthen Nation-Leading Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) today released a strengthened, nation-leading Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy. The updated policy, drafted in consultation with the New York State Division of Human Rights (NYS DHR), adds new language to include remote workers, defines different gender identities and expands on gender discrimination, and provides examples of sexual harassment and retaliation across a broader spectrum of careers. It also includes bystander intervention methods to empower workers to intervene in instances where they witness harassment in their workspace. This model policy was written so New Yorkers can better understand their rights at the workplace. The public now has 30 days to provide comment on the policy.

“I thank the many New Yorkers who participated in this process. Your feedback is making New York State stronger and safer for everyone at the workplace,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “Once again, New York sets the bar nationally for how we protect our workforce. I thank Governor Hochul for continuing to deliver for workers statewide.”

Engaging with workers, employers and advocates was a top priority during the revision process. NYSDOL held an in-person public hearing and collected feedback online from workers, employers, and other stakeholders across New York State on the state's original Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy. The input was instrumental in crafting this nation-leading policy that helps ensure all workspaces across New York State are free of sexual harassment.

NYSDOL, in consultation with NYS DHR, is currently revising training videos and online resources to help employees and employers identify sexual harassment and better understand their rights. NYSDOL will also launch a public education campaign to inform New Yorkers statewide about the changes.

“This updated policy embodies the values of our state by prioritizing the safety and dignity of our workforce. It is also an important step in showing that our state’s government is responsive to the needs and feedback of its workers, ” said New York State Division of Human Rights Commissioner Maria L. Imperial. “Governor Hochul and New York State are committed to eliminating sex discrimination from workplace cultures statewide. It was an honor to work collaboratively on this updated policy.”

The original Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy was created in 2018 as part of New York State’s commitment to establishing safer and more equitable workplaces by requiring all employers, regardless of size, to adopt a sexual harassment prevention policy and provide annual training to employees. The legislation included the provision that the Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy be reviewed and revised every four years. Workplaces are constantly changing, and the state is committed to strengthening its model policy to reflect the evolution of the world of work.

For more information on the current Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy go to Combating Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, file a report online or call NYS DHR’s new toll-free sexual harassment hotline at 1-800-HARASS-3 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Wave Hill Events February 2-February 9

 

 Don't snooze through winter fun—Hibernators Weekend is finally here Sat, Sun, Feb 4, 5. Hunker down like a hibernator with activities in our warm and cozy indoor spaces, or venture out into the peaceful gardens to connect with the creatures that animate the winter landscape—including humans! Meet live animals, create a dreamy hibernators mask at the Family Art Project, join a rejuvenating wellness class and explore the magical grounds. Afterwards, pop into The Café for a snack or warm drink. Visit our website for the full line-up of events this special weekend: fal.cn/3v3jn 

Sunday, drop in to visit our 2023 Winter Workspace Artists in their studios in Glyndor Gallery and learn about their creative practices. 

Winter Workspace 2023: Drop-In Sunday 

Sun, Feb 5, 2023, 1PM–3PM 

Free with admission to the grounds 

Glyndor Gallery 

The Winter Workspace is a program that takes place over two, six-week sessions and provides artists with free studio space, a financial stipend, and access to Wave Hill’s living collection. Session One takes place from January 9 to February 19, 2023. Since its start 14 years ago, the Workspace has supported more than 150 artists. During the Winter Workspace, artists have intimate access to the greenhouses, as well as horticultural and curatorial staff. Experimentation is encouraged and artists expand their practices while working on-site. Artists also engage with Wave Hill visitors through Drop-In Sundays, Open Studio events, as well as adult or family workshops. At the core of the Winter Workspace is the recognition that creating art within the context of a garden is a unique experience. 

 

The Winter Workspace Drop-In Sunday series provides an opportunity for Wave Hill visitors to deepen their connection with the arts and their experience of the garden by learning how artists are drawing inspiration from our site. During this event, visitors can mingle with three Workspace Artists in their studios, ask questions, and learn about their creative practice. Each Sunday a different group of artists participate.  

 

This event is family-friendly, and we welcome visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to attend. A Discovery Guide for families is available at the gallery desk, offering a fun way to engage with the artwork on view.  

