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Join Bronx Chamber members, elected officials, and friends for a Summer evening of networking, great food & drinks, and conversation. The evening includes live music, barbeque, dancing, and networking.
Individuals wishing to golf before hand must contact Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Course directly.
| Reserve Your Spot - Click Here |
Creates Program to Advance Projects in the Gowanus Rezoning Area Halted by the Expiration of 421-A, Unlocking Thousands of Units of Housing, Including Affordable Housing
Signs Executive Order Establishing Preference for Certified Pro-Housing Communities in Accessing $650 Million in Discretionary Funding
Establishes Requirement That All State Entities Review State-Owned Sites for Potential Housing; Announces Open Requests for Proposals at Two State-Owned Sites That Could Potentially Yield Hundreds of Housing Units
Highlights Initiatives Aimed at Addressing Regulatory Hurdles to Housing Production
Launches Beta Version of Housing Data Dashboard to Share Currently Available Housing Data, Help State and Local Governments Identify Challenges and Track Progress on Housing Growth – Available Here
Builds on FY 2024 Budget Investments in Housing and Governor’s Ongoing Commitment to Making New York More Affordable
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced several executive actions to promote housing growth as part of her ongoing commitment to addressing New York’s housing crisis, largely driven by a severe housing shortage. The actions include a program to advance residential projects halted by the expiration of 421-A that include affordable housing in the Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn; an executive order establishing preference in certain discretionary funding programs for localities across the state that comply with a new “Pro-Housing Community” certification process; a new requirement that all State entities identify the potential for their state-owned lands to support housing; recent and forthcoming regulatory initiatives to identify opportunities for greater efficiencies to promote housing growth; and the launch of the beta version of a new, interactive portal to collect and share community-level housing and zoning data and information on an ongoing basis.
The Governor remains committed to developing creative solutions in partnership with the Legislature to help New Yorkers find and keep a decent home that they can afford. These actions build on investments secured by Governor Hochul in the FY 2024 Budget to make the state more livable and affordable for all New Yorkers.
"New York's housing crisis isn't going away, and I'm committed to doing everything in my power to make New York more affordable and livable for all," Governor Hochul said. "These executive actions are an important first step to expand our housing supply and promote housing growth. But make no mistake: to fully address the scope of this crisis, we need action from the legislature — and I'm committed to continuing our work on housing in the coming months."
Facilitating Development of Housing, Including Affordable Housing, Through Gowanus Program
The Governor announced a program aimed at targeting specific benefits and housing obligations in line with the former 421-a(16) program for development proposals currently vested in the expired program in the Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn. Proposals would respond to a request for applications administered by Empire State Development. For eligible proposals, Empire State Development would purchase the privately owned properties for a nominal fee, lease the property back to the original owners for a long-term lease term that would parallel the 421-a(16) benefit period, and deed the property back to the original owner at the conclusion of the benefit period. In exchange, the property owner would make payments equivalent to the reduced taxes the property would have paid if it were to complete construction prior to the expired 421-a(16) program completion deadline of June 15, 2026.
Proposals would need to comply with affordability, labor, and other requirements similar to those of the 421-a(16) program and meet certain eligibility criteria, including but not limited to:
This program will be presented for approval to the Empire State Development Directors later this week. Each proposal would be subject to a public review process that would include Empire State Development board and Public Authorities Control Board approvals.
In 2021, the New York City Council passed an expansive rezoning covering 82 blocks in Gowanus to build the neighborhood’s capacity to accommodate housing growth. This program represents an important first step to saving housing at risk following the expiration of 421-a by allowing several existing residential proposals in Gowanus that are currently vested in 421-a(16) to move forward, unlocking thousands of units of housing, including affordable housing.
Prioritizing Pro-Housing Communities for Certain Discretionary Funds
The Governor also signed an executive order designating certain discretionary funds as “Pro-Housing Community Programs” to recognize and reward municipalities that actively seek to participate in unlocking their housing potential. The programs will prioritize funding based on a new certification process that will be developed and overseen by Homes and Community Renewal and will be based on factors assessing localities’ success in and commitment to identifying impediments to and promoting housing growth. These factors will include whether localities have committed to taking important steps to support housing, such as streamlining permitting and adopting pro-housing policies, and whether they have submitted critical housing and zoning data to the state to help identify challenges to and track progress on housing growth. Communities that additionally meet annual housing growth targets of one percent downstate and one-third of a percent upstate will receive top prioritization.
