MAYOR DE BLASIO LAUNCHES $37 MILLION VIOLENCE INTERVENTION EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

 

Partnering with green jobs innovator BlocPower will provide 1,500 jobs for at-risk residents in Brownsville, South Jamaica, East and Central Harlem, Mott Haven, and across the Bronx 

 Mayor de Blasio today announced a new $37 million violence intervention employment program that will create 1,500 jobs in Brownsville, South Jamaica, East and Central Harlem, Mott Haven, and across the Bronx. The initiative connects individuals at risk of involvement in gun violence with good-paying green jobs in partnership with BlocPower, a Brooklyn-based climate technology startup working to make American cities greener, smarter, and healthier. 

 

“A recovery for all of us does not exist unless each and every New Yorker feels safe,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “By providing training and employment opportunities to those at risk of gun violence, we can stop violence before it happens and invest in safer communities.”

 

The precision employment program focuses on communities experiencing 50% or more of shootings citywide, with explicit interest in those most vulnerable in these neighborhoods. The first wave of hiring will include over 200 residents from neighborhoods facing disproportionate levels of gun violence. Working with local community organizations, referred individuals identified as at-risk in Brownsville, Brooklyn; Mott Haven in the Bronx; and South Jamaica, Queens will receive hard and soft skills training to prepare them for successful employment before getting matched with placements at various job sites.

 

The hybrid training curriculum includes OSHA training, classes on important business communication and technical skills, conflict resolution strategies, de-escalation techniques, and access to culturally competent, trauma-based counseling and other wrap-around services. These trainings will help ensure the successful integration of participants into a workforce environment. 

 

Upon completion of their initial training period, participants will be certified on various green energy technologies and eligible for in-demand, good-paying jobs, such as those with BlocPower. Since its founding in 2014, the company has retrofitted more than 1,100 buildings in under-served communities in New York City, with projects underway in 26 cities. 

 

“BlocPower stands ready to help at-risk New York City young people break the cycle of gun violence by introducing them to a rewarding career in clean energy that will improve their lives and the lives of millions of other people,” said Donnel Baird, CEO and co-founder of BlocPower. “This project addresses social, economic and environmental injustices that impact low-income neighborhoods, and people of color, and aligns with what BlocPower is trying to accomplish – improving the health and well-being of New Yorkers and creating opportunities to bring economic prosperity back to the communities that need it most.” 

 

The targeted green jobs program is the latest effort by the City to address the recent increase in gun violence, while investing in the long-term success of both communities and residents. To address the recent increase in gun violence, the City launched Safe Summer NYC, which seeks to tackle the public health and safety challenges by expanding community-led and based violence interrupters through the Crisis Management System (CMS). Housed within the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) at the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), the CMS network’s interventions and approaches have successfully reduced and prevented violence in at-risk communities since its inception in 2014.

 

“Safety is not simply the absence of crime,” said Marcos Solos, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. “It starts with individuals having access to basic needs, like good paying jobs, job training, and support services that provide meaningful work. We’re proud to partner with BlocPower to help build the foundation for long-term safety.” 

 

This new employment initiative engages individuals identified as at-risk of being a victim or perpetrator of gun violence. Program participants are connected with immediately available gainful employment opportunities and a pathway to permanent and well-paying jobs at a salary no lower than $20 per hour. As part of the precision employment program, BlocPower will work with the City and local community organizations in each neighborhood as part of a cohesive Program Team of case managers, workforce instructors, credible messengers, community historians, and neighborhood stakeholders to identify ideal candidates and on-board participants.

 

Governor Hochul Announces Series of Universal Mask Requirements to Protect New Yorkers amid Rise of Delta Variant

 Face Coverings Now Required at State-Regulated Child Care Facilities for Children Ages Two and Up, All Staff and Visitors

Directs Residential Congregate Programs Operated, Licensed, Certified or Approved by the Office of Children and Family Services to Require Masks for All Staff and Residents

Directs Programs and Facilities Licensed or Registered by Office of Mental Health, Office of Addiction Services and Supports, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, and Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to Require Masks

Mask Requirements Apply Regardless of Vaccination Status

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a series of universal mask requirements designed to protect New Yorkers against the highly contagious Delta variant and the recent surge in COVID-19 infections statewide.