 

Registration encouraged but not required for this drop-in event; register online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Questions? Please email us at information@wavehill.org or call the telephone number and extension above. 

 

Glyndor Gallery is wheelchair-accessible. There is an accessible, ground-level entrance at the front of the building with an elevator that provides access to the gallery level. The Sunroom Project Space can be accessed with an ADA-compliant ramp. The restroom on the gallery level is all-gender and ADA-compliant.   

 

Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walks 

Sun, Feb 5, 2023, 2–2:45PM  

Free with admission to the grounds  

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center 

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide–come back for an encore; each walk varies with the Guide leading it. This walk lasts a half-hour to 45 minutes. Severe weather cancels. 

 

Registration is not required for this drop-in event. Public Garden Walks are most appropriate for adults or young adults. Not intended for groups; groups should sign-up for Private Garden Tours. 

 

Questions? Please email us at information@wavehill.org or call 718.549.3200 x251.   

 

Garden Highlights Walks follow a variety of routes along mixed-material pathways and varying elevations. Accessible routes are available as requested; please indicate your need to Wave Hill staff at the Greeter Desk in the Perkins Visitor Center.   

HOURS: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.

garden-and-conservatory-highlights-walk_credit-Wave-Hill.

Attorney General James and Acting Commissioner Hiller Announce Sentencings in Ponzi Scheme

 

Carl Carro Sentenced to Up to 8 Years and James Doyle Sentenced to Five Years’ Probation for Scheme that Stole More Than $1 Million from Unsuspecting Investors

New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller announced the sentencings of Carl Carro (61, of Delaware County) and James Doyle (74, of Westchester County) for operating a nearly decade-long Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors in New York and throughout the nation of more than $1 million. Carro pled guilty last October to Money Laundering in the Second Degree (class C felony), Securities Fraud under the Martin Act (class E felony), Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree (class E felony), and Repeated Failure to File Personal Income Tax Returns (class E felony). Doyle pled guilty in July 2021 to Money Laundering in the Second Degree (class C felony) and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree (class E felony). Carro was sentenced to 4 to 8 years in prison and Doyle was sentenced to five years’ probation. As part of their respective sentences, Carro and Doyle agreed to pay a total of more than $1 million in judgments to the victims of their scheme. 

“New Yorkers deserve the peace of mind of knowing that when they invest their hard-earned money, it won’t be stolen by shameless fraudsters,” said Attorney General James. “For nearly a decade, Carl Carro and James Doyle pocketed more than $1 million dollars from investors who trusted them with their funds. I thank the Department of Taxation and Finance and Acting Commissioner Hiller for their critical support in our efforts to bring these bad actors to justice. My office will always work to protect the interests of New Yorkers and ensure anyone seeking to take advantage or violate state laws is held accountable.”

“These are not victimless crimes,” said Acting Commissioner Hiller. “Anyone who attempts to defraud New Yorkers also deprives the state of tax revenue used for vital public programs and services and must be held accountable. We’ll continue to work with Attorney General Letitia James, her office, and all levels of law enforcement to root out all forms of tax fraud and level the playing field for all New Yorkers.”

Yesterday's sentencings are the result of a joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the Department of Taxation and Finance’s (DTF) Criminal Investigations Division. In January 2021, both Carro and Doyle were arrested and charged with multiple crimes for their roles in the Ponzi scheme. Last May, Carro was charged for failing to pay more than $75,000 in New York state taxes over a six-year period. 

As outlined in the complaints, Carro and Doyle solicited investments in their companies, Endeavor Management Solutions and Endeavor Consultancy, from more than 50 individuals in New York and other states between January 2012 and December 2020. Carro and Doyle misrepresented to investors that Endeavor was a headhunting firm hired by prestigious clients to find candidates for openings on their boards of directors. They first lured investors with false promises of interviews for board positions and then offered purported no-risk investment opportunities in their firm. The two defendants promised their victims that investments would be held in an untouched cash reserve fund that allegedly held over $1 million and guaranteed a 10 to 20 percent return on investment after 30 days.  