To support communities that receive this certification, the Governor’s executive order requires the prioritization of those municipalities who have been certified as Pro-Housing over those that have not in applications for specific discretionary funding programs. Per the order, the following state funding initiatives, totaling more than $650 million, will give special consideration to Pro-Housing Communities by giving their applications additional weight:
In addition, the executive order directs New York State agencies, public authorities, public benefit corporations, and related State entities to take into account the goal of creating additional housing in all policy and programmatic decisions.
New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced an agreement with the Mamaroneck Union Free School District (Mamaroneck UFSD) over its failure to respond to instances of race- and gender-based bullying and harassment against students in schools. The settlement resolves the Office of the Attorney General's (OAG) investigation, which began in June 2020 following allegations from students and parents that administrators had failed to adequately address confirmed instances of race- and gender-based bullying and harassment. The complaints alleged that the Mamaroneck UFSD’s lack of action led to students being repeatedly degraded and discriminated against by their classmates for months across various schools within the district. The severity of the harassment interfered with students’ ability to learn, socialize, and feel safe within their schooling environment. Through the settlement announced today, Mamaroneck UFSD agrees to implement substantial policy changes, provide student counseling, and engage in data collection and reporting to OAG for its responses to future instances of bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
“With this agreement, the Mamaroneck Union Free School District has committed to take appropriate measures to meet its duty to children and their families and to protect students from bullying, harassment, and discrimination,” said Attorney General James. “My office will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that every child feels safe and respected in the classroom.”
Federal law guarantees all students the right to a public education, and it provides that they shall not be deprived of this most basic right on the basis of race or sex. Title VI and Title IX specifically require schools take steps to protect students from race- and gender-based misconduct. Further, New York’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) requires public schools to provide a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying. DASA requires schools to investigate and respond to instances of bullying with measures reasonably calculated to end the behavior creating a hostile environment for a student.
The OAG’s investigation concluded that Mamaroneck UFSD’s failure to address student bullying and harassment constituted a violation of Title VI and Title IX. Black students and other students of color were regularly the targets of racial epithets and sexually offensive harassment. The OAG found that Mamaroneck UFSD, despite promptly investigating these incidents, failed to engage in necessary responses to limit this behavior in the future. Consequently, the inconsistent and ineffective approaches to the misconduct led to students continuing to be subjected to harassment and bullying from their peers. Students who were victims of this behavior experienced physical, mental, and emotional suffering that interfered with their ability to participate in social and educational activities within the classroom.
The Mamaroneck UFSD has agreed to comply with robust reforms to improve its response to future instances of race- and gender-based bullying, harassment, and discrimination, including but not limited to:
The Mamaroneck UFSD will also cooperate with OAG to ensure compliance with the aforementioned measures and will provide written summary reports to OAG of bullying and harassment incidents to confirm their policies are in accordance with the district’s Equity Work Plan.
This settlement concludes OAG’s first investigation related to allegations of student-on-student race-based bullying and harassment. The OAG remains committed to ensuring that the rights of students are not violated or infringed on school grounds. The OAG encourages New Yorkers with information regarding misconduct within their school districts to please contact OAG’s Civil Rights Bureau.
The New York City Comptroller’s Office released its monthly update to the Department of Correction (DOC) Dashboard, available here. This month’s dashboard data highlights the persistent issues surrounding DOC operations from rising jail population to an increase in detained individuals with serious mental illness.
Key monthly DOC metrics show:
In May 2023, the DOC ceased publicly disclosing information about deaths that occurred in their custody. The dashboard reflects the current number of known deaths in DOC custody as reported by the media.
“Every life lost because of the conditions on Rikers demonstrates a total disregard to care for the people in custody . The lack of transparency and improvement in City jails proves that DOC cannot continue safe and secure operation of these facilities. The DOC owes the deceased, their families, and New Yorkers a full picture of what happens under their watch,” said Comptroller Brad Lander.
Comptroller Lander is among a coalition of officials and criminal justice advocates who support a federal receiver to supervise the City’s jail system. Chief District Judge Laura Swain will preside over a hearing in early August to consider federal receivership.