The requirement applies to New York State Office of Children and Family Services-licensed and -registered child care centers, home-based group family and family child care programs, after-school child care programs and enrolled legally exempt group programs during operational hours. Implementing the mask regulation in child care programs will provide consistency between child care program children and school children, many of whom often share the same buildings.

New masking requirements will also apply to congregate programs and facilities licensed, registered, operated, certified or approved by the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. This includes but is not limited to certified residential and day programs, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, substance abuse programs, juvenile detention programs, juvenile residential facilities, congregate foster care programs, runaway and homeless youth, domestic violence and other shelter programs. These requirements apply to anyone medically able to tolerate wearing a mask, regardless of vaccination status.

"With the Delta variant on the rise, requiring masks at state-regulated child care, mental health, and substance abuse facilities is a key part of our broader strategy for slowing the spread of the virus, reopening our economy safely, and protecting vulnerable members of our population," Governor Hochul said. "For children under 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, masks are the best line of defense against COVID-19 infection. This new mask requirement ensures that children in our child care facilities receive the same protection as children in our schools."  

The new mask requirement in child care facilities brings New York State into compliance with federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance issued in July that recommends universal indoor masking for anyone age two and older who has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and is medically able to wear a mask. It also brings child care facilities in alignment with school masking requirements announced on Governor Hochul's first day in office.

Because the Delta variant is so highly transmissible, there have been large increases in cases across all age groups. Because children under 12 years of age are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, there have been large increases in cases among children, which translates to higher numbers of severe cases. Additional protective measures will help to keep New York's children safe at this important time.

OCFS Commissioner Sheila J. Poole said, "We have heard from many parents and residents of congregate settings asking that the state require masking because child care and congregate residential programs will not require that protection without a state requirement. We want to keep all children and staff in child care programs, as well as staff and residents of congregate residential programs, safe from the spread of infection and wearing a mask is the best tool we have. Children want to be like the adults around them and will easily adapt to the mask wearing requirement."

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, "It is clear that masks help control and prevent the spread of infection. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, OMH has issued guidance for our State operated facilities and clinics as well as community-based mental healthcare providers recommending and encouraging the use of masks and other protective measures. I am very pleased that Governor Hochul has taken this step to establish and strengthen mask requirements that will protect healthcare workers, our patients and clients, and our communities from COVID-19."

14 DEFENDANTS INDICTED, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COLOMBO ORGANIZED CRIME FAMILY

 

Colombo Crime Family Boss, Underboss, Consigliere and Captains Are Among the Defendants Charged with Labor Racketeering, Extortion and Money Laundering

 In federal court in Brooklyn, a 19-count indictment was unsealed charging 14 defendants, including 10 members and associates of the Colombo crime family of La Cosa Nostra and a member of the Bonanno organized crime family, with various offenses including labor racketeering involving multiple predicate acts of extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and extortion, extortionate collection of credit conspiracy, extortionate collection of credit and money laundering conspiracy. The charges in the indictment against the Colombo crime family members relate to multiple charged schemes in a long-running effort by the crime family to infiltrate and take control of a Queens-based labor union (the “Labor Union”) and its affiliated health care benefit program (the “Health Fund”) that provides medical benefits, including dental, optical and pharmacy benefits, to the members of the Labor Union, and to a conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with workplace safety certifications. 

Among those charged with racketeering are Andrew “Mush” Russo, the boss of the Colombo crime family, Benjamin “Benji” Castellazzo, the underboss, and Ralph DiMatteo, the consigliere. Alleged Colombo crime family captains Theodore Persico, Jr., Richard Ferrara and Vincent Ricciardo are charged with racketeering, along with soldier Michael Uvino and associates Thomas Costa and Domenick Ricciardo. In addition, alleged Bonanno family soldier John Ragano is charged with loansharking, fraud and drug trafficking offenses. 

