“I am thrilled with Moody’s vote of confidence in New York City’s economy. A higher bond rating means lower borrowing costs for the City, which means additional resources to help fund our city schools, parks and other critical services, as well as more money to help us weather whatever economic challenges may come our way. That said, maintaining the city’s fiscal strength is a full-time job, so while we celebrate today’s good news, we at the Comptroller’s Office remain doubly committed to continuing our progress through careful oversight of the city’s budget and economy.”
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Comptroller Stringer on FY 2020 Preliminary Budget: City Needs a Robust Savings Plan to Protect Vital Services for New York Families
Agency Watch List reveals lack of accountability and results despite record spending at the Department of Correction, Department of Buildings, and multi-agency spending on homeless services
Comptroller’s analysis of the City’s proposed FY 2020 budget shows budget gaps closed using numerous one-time actions instead of recurring savings
Stringer calls for increasing the City’s budget cushion to 15 percent of total spending by FY 2023 to protect the social safety net
New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer delivered his annual analysis of New York City’s Preliminary Fiscal Year 2020 budget which revealed a lack of financial preparedness for potential future economic uncertainty, and an absence of tangible results despite increased record spending at three City agencies. Comptroller Stringer’s analysis found the proposed FY 2020 budget relies on numerous one-time actions to balance the budget and called for a goal of increasing the City’s budget cushion to 15% of total spending to sufficiently prepare the City for unforeseen events and protect programs that lift up New Yorkers. Additionally, the Comptroller’s Agency Watch List – which spotlights city departments without demonstrable results for their spending – revealed record multi-agency spending on homeless services, which is projected to reach nearly $3 billion even as the shelter population continues to rise. Meanwhile, the Department of Correction is spending over $300,000 per detainee as incidents of violence increase. New for this year, Comptroller Stringer added the Department of Buildings to his Agency Watch List due to a 252% increase in construction accidents since FY 2014, despite increasing spending by 62% over the same period.
“The City’s budget is a statement about our values, it’s our opportunity each year to consider how we are serving working families and promoting policies that will empower all New Yorkers. While there are some critical initiatives included in the FY 2020 budget, we must be doing more to reach a balanced, sustainable budget and ensure that city agencies are accountable for the public money they spend,” said Comptroller Stringer. “Our budget needs to be balanced for the long term, not just for the next year, so that we can ensure that vital initiatives and services for families and seniors go uninterrupted regardless of the broader economy. To reach that goal we need to build up our budget cushion and conduct a more rigorous review of agency spending to root out inefficiencies and waste.”
The Comptroller’s wide-ranging presentation covered several aspects of the City Preliminary Budget and the state of the City’s economy, including:
Overview of the FY 2020 Preliminary Budget
- Spending growth is 2.1%, adjusted for the anticipated use of the FY 2019 surplus to prepay certain FY 2020 expenses;
- Spending is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.3% over the entire Plan period, fiscal years 2019 to 2023;
- In contrast, revenues are projected to grow at an average rate of 1.8% each year until FY 2023, resulting in budget gaps of $3.5 billion in FY 2021, $2.9 billion in FY 2022, and $3.3 billion in FY 2023; and
- So far this year, the February Plan shows a projected $3.2 billion budget surplus in FY 2019, $1.4 billion less than the $4.6 billion budget surplus of FY 2018.
The Economic Outlook is Clouded with Risk
- While the City’s economy is still growing, the Comptroller’s office forecasts that growth will slow in coming years;
- The short-run stimulus effects of federal tax cuts and spending will wear off just as the national economy reaches the late stages of the nearly decade-long expansion, and global growth slows sharply;
- As a result, economic growth in the City is expected to decelerate, with job growth falling from nearly 90,000 new jobs per year since the end of the Great Recession in 2010, to under 35,000 on average from 2020 through 2023; and
- The State Budget faces growing challenges, following a $2.3 billion personal income tax revenue shortfall – which puts State aid to the City at increasing risk.
City Must Manage the Budget More Aggressively to Address the Growing Risks
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The City’s projected budget cushion – the budget resources available at the beginning of each fiscal year to help the City weather unexpected events without cutting vital services for New York families – is currently in
Use of One-Shots
Need for Vigorous Agency Savings Plan
The Mayor will re-institute a Program to End the Gap, or PEG, of $750 million for FY 2019 and FY 2020, with targets to be set individually by agency.
Agency Watch List
This year the Comptroller continues the Agency Watch List of City agencies that are of most concern when it comes to budgeting, and adds to them the Department of Buildings.