The Comptroller’s dashboard, first published in August, 2022, monitors pervasive issues in the City’s jails, including staff absenteeism, missed medical appointments, and incidents of violence among detained people and staff. It also tracks the jail population every month and length of stay. The Comptroller’s office publishes data to this dashboard monthly to provide increased transparency and accountability over the City’s jail system.
View the DOC Dashboard here.
Deadline Extended to August 11 as Communities Statewide Face Aftermath of Severe Weather Emergencies
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the extension of the application deadline for certain resiliency-related state grants in the wake of impacts from devastating flooding in communities across New York State. The new August 11 deadlines provides communities impacted by storm damage additional time to apply for resources to help improve water quality, strengthen flood resiliency, and mitigate climate change.
"Communities dealing with the destruction and aftermath of these severe weather events shouldn't lose out on the opportunity to apply for grant funding that could advance critical water quality and resiliency projects," Governor Hochul said. "Extending the deadline will give flood-stricken communities time to finish their applications for projects that will protect public health, prepare for future severe weather events, and create jobs that boost local economies."
The deadline for the following grant programs was extended from July 28 to Aug. 11:
The online application and eligibility information for the WIIA and IMG programs are available at efc.ny.gov/wiia. WIIA and IMG applications are due no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11.
The CFA is available at apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa. Applications for WQIP, GIGP, EPG and non-agricultural non-point source and MS4 planning grants are due no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11.
New York State's nation-leading investment in clean water infrastructure totals $5 billion since 2017. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, the 2023-24 Enacted Budget includes the $500 million in clean water funding. The Governor launched Community Assistance Teams this year to expand EFC's technical assistance program and help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities leverage this funding to address their clean water infrastructure needs. Any community that needs help with their water infrastructure needs is encouraged to contact EFC at efc.ny.gov/CAT.
The voter-approved $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act specifically named EFC's grant programs as tools for leveraging funding for water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure. The Bond Act is advancing historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities' ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats, and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms. Disadvantaged Communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of Bond Act funding, with a goal of 40 percent.
New York State is hosting on-site and virtual listening sessions for communities to learn more about Bond Act funding opportunities and to weigh in on the draft eligibility guidelines being developed to identify potential projects. Go to the Bond Act website at www.ny.gov/BondAct to learn more and register for the July 20 Capital Region, July 26 virtual, and other upcoming sessions this summer.
Just a year after the Division of the Budget forecast fiscal stability and no projected budget gaps in the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2022-23 Enacted Budget Financial Plan, the SFY 2023-24 plan shows looming gaps cumulatively totaling $36.4 billion through SFY 2026-27. Reasons for the deteriorating fiscal outlook include declines in revenue from a weaker economic forecast, stock market volatility, and increases in recurring spending, according to a report by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
“The state’s fiscal outlook has changed considerably over the past year, and significant economic and fiscal risks could further upend the state’s finances,” DiNapoli said. “The Governor and the Legislature prudently increased New York’s reserve funds, but that cannot replace fiscal discipline or be relied upon to plug recurring budget gaps. While there is no quick fix, a proactive approach by state leaders to align recurring revenues with recurring spending could help preserve the economic competitiveness of our state and avoid cuts to critical programs New Yorkers rely on.”
DiNapoli said large budget gaps underscore the importance of building up rainy day reserves and enhancing criteria for their use. At the end of SFY 2022-23, statutory rainy day reserves totaled $6.3 billion. The Enacted Budget Financial Plan states future deposits will be made at the discretion of the Executive. Given the size of the estimated gaps and risk of economic downturn, DiNapoli recommends beginning to transfer the $13.2 billion in fund balance designated by DOB for “economic uncertainties” and controlled by the Executive into the statutory rainy day reserves on a monthly basis over the course of the fiscal year. If all the funds were deposited, the statutory reserves would total $19.5 billion, which is 17% of projected General Fund disbursements in SFY 2023-24. Absent such action, the Executive should develop and clearly state criteria for using the funds designated for “economic uncertainties.”
Growing Budget Gaps
In the three months between the release of the SFY 2023-24 Executive Budget Updated for the 30-Day Amendments and the SFY 2023-24 Enacted Budget Financial Plan, DOB’s budget gap projections grew by $4 billion in SFY 2024-25, $5.3 billion in SFY 2025-26, and $6.3 billion in SFY 2026-27. The gaps are now projected to be $9.1 billion, $13.9 billion and $13.4 billion, respectively. The estimated gaps are well above typical forecasted levels over the previous 15 years.