Thirteen defendants were arrested in New York and New Jersey and are scheduled to be arraigned via videoconference this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. Vincent Ricciardo was arrested in North Carolina and will be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler in federal court in Charlotte. DiMatteo remains at large.

Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Michael Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, New York Region (DOL-OIG); Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD); Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Margaret Garnett, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the charges and arrests. 

 “The charges describe a long-standing, ruthless pattern by the administration of the Colombo crime family, its captains, members and associates, of conspiring to exert control over the management of a labor union by threatening to inflict bodily harm on one of its senior officials and devising a scheme to divert and launder vendor contract funds from its health care benefit program. In addition, for their own enrichment, the defendants conspired to engage in extortionate loansharking, money laundering and fraud, as well as drug trafficking,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kasulis. “This Office and its law enforcement partners are committed to dismantling organized crime families, eliminating their corrupt influence in our communities and protecting the independence of labor unions.”

Ms. Kasulis also thanked the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Atlanta and New York Offices (DOL-EBSA), the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section for their valuable assistance in the investigation. 

“Everything we allege in this investigation proves history does indeed repeat itself. The underbelly of the crime families in New York City is alive and well. These soldiers, consiglieres, under bosses, and bosses are obviously not students of history, and don't seem to comprehend that we're going to catch them. Regardless of how many times they fill the void we create in their ranks, our FBI Organized Crime Task Force, and our law enforcement partners, are positioned to take them out again, and again,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.

“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate criminal allegations relating to organized crime and their illicit influence over labor unions and their affiliated employee benefit plans. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations,” stated DOL-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Mellone. 

“The indictment of 14 defendants, including members of the Columbo crime family on labor racketeering, extortion and money laundering charges should send a clear and concise message that these types of crimes will never be tolerated by law enforcement. By infiltrating and taking control of a Queens-based labor union and its affiliated health care benefit program these defendants were able to extort a substantial amount of money which should have been used for the members of the union. These benefits included medical, dental, optical and pharmaceutical. Congratulations to all of the investigators and their affiliated agencies on a job well done during this extensive investigation,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder.

“This indictment is another example of the NYPD’s long-term commitment, working with its law enforcement partners, in making sure those accused of organized crime are held accountable. I commend those who carried out the investigation as well as the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District in New York for its work in ensuring there is justice in this case,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea. 

 “Every time construction certifications are faked, every time bogus records are created and used to manipulate the facts, building in this City is undermined and New Yorkers' safety is compromised. This investigation is evidence of how corruption can erode the integrity of construction in New York City. And these charges reveal how DOI is working with its law enforcement partners to uncover and stop the illegal conduct,” stated DOI Commissioner Garnett. “DOI thanks the City Department of Buildings for reporting allegations related to this conduct, and the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the FBI, and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor for their partnership.” 

As set forth in the indictment and other court documents, the defendants and their co-conspirators committed a variety of crimes – including extortion, loansharking, fraud and drug trafficking – on behalf of the Colombo organized crime family. First, the Colombo crime family’s administration, including Russo, Castellazzo and Dimatteo, as well captains Persico, Ferrara and Vincent Ricciardo, used extortionate means, including direct threats of bodily harm, to control the management of the Labor Union and caused it to make decisions that benefitted the Colombo crime family. Since approximately 2001, Colombo captain Vincent Ricciardo and his cousin, associate Domenick Ricciardo, have collected a portion of the salary of a senior official in the Labor Union (“John Doe #1”) by threatening to harm John Doe #1 and his family. At the direction of the Colombo crime family’s leadership, beginning in late 2019, the defendants broadened the extortion effort to force John Doe #1 and others at the Labor Union and its affiliated Health Fund to make decisions that benefitted the Colombo crime family, including by forcing them to select vendors for contracts who were associated with the Colombo crime family. The defendants sought to divert more than $10,000 per month from the Health Fund’s assets to the administration of the Colombo crime family.

For example, on June 21, 2021, in a consensually recorded conversation, Vincent Ricciardo threatened to kill John Doe #1 if he did not comply with Vincent Ricciardo’s demands. He explained that John Doe #1 knows, “I’ll put him in the ground right in front of his wife and kids, right in front of his f-----g house, you laugh all you want pal, I’m not afraid to go to jail, let me tell you something, to prove a point? I would f-----g shoot him right in front of his wife and kids, call the police, f--k it, let me go, how long you think I’m gonna last anyway?” 