DHS: Citywide Spending for Homeless Services Continues to Rise While Homeless Population Grows
DOC: Jail Population Continues to Fall, but Spending – and Violence – Still Rising
DOB: Spending and Headcount Have Grown, but Construction Safety Has Gotten Worse
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Friday, March 1, 2019
Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study: Draft recommendations for Morris Park and Parkchester/Van NestBronx Metro-North Station Area Study: Draft recommendations for Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest
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Let's continue the conversation!
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Senator Biaggi to host District Budget Forum Saturday March 2
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D - District 34: Bronx/Westchester) invites the people of District 34 to come share their priorities for the state budget on Saturday, March 2, at 3pm at Manhattan College.
Kelly Commons, Room 5B 3900 Waldo Avenue Bronx, NY 10463
B J C CELEBRATES PURIM WITH THE COMMUNITY :
The Bronx Jewish Center located at 1969 Haight Avenue Bx NY 10461 is proud to celebrate the joyous holiday of Purim on Thursday March 21st starting at 5:30pm with its Bronx community. We are having Purim under the Big Top with a festive meal,circus party, hamantashen (special cookies) and cotton candy.There will be magic, a seen to be believed fire juggler and an artist to draw your picture and face painting for the kids.Children of all ages are urged to attend. PLEASE RSVP to- email:office @bronxjewishcenter.org or call us at 718-812-1701.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Attorney General James Announces New Funding For Landlord Ambassador Program To Support And Preserve Multifamily Properties
$1.5 million to be awarded to community organizations to engage property owners and help preserve vulnerable rental housing
Attorney General Letitia James today announced a new program to preserve multifamily housing across New York State. The “Landlord Ambassador Program” engages property owners at risk of losing their buildings. The program, a collaborative effort with Enterprise Community Partners, provides landlords of small- and medium-sized multifamily dwellings with low-cost financial resources.
“Too many landlords in New York state are simply underwater, struggling to access the necessary resources to maintain their buildings,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “The Landlord Ambassador Program keeps property ownership in our neighborhoods, while bringing permanent housing solutions to communities. We know this innovative program works, and look forward to working with community organizations to sustain our state’s viable housing stock.”
This statewide Landlord Ambassador Program is an expansion of a 2017 New York City initiative launched by the Office of Attorney General, New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and Enterprise. This statewide expansion will allow for grants to be awarded to organizations operating anywhere in the state with the exception of New York City.
Through this program, up to five community-based organizations will be selected as Landlord Ambassadors to operate regionally and work with local municipalities to identify troubled property portfolios and engage landlords to develop preservation outcomes.
“Connecting owners of rental buildings to low-cost preservation resources is vital to keeping New York State’s homes and neighborhoods stable and affordable,” said Judi Kende, Vice President and Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners. “The Landlord Ambassadors program leverages the expertise of non-profit housing organizations to provide owners with critical support to preserve much-needed affordable rental housing.”
“Preserving and maintaining affordable housing for New York families requires a holistic approach that engages partners on all fronts,” said New York States Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas. “The Landlord Ambassador program will arm multifamily housing owners with information and connect them to HCR resources designed to keep properties safe and affordable for the long-term, rehabilitating distressed properties and strengthening our communities. This is the type of innovative community-based initiative that HCR is committed to as we work to carry out Governor Cuomo’s $20 billion plan to build and preserve more than 100,000 affordable homes across the state.”
The Landlord Ambassadors will provide technical assistance to owners of small- to medium-sized multifamily housing to connect them to resources such as New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Small Building Participating Loan Program (PLP) and HOME Local Program Small Rental Development Initiative (SRDI). These resources are vital to achieve the Landlord Ambassador Program’s goal to assist owners to upgrade and preserve their buildings for long-term affordability. The ambassadors will also expand opportunities for affordable housing developers to acquire occupied, distressed multifamily housing stock by coordinating with municipalities and owners to pursue preservation sale opportunities.
Enterprise Community Partners is managing the Landlord Ambassador Program and will release a Request for Applications (RFA) today for community-based and community development organizations. Enterprise expects to award up to $1.5 million to organizations over a 2-year period. Applications are due April 26th and awards are expected to be announced by the end of May. To obtain more information about the eligibility for RFA and learn how to apply, please visit this link.
Women.NYC: DEPUTY MAYOR ALICIA GLEN AND MAYOR’S OFFICE OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE INAUGURAL ROUND OF GRANT RECIPIENTS OF GROUNDBREAKING “MADE IN NY” WOMEN’S FILM, TV & THEATRE FUND
The Fund is part of the City’s women.nyc initiative to economically empower women.
63 Women-Led Projects Selected to Receive a Combined $1.5 Million in Funds.
14 theatre projects and 10 feature-length documentaries are among the awardees receiving up to $50,000
Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen and the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Acting Commissioner Anne del Castillo today announced the first round of grant recipients of the “Made in NY” Women’s Film, TV & Theatre Fund. Funds were awarded to 63 film, TV, theatre and digital media projects made by creative entrepreneurs who identify as women. This is the first round of a $5 million, three-year program funded by MOME and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).