The updated financial plan reduced General Fund tax receipts from the SFY 2023-24 Executive Budget estimates by more than $5 billion annually. In addition, more than $1.1 billion of average annual recurring spending was added. The projected budget gaps would have been larger, but were offset by discretionary actions taken by DOB, including adjustments to the timing of payments and prepaying future expenses. Without these actions, DOB’s projected cumulative gap over the four-year financial plan period would have totaled $48.9 billion.
Spending Up, Revenues Down
While State Operating Funds (SOF) revenues are projected by DOB to decline by more than 10% from SFY 2022-23 through SFY 2026-27, projected expenditures are expected to grow by almost $22 billion, or 17.8%
On an All Funds basis, which captures the impact of waning extraordinary federal aid from the pandemic, DOB projects that receipts will decline by 5.3% during this period, while expenditures will grow by 10.3%. All Funds health disbursements are projected to grow by almost $16 billion between SFY 2022-23 and SFY 2026-27, comprising more than 70% of the projected growth for this time period. That growth is largely due to a projected rise in Department of Health (DOH) Medicaid costs of nearly $10 billion (from $77.4 billion to $87.3 billion) and of $4.3 billion in the Essential Plan (from $6.3 billion to $10.6 billion).
DiNapoli’s report identifies several risks and concerns related to DOB’s forecast and projections, including the following.
Increasing Volatility in Tax Collections
As one of its largest revenue sources, the state is highly dependent upon the Personal Income Tax (PIT). In the past ten fiscal years, collections from the PIT averaged 62% of All Funds tax revenues and nearly half of total State Operating Funds receipts. PIT receipts can fluctuate from year-to-year since they are partially based on volatile income sources such as capital gains, dividend and interest income, and bonuses paid to securities industry employees.
In 2022, DiNapoli noted that increased tax rates on high-income earners would likely make PIT collections more volatile. PIT liability is largely paid by a relatively small number of taxpayers who also have a higher share of non-wage income, like capital gains and dividend and interest income, that makes state tax collections especially vulnerable to declines in the stock market. Based on preliminary tax year 2021 data, taxpayers with incomes over $1 million were 1.5% of all filers but paid 43.5% of the total liability. Their share of those non-wage income sources was 74%. Several factors, including decline in the financial markets and expiration of federal benefits, led PIT collections to plummet in SFY 2022-23.
DiNapoli’s 2022 report on taxpayer migration showed that from 2015 to 2019 a net average of 28,700 personal income taxpayers moved out of New York annually, many of whom were high-income residents. In 2020 a net of 112,400 taxpayers moved out, nearly four times as many in 2019. According to preliminary 2021 tax year data, the net number of taxpayers moving out of New York declined but was over 10,000 higher than the annual average for 2015 to 2019. In addition, the net number of millionaires leaving were almost three times those in 2019. A continuation of this trend would hurt the state’s PIT collections.
Medicaid Enrollment
The state’s reprocessing of eligibility requirements for Medicaid enrollees is expected to decrease enrollment by one million to 6.9 million individuals by April 2024. If the enrollment declines are slower-than-anticipated, it will produce fiscal pressures on spending in the current fiscal year. Unanticipated total two-year costs under alternative enrollment scenarios range from $10 billion (assuming enrollment declines by two-thirds) to $30 billion (assuming Medicaid enrollment does not decline at all by March 2025).
End of Pandemic Federal Aid
The federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided $12.75 billion in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to New York state. Over the two years, approximately one-quarter of funds were used for public health and safety payroll, and more than half (almost $4 billion) was for “government services.” This high-level reporting provides little specificity and explanation for use of the funds, including whether it is for recurring or non-recurring items. If these funds are supporting recurring spending, they may cause a “fiscal cliff” when funds are depleted. Future updates from DOB should be more specific about the uses of these funds.