Further, Colombo crime family members Russo, Castellazzo, Dimatteo, Ferrara, Persico, Vincent Ricciardo, Uvino joined with defendants Thompkins and Bellantoni, among others, to devise a scheme to launder money from Health Fund contracts and payments through third parties and eventually to the Colombo crime family’s leaders. The defendants attempted to re-bid Health Fund vendor contracts for claims administration, pharmaceuticals and other health services to persons and companies affiliated with the defendant Joseph Bellantoni. Bellantoni and others agreed that in exchange for the new vendor contracts, they would pay kickbacks to the Colombo crime family and would use various intermediaries to hide the payments.  

The indictment also charges Bonanno organized crime family soldier John Ragano with leading a scheme to issue fraudulent workplace safety training certifications. As alleged, Ragano operated two workplace safety schools in the New York area that claimed to provide Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) training courses and certifications, along with various New York state certifications, to construction industry workers. Rather than provide training, Ragano along with his business partner John Glover and Domenick Ricciardo, falsified paperwork to the U.S. Department of Labor and other government agencies which represented that hundreds of workers had completed required safety courses when in reality they had not. Instead, various defendants used Ragano’s “schools” to conduct meetings involving members of La Cosa Nostra and to store illegal drugs and fireworks. 

Vincent Ricciardo, Uvino, Ragano and Costa are also charged with loansharking. As alleged, these defendants participated in extending and collecting on extortionate loans totaling $250,000 to an individual identified as “John Doe #2.” The defendants charged and collected a weekly 1.5% interest rate that did not reduce the principal owed and divided the proceeds between themselves. Further, Vincent Ricciardo, Ragano, Costa, Glover and Vincent Martino were charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana by transporting large shipments of marijuana in vehicles from New York to Florida. Vincent Ricciardo and Costa were also charged, as previously convicted felons, with possessing and transporting ammunition, and Persico, who is currently on federal supervised release following his release for a prior racketeering conviction, was charged with lying to federal court officers about his dealings with other Colombo crime family members.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendants each face up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND CHANCELLOR PORTER CELEBRATE LAUNCH OF UNIVERSAL NYC BABY BONDS

 

Historic expansion of NYC Kids RISE Save for College program to reach 70,000+ kindergarteners each year

 

Every public school kindergartener in NYC to have access to college and career savings account this school year 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio joined Chancellor Meisha Porter and kindergarteners from The Williamsburg Bridge Magnet School today to kick off New York City’s first-ever “Baby Bonds” program, a citywide expansion of the community-driven NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program. This public-private-community partnership provides families, schools, and communities access to a universal scholarship and savings platform, regardless of a family’s income or immigration status. 

 

“For New York to come back stronger than before the pandemic, we must address the widening wealth gap that holds so many kids back from opportunities,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This historic investment in our children’s futures will pay dividends for generations to come, helping us build a just recovery for all.”

 

“The racial wealth gap – persistent in every financial indicator from home ownership to savings – is a brutal driver of inequality and opportunity,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “How many hopes and dreams have withered on the vine because the money was not there to make them real? The City’s expansion of NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program is an investment in our children’s futures. Now, every kindergartner enrolled in a City public school can have a scholarship account, with the opportunity to save money and to multiply those savings. We should all applaud this wonderful public-private-community partnership, which is available regardless of income or immigration status.”

 

“The NYC College Savings program reflects our shared investment in an inclusive future,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives J. Phillip Thompson. “This is a truly unique platform that harnesses the collective investment of families, community and faith leaders, government, business, and philanthropy in the future of our City. It is a proven model for addressing racial disparities in access to college savings accounts. I applaud the leaders in District 30 who made this vision a reality and look forward to working with families, community leaders, and partners who will make this program a success citywide.”