The Fund is part of the City’s women.nyc initiative, which helps women succeed by connecting them with resources and tools, including free expert legal advice, financial assistance, networking and mentorship opportunities.
“Today, exceptional women creators, directors, and producers are still not getting the recognition and professional success they deserve.” said Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen. “As a leading entertainment capital, New York City is no longer willing to accept this status quo. With our groundbreaking Women’s Fund for Film & Theatre, more women will be able to fund their creative ventures and secure the resources they need to see their work on the big screen or stage. We are proud to close the industry’s opportunity gap and open doors for women of all backgrounds.”
The Women's Film, TV and Theatre Fund is the centerpiece of a groundbreaking series of initiatives by MOME to address the underrepresentation of women in film, television, and theatre. These initiatives are unique, making New York the first city in the country to launch a multi-faceted program to help female-identified creatives in film, TV and theatre.
“By making significant investments in women-led projects, the Women’s Fund seeks to increase the pipeline of female-identified creatives in front of and behind the camera, and on stage,” said Media and Entertainment Acting Commissioner Anne del Castillo. “The 63 projects receiving this first round of grants portray the complexity and variety of human experience as told by an incredibly diverse group of women. This milestone affirms New York City’s commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry.”
A total of 544 applications were received and evaluated by esteemed panels of industry experts. Projects in the following categories were awarded finishing grants:
· 14 Theatre Productions – each received up to $50,000
· 11 Documentary Features – each received up to $50,000
· 4 Fiction Features – each received up to $50,000
· 10 Fiction Short – each received up to $25,000
· 9 Documentary Shorts – each received up to $25,000
· 9 Fiction Webisode/Webseries – each received up to $20,000
· 6 Documentary Webisodes/Webseries – each received up to $20,000
The projects selected for funding explore a broad range of topics. A documentary feature follows 40 Central American women who make an annual journey to search for children who went missing while crossing the border. A comedic web series features a young Asian-American woman beginning a journey of sexual discovery after reluctantly enrolling in a Women’s Studies class. A dramatic feature explores the relationship between a trans Filipina working as a caregiver in Brighton Beach and a Russian-Jewish man. Among the theater projects is a musical based on the origin story of Hildegard von Bingen, one of Medieval history’s most powerful and creative women. The Negro Ensemble Company received funding for three plays one of which is a reimagined work by the late Ntozake Shange. For a full list of projects click here.
Applications were evaluated by industry experts, including Tracey Scott Wilson, playwright and Executive Producer on “The Americans” series, actors Daphne Rubin-Vega and Kathleen Chalfant, screenwriter Amy Fox, and Lesli Klainberg, the executive director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. The full list of panelists can be found here.
“We’re honored that the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment entrusted us to administer this groundbreaking program,” said Michael L. Royce, Executive Director, NYFA. “NYFA has a long history of supporting artists at all stages of their creative careers, including many female or female-identifying artists and artists of color who have made a significant impact in their fields and in the larger cultural sphere. It’s exciting for us to continue to support unique voices and perspectives through the Women's Film, TV and Theatre Fund.”
Women in TV accounted for only 27% of all creators, directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors and directors of photography in the 2017-2018 season; and women comprised 20% of all directors, writers, producers, executive directors, editors and cinematographers in the top 250 films in 2018, according to the Center for the Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University. This past season, only 19 percent of Broadway productions were helmed by women, a record high.
If the 2019 Academy Awards are an indication, women’s film projects are gaining even more momentum. A record total of 15 women took home the award this year, including New York City legend Lady Gaga and New York-born Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, co-director of the winning documentary, Free Solo. Still, only one woman has won Best Director in 91 years of Oscar history, Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker.
In addition to being “made by, for, or about” all who identify as women, projects were eligible if they feature a strong female perspective; and/or include a female-identified director; and/or include a meaningful female-identified producer credit; and/or include a meaningful female-identified writing credit; and/or include a female-identified protagonist(s). Projects also had to be "Made in NY"; for film and video projects (1) 75% of its total shooting days take place in New York City, or (2) 75% of its below-the-line production costs are incurred in New York City; theatre projects must be rehearsed and performed in New York City. For a complete listing of the guidelines, click here.
The “Made in NY” Women’s Film, TV and Theatre Fund provides grants to encourage and support the creation of film, television, digital, and live theatre content that reflects the voices and perspectives of all who identify as women, and provides finishing grants for film, television, digital projects and theatre productions. The next award cycles are scheduled to commence Summer/Fall of 2019 and 2020. To sign up for updates on the Fund, visit MOME's website. You can use hashtag #NYCWomensFund to participate in the conversation.