Report
State Fiscal Year 2023-24 Enacted Budget Financial Plan
Related Reports
Moving In or Moving Out? New York State Personal Income Taxpayer Migration Trends
The New York State Department of Labor Conducts Ride Inspections to Protect Fairgoers
Department of State Offers Safety Tips for Families
The New York Department of State and the Department of Labor today announced proactive measures to ensure a fun, safe amusement park and fair season for families and visitors statewide. NYSDOL inspects all rides at stationary parks outside of New York City at least once a year and inspects rides at traveling carnivals or fairs every time the rides are set up at a new location. A ride cannot legally operate without a permit from NYSDOL. In 2022, the Department inspected around 6,900 rides across New York State.
“Amusement parks, fairs and carnivals are an exciting way to spend time with your family during the summer, but a fun day can quickly turn into a bad experience if the proper safety procedures are not followed,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “Before heading to one of these attractions, parents and children alike should be aware of the rules that are in place to keep everyone safe and know the warning signs of a potentially unsafe ride.”
“Our inspectors work diligently and thoroughly to ensure that every piece of equipment functions properly before anyone boards these rides,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “When you see the NYSDOL inspection tag, you know that the ride has been thoroughly inspected and is safe to enjoy.”
NYSDOL inspections are a three-step process:
NYSDOL places dated inspection tags on each ride after it has passed inspection. No ride that fails an inspection is permitted to operate, but these tags allow families to see plainly that the ride has been inspected and deemed safe. Information on the tag includes the name of the ride, the name of the inspector, the date it was inspected and whether it passed or failed.
Ride Safe:
Beat the Heat:
Child Safety:
New York State is home to more than 50 county and youth fairs that operate from July through the middle of September, with the Long Island Fair closing out the season. Local fairs allow visitors a chance to sample locally grown food. These events also provide an opportunity to learn about local agriculture, including where our food comes from, and how it is grown, harvested, and marketed to the public.
For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division on social media at Twitter: @NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.
Key to the City of New York to Honor Simpson’s Decades of Contributions to R&B Music as Half of Iconic Duo Ashford & Simpson
New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday awarded a Key to the City of New York to legendary songwriter and music producer Valerie Simpson at the 22nd Annual St. Albans Jazz and Rhythm and Blues (R&B) Festival for her over 50 years of contributions to and influence on music history. Alongside her husband Nickolas Ashford as the iconic, prolific pair Ashford & Simpson, Simpson collaborated with music’s largest stars to produce and perform songs such as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Solid.”
“For more than 50 years, Valerie Simpson has been the heart of R&B in New York City and the nation,” said Mayor Adams. “Every note in her songs has been infused with the love and soul of this city. Valerie’s works have been performed by some of the most legendary artists of our time, but her songs will remain timeless. I am honored to present Valerie Simpson with a Key to the City of New York, and I know that her music will be loved by generations to come.”
“I was born in the Bronx, and to receive a Key to the City from Mayor Adams at the St. Albans Jazz and Rhythm and Blues Festival was a true ‘wow’ moment,” said Valerie Simpson. “I could feel all the love from the community. This was a special moment for me, and I’m humbled and appreciative of this honor.”
Mayor Adams delivers Key to the City of New York to music legend Valerie Simpson.
Born in the Bronx, Simpson met Ashford at the White Rock Baptist Church in New York City in 1964 and soon began writing songs under their partnership of Ashford & Simpson. The duo rose to national fame after writing Ray Charles’ “Let’s Go Get Stoned” in 1964, which reached number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They would go on to perform their own songs, such as “Solid” and “Found a Cure,” as well as collaborate with music legends Ben E. King, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Quincy Jones. The duo also wrote Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” and Diana Ross’ “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Ashford & Simpson were nominated for three Grammy Awards and wrote 16 albums, four of which went gold. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002, the duo has received over 50 awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), including the ASCAP’s Founder’s Award in 1996, the Rhythm & Blues Foundation’s Pioneer Award in 1999, and the Grammy Trustees Award in 2019. Today, Simpson is an ASCAP Foundation board member and runs The Sugar Bar, a music club that provides opportunities for young musicians to perform.
The Key to the City of New York was first awarded in 1702 by New York City Mayor Phillip French, when he offered "Freedom of the City" to Viscount Edward Cornbury, the then-governor of New York and New Jersey. By the mid-1800s, it became customary to award the Key to the City of New York as a direct symbol of the city’s wish that a guest feel free to come and go at will. Today, the Key to the City of New York is a beloved symbol of civic recognition and gratitude reserved for individuals whose service to the public and the common good rises to the highest level of achievement.