“The Save for College Program is all about investing in the future of New York City’s children, and this expansion will provide every Kindergarten student citywide with the resources to chase their dreams as they grow up,” said Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. “This administration has made unprecedented investments in early childhood, and now thanks to our partners at NYC Kids RISE, we can help make sure our babies are set up for success in college, their careers, and beyond.”

 

“Far too many families and communities don’t have access to the tools and resources needed to save for a child’s future,” said Sideya Sherman, Executive Director of the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity. “By investing in our children from an early age, we can dramatically increase their chances of long-term success inside and outside the classroom. We have seen firsthand the power of communities coming together through the Save for College Program to ensure every young person in their neighborhood has a fighting chance at getting a college degree. Now, New York City is giving all of our public school students, families and communities across the five boroughs that same opportunity.”

 

“College savings accounts can catalyze new possibilities, and as a supporter of NYC Kids RISE since its inception, our office is thrilled that the initiative is now citywide,” said Matthew Klein, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity.  “These universal scholarship accounts provide a practical vehicle for savings, an opportunity to galvanize additional community support for its children, a signal that post-secondary learning can be for everyone, and a tangible demonstration of the City’s belief in investing in all of our children’s potential.”

 

Starting this year, every kindergartener enrolled in a New York City public school will have access to an NYC Scholarship Account, with $100 invested toward their future education and up to $200 in rewards. The historic expansion of this program will reach roughly 70,000 Kindergarteners citywide, up from over 13,000 students already participating in the program across School District 30 in Queens, which represent 95% of all eligible kindergarten, first-, second, and third-graders. This commitment was announced as part of the NYC Juneteenth Economic Justice Plan with the Task Force on Racial Inclusion and Equity last summer.

 

New York City is the first major city in the nation to implement this groundbreaking model for community wealth building that provides ways for stakeholders within each neighborhood and across the city—including schools, CBOs, local businesses, the private sector, and philanthropic organizations— to contribute to asset-building and promote community-wide expectations for students’ success from their first days of school.

 

With this announcement, the Mayor has guaranteed every family—regardless of income—is not only able to access free quality pre-school education but is also able to start saving early for college or career training after high school. Ultimately, this program has the potential to increase access to higher education, positioning students to earn higher incomes, take on less debt, and build wealth later in life, narrowing racial and socioeconomic disparities that hold too many children back. Research suggests that a child in a low-income household with a college savings account of just $1-500 is three times more likely to go to college and more than four times more likely to graduate than a child without an account.

 

The expansion of the Save For College Program, which NYC Kids RISE launched in partnership with the Department of Education (DOE) and the City with founding support from the Gray Foundation in 2017, signifies an investment in the financial and social resiliency of NYC’s families and neighborhoods, and it provides a new way to drive financial assets towards communities that have been systematically excluded from wealth-building opportunities. This milestone is the result of a broad effort from local leaders, partners, schools, businesses and parents in Queens who helped create a universal, community-driven wealth-building platform that is embedded in homes, schools, and neighborhoods.

 

These funds, including the funds that will accumulate progressively over time through Community Scholarships, can also reduce the amount that students and families borrow in student loans, combatting the student debt crisis that has disproportionately impacted students of color. Families will be receiving information about the program this fall through an “Education Period” and as students matriculate through school, they will have the opportunity to receive additional funding for their educational futures in the form of Community Scholarships.

 

“The New York City Save for College Program is a valuable tool for families to start investing in their loved ones’ education right away,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “I’m proud that my office has been able to assist in the creation of this vital program that is helping New Yorkers build savings and a brighter future. Congratulations to Mayor de Blasio, Chancellor Porter and the New York City Department of Education, the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity, and NYC Kids RISE on the citywide expansion of this vital program.” 

 

“After such a difficult year, it is thrilling to see New York City students return to school. We can’t just be focused on making up for the educational and socio-emotional losses of the past year, however; we must think about paving the way for greater success and achievement for all students in the years to come. The NYC Kids Rise program is a promising public-private partnership that will help ensure students and families have the resources they need to plan for their educational futures,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

 

“Your income, race, gender, ethnicity and zip code should never dictate whether you can access higher education or economic opportunity,” said Congressman Ritchie Torres. “Expanding the Save for College Program citywide will help break down economic disparities and increase access to tools that allow families to save money and invest in the future of our children, ensuring that all New York City students have a chance to go to college and build generational wealth. I have been a long time champion of innovative approaches like this to end historic racial inequities in our city, and I look forward to helping to build an economy and educational system that works for all New Yorkers.”