An OAG audit revealed that investor funds were used for personal expenses and to pay back previously defrauded investors. According to the audit, the defendants spent nearly $500,000 on cash withdrawals, more than $200,000 to pay personal credit card bills, more than $57,000 on pet expenses, and more than $350,000 to pay previously defrauded investors. Altogether, Carro and Doyle stole between $15,000 and $30,000 from each of the more than 50 victims, with total losses exceeding $1 million. The overwhelming majority of the stolen funds were diverted for Carro’s personal benefit, including over $170,000 in restitution to pay the victims of Carro’s prior criminal cases. The audit also revealed that Carro failed to report over $2 million in taxable income, which included the amount he stole from victims, and failed to remit more than $100,000 in taxes owed to New York state since at least 2012.

Attorney General James thanks DTF’s Criminal Investigations Division, the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, the Otsego County District Attorney’s Office, the New York state Department of Financial Services, New Hampshire’s Bureau of Securities Regulations, Maine’s Office of Securities, and Connecticut’s Department of Banking for their valuable assistance. 

Statement from Senator Gustavo Rivera on Tentative Deal to End Strike Between NYSNA and Montefiore and Mount Sinai Hospitals

 

“Today is a great day for The Bronx and New York City. Overnight, NYSNA nurses reached tentative deals with Montefiore and Mount Sinai ending their three day strike. I’m glad that all parties were able to reach a deal, which includes implementing safe and enforceable staffing ratios in all inpatient units. Such measures will ensure the safety of both patients and nurses by improving working conditions that will allow these professionals to care for Bronxites and New Yorkers the way they deserve. Also, I’m proud that there will be an effort to recruit more nurses locally in The Bronx. Like I said before, no worker wants to go on strike, it is done out of necessity. Nurses dedicate their lives to caring for patients every day and this tentative deal is a product of these nurses’ commitment to their profession. This is a massive victory for our borough, for nurses in our City, nurses across the country, and for the labor movement.”

NY State Senator Gustavo Rivera | rivera.nysenate.gov

Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $38 Million Bridge Replacement Project on Saw Mill River Parkway in Westchester County

 

Two New Bridges Between Exits 26 & 28 in Pleasantville Improve Resiliency Against Severe Weather Events

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that major construction has been completed on two new bridges that carry the Saw Mill River Parkway over the Saw Mill River in the Village of Pleasantville, Westchester County. Located between Exits 26 & 28 on the parkway, the new bridges and a newly stabilized 1.3-mile stretch of the roadbed adjacent to the two structures will enhance safety and improve resiliency along a vital commuter artery that provides access to the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and the New York State Thruway which has been prone to flooding during heavy rains. The work, which cost approximately $38 million, was done as part of an ongoing, $115 million project to replace or renovate several bridges in lower Westchester County to better withstand severe weather events and improve travel throughout the busy corridor.

"Westchester County commuters are all-too-familiar with the Saw Mill River Parkway's history of flooding during major rainstorms and the associated travel headaches," Governor Hochul said. "With the completion of these two new bridges, we are writing a new chapter in the history of the Saw Mill - making it more resilient to severe weather and strengthening this vital travel artery for decades to come."

Begun in the summer of 2020, the project replaced the two bridges that were built in 1930 with modern, single span, steel girder bridges that are several feet higher than the original structures and better able to withstand floods. The adjacent roadway, which had been prone to settling, was stabilized with nearly 5000 wood piles that were driven into a more solid ground layer. New, higher capacity drainage systems were also added to accommodate storm water runoff. During construction, asphalt from the original bridges was recycled and used on the road deck for the new bridges and native vegetation species were planted to help beautify and protect the landscape.

As part of the larger Lower Westchester Bridge Bundle, the New York State Department of Transportation also replaced the East Lincoln Avenue bridge over the Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River in the Village of Pelham and City of Mount Vernon, and is in the process of replacing the U.S. Route 1 bridge over Mamaroneck River in Mamaroneck. These projects, which focus on drainage improvements and the reconstruction of roadways prone to flooding, will enhance safety and improve the region's resiliency during storm events. The overall project is expected to be complete by the end of 2023.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "Governor Hochul understands the critical role that infrastructure plays in the well-being of a community and how important it is that we build it back better to confront the ever-growing threat posed by climate change. By enhancing the resilience of our transportation network with strategic investments like this in Westchester County, we help keep people and goods on the move regardless of the impacts of severe weather."