 

“Unlocking opportunity for our children’s future will take generational efforts and I am proud we were able to get State support for this meaningful program by working with NYC Kids RISE and the Astoria Houses Tenants Association, who led the way in its establishment. I am thrilled the City is expanding it further and look forward to its successful implementation,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris.

 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNAPOLI: LOCAL SALES TAX COLLECTIONS IN AUGUST GREW MORE THAN 15 PERCENT

 

Collections Exceeded Both 2020 and Pre-Pandemic 2019 Levels

 Local government sales tax collections in August were 15.5% higher than they were during the same period in 2020, making it the fifth consecutive month that collections exceeded 2020 results, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today. Statewide, local collections totaled more than $1.5 billion, up nearly $204 million from August of last year.

“New York’s local governments continue to see much stronger collections in 2021 compared to last year when the pandemic kept people home,” DiNapoli said. “However, it remains uncertain how recent increases in statewide infection rates will impact the economy. Local governments must continue to monitor changing economic conditions and maintain vigilance when it comes to their finances.”

The double-digit growth in local sales taxes are notable in comparison to the fairly weak collections reported during August 2020 when sales activity was recovering in certain parts of the state from the early effects of the pandemic. Still, August 2021 total collections were strong even when compared to the figures reported during pre-pandemic levels, growing 6.5%, or nearly $93 million, over August of 2019.

New York City’s collections totaled almost $623 million, an increase of 7.9% or more than $45 million compared to August 2020. Every county outside of New York City saw year-over-year collections for August grow by double digits, ranging from 12.6% in Herkimer County to 76.3% in Delaware County.

During the last month of each calendar quarter, the state Department of Taxation and Finance reconciles quarterly distributions against what had been reported by sales tax vendors for the reporting quarter and adjusts payments to local jurisdictions in those months upward or downward accordingly. During the other months, including August, the payments are based on estimates. The next reconciliation will be reported in mid-October and will provide more information on the regional picture of sales tax collections for the third quarter (July through September) of 2021. 

Table

Monthly Local Sales Tax Collections by County and Region (for detailed monthly breakdown)

Governor Hochul Announces Release of Updated Financial Plan Showing Strong Fiscal Position with Risk Ahead

 

$2.1 Billion in Revenue Above Expectations Projected for Each of the Four Years of the Plan  

  

Governor Directs $1.1 Billion to Reserves this Year as COVID-19 Variants Spread

Risk Remains as COVID-19 Variants Threaten Economic Reopening

 New York State Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the release of the first quarter update to the New York State Financial Plan, which shows the state in a strong fiscal position as economic growth beats expectations with revenues projected to be an additional $2.1 billion higher in each of the four years of the plan. As a result, the plan is balanced in the current year and next, and budget gaps through Fiscal Year 2025 are reduced by nearly $2 billion.

At the Governor's direction, this year $1.1 billion of this additional revenue will be placed in reserves and $650 million is designated to reduce borrowing for capital projects.

"While the state's fiscal picture is strong, which is an incredible reversal from where we were a year ago, we must act with caution as the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread, threatening our economic recovery," Governor Hochul said. "For this reason, I am bolstering state reserves to protect against economic downturn and new costs while creating capacity for the state to meet future infrastructure needs, all critical to protecting New Yorkers and our economy from the ravages of the pandemic and moving New York forward."

The State Financial Plan, which projects revenue and spending over a four-year period, projects all funds spending for Fiscal Year 2022 at $209.5 billion, a 0.3 percent increase from the Enacted Budget Financial Plan released in May with federal funding for rent relief coming in $300 million more than expected and labor settlements reached with the Public Employees Federation. All funds revenue receipts are projected at $215.3 billion, a 0.7 percent increase reflecting the $2.1 billion in revenue coming in above expectations.

At the time the Budget was enacted, the Financial Plan showed gaps in FY 2024 of $1.4 billion and $2 billion in FY 2025. The updated first quarter financial plan released today shows a gap of $247 million in FY 2024 and $1.2 billion in FY 2025, a reduction of nearly $2 billion over the two years. The budget is balanced in FY 2022 and FY 2023.

In the current year, the newly recognized revenue will fund $1.1 billion added to reserves, including a reserve to fund potential labor settlements and agency operations following 10 percent recurring budget cuts implemented in FY 2021, $650 million to reduce borrowing for capital projects, and the remaining funds will support prior year costs of the recent labor settlement with the Public Employees Federation.  

Representative Adriano Espaillat Recognizes National Hispanic Heritage Month

 

Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized from September 15 to October 15, 2021, and is a month-long celebration honoring the culture and contributions of Hispanics and our impacts on American society.

Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement in recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month:

"Hispanic heritage is American heritage, and I'm proud to mark the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month for 2021. From our contributions to the arts and entertainment, medical science and technology, business and education, government and serving in our nation's Armed Forces, our people play a significant role in shaping this nation and our future in it," said Rep. Espaillat.

"While we have made significant progress in our efforts to achieve the American dream, there is much work that still lies ahead. As we honor and celebrate the contributions of our Hispanic communities during National Hispanic Heritage Month, we continue to stand united in our fight to keep families together and provide a pathway to citizenship for our nation's over 11 million undocumented immigrants - especially our Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, farmworkers, and essential workers.

"We stand firm in our commitment to repair our nation's broken immigration system, and we stand together to ensure America remains a beacon of hope, freedom and opportunity for all.”

Renderings Revealed For RAMSA-Designed Affordable Housing Property At 1640-1642 Anthony Avenue In Claremont, The Bronx

 

New renderings from Robert A.M. Stern Architects offer a first look at 1640-1642 Anthony Avenue, an affordable housing property in the Claremont neighborhood of The Bronx. The property will create 40 low-income homeownership opportunities reserved for households earning up to $93,000 for a three-person household.

The eight-story structure will comprise 20 one-bedroom, 16 two-bedroom, and four three-bedroom apartments, all fitted with a balcony and hardware for washer and dryer unit installation. Amenities for residents include a rear yard, community room, wellness gym, and hydroponic center. Additionally, as a part of the development, homeownership education and assistance will be provided to first-time home buyers and residents whose applications have been denied.

As expected, the RAMSA design studio selected a mix of pale gray and tan bricks for the building’s façade. Balconies are enclosed in dark metal handrails. Communal outdoor space is positioned along a large setback above the seventh floor.

Aerial renderings also illustrate a large solar array above the eighth partial floor.

The project is the latest to debut as part of the Jerome Avenue rezoning, an initiative that is expected to create more than $189 million in capital projects and community services. This includes improved parks and playgrounds, pedestrian safety improvements near the Cross Bronx Expressway, business assistance, and new schools. Covering a two mile stretch of Jerome Avenue, roughly from 167th Street to 184th Street, the rezoning is designed to promote new housing developments, including permanently affordable housing.

“Thanks to this plan, 40 families will get the opportunity to buy a home and live the American dream,” said Louise Carroll, commissioner of New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD). We know that affordable homeownership is an important vehicle for building family wealth and giving communities a greater stake in their neighborhoods.”

Members of the development team include Habitat NYC and Westchester, Camber Property Group, and Almat Urban, which will eventually transfer ownership of the Interboro Community Land Trust, or CLT. Interboro CLT is a collaboration between the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, Habitat for Humanity New York City, the Mutual Housing Association of New York, and the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board.

The Anthony Avenue property marks the first time HPD had selected a team proposing the CLT model. In this model, a nonprofit organization retains ownership of land and reserves available units for lower-income households. Available units are price-capped, even in the event of resale, which maintains affordability for the next generation of land trust residents and insulates the CLT from the market.

The project is being financed through HPD’s Open Door program, which funds the new construction of affordable cooperative, condominium buildings, as well as single- to three-family homes.