MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES EXPERT PANEL TO EVALUATE RECONSTRUCTION OF BROOKLYN-QUEENS EXPRESSWAY

New BQE panel will look at options for replacement of the aging highway, including the triple cantilever structure that supports the Brooklyn Heights Promenade; Panel includes leaders in academia, industry groups, civic organizations, labor and business

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the formation of a new expert panel to evaluate options for the replacement of the aging Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) from the Atlantic Avenue interchange to Sands Street in Brooklyn.  The new panel will be chaired by Carlo Scissura, President & CEO of The New York Building Congress and will include a range of leaders in the fields of urban planning, engineering, construction, traffic modeling and historic preservation. Panel members’ backgrounds include academia, industry groups, civic organizations, labor, and business. They will consult community groups and elected officials, and evaluate all suggested concepts -- as well as provide their own perspectives. They are expected to conclude the process by this summer.   The formal environmental process for the BQE reconstruction will take these recommendations into consideration when it begins at the end of 2019.

“The BQE is a lifeline for Brooklyn and the entire city – which is why we are bringing in a panel of nationally renowned experts from a range of fields to vet all ideas and make sure we get this right,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We will be engaging in a transparent, collaborative process to find the best solution for one of the most critical transportation corridors in the nation.”

The new BQE Panel was created in consultation with local elected officials and civic associations. It will bring together a group of independent, interdisciplinary experts to evaluate the BQE project assumptions and concepts, with meetings beginning this month.  This outside expertise is expected to find new perspectives and ask probing questions on how best to design and implement the BQE reconstruction, one of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in the entire country.

The members of the new BQE Panel* are:

Carlo Scissura, NY Building Congress (Chair)

Rohit Aggarwala, Sidewalk Labs

Vincent Alvarez, New York City Central Labor Council

Kate Ascher, BuroHappold Engineering

Elizabeth Goldstein, Municipal Arts Society

Henry Gutman, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp./Brooklyn Bridge Park

Kyle Kimball, Con Edison

Mitchell Moss, NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

Kaan Ozbay, NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Hani Nassif, Rutgers School of Engineering

Benjamin Prosky, American Institute of Architects

Denise Richardson, General Contractors Association

Ross Sandler, New York Law School

Jay Simson, American Council of Engineering Companies of New York

Tom Wright, Regional Plan Association

Kathryn Wylde, Partnership for NYC

*Additional panelists may be announced

Panel Process: The panel will begin meeting this month, and are expected to produce their conclusions by this summer.  It will evaluate underlying project assumptions and review existing proposals, including those that have been generated by elected officials and community members, no-build or reduced capacity options, and other ideas as generated by the panel. The panel will also hear from and consult with a group of elected officials and community, civic, and business associations at key points throughout its review.

At the end of the evaluation process, the panel will submit a brief report, outlining key recommendations, which could address both design concepts and construction innovations.

BQE – Atlantic to Sands:  The approximately 1.5-mile section of the BQE between the Atlantic Avenue Interchange and Sands Street is among the most complex highway structures in the country, and includes the triple-cantilever structure of which the Brooklyn Heights promenade is the top-most tier.  Originally constructed by Robert Moses, the road was completed in 1954 and carried fewer than 50,000 vehicles daily when it opened. 

Today, the roadway is part of Interstate-278, a critical interstate and inter-borough connector -- where daily traffic now exceeds 150,000 vehicles including more than 15,000 trucks.  An evaluation by outside consultants hired by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) concluded in 2016 that if the road is not reconstructed by 2026, weight restrictions may need to be added to the structure – including diverting all truck traffic to local roads.  In 2018, a new state law was enacted that will allow the BQE project to be constructed using the Design-Build method, which is expected to save time and money.

“Community members and stakeholders across the city have come together to propose new ideas and call for fresh thinking on the BQE, the biggest such project the City has ever undertaken,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “This new panel presents an important opportunity to create the best plan possible -- with community voices heard throughout the process.  We also thank the elected officials who have been and will doubtless remain actively engaged as we move forward.”

“I must express my sincerest appreciation to Mayor de Blasio and his administration for entrusting me with this critical role,” said Carlo Scissura, President & CEO of the New York Building Congress, who will serve as BQE Panel Chair. “The panel that has been assembled represents the absolute best minds in urban planning, transportation, business, design, engineering and construction and will create a thoughtful, meaningful and inclusive process. Rebuilding the triple cantilever will affect every community along the BQE – as well as the tens of thousands of commuters that drive on it daily – and it is essential that we come together to ensure this project is done right for each individual neighborhood and all five boroughs. I look forward to working with our incredible DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, the panelists and the residents of New York City to produce an outcome that is in the best interests of everyone.”

“How best to reconstruct the BQE has been a tremendous local transportation challenge for some time.  I’m pleased to see the formation of this panel, which will help ensure the full universe of options are fairly considered and vetted from a wide range of perspectives. It is imperative that the panel is committed to ensuring the community is fully engaged and stakeholders will provide frequent, meaningful input throughout the process. Overall, I believe this is a positive step that will bring additional transparency to a project that has wide ranging impact on our local neighborhoods and entire city,” said Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez.

“My elected colleagues and I have spent months diligently working alongside residents of our communities to ensure that the City must explore all feasible responses to the deterioration of the BQE and identify solutions that minimize the harm to all affected neighborhoods before any approach is approved. The panel the Mayor is convening today in response to our concerns should help the City do just that. This is an opportunity to reset the conversation between the City and our communities. I thank Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Trottenberg for taking this important step; the members of the panel for their willingness to take on a challenging assignment in the public interest; Congresswoman Velázquez, Assembly Member Simon, and Council Members Levin and Lander for their leadership throughout this process; and the many members of our communities who have engaged constructively on the many difficult issues before us," said State Senator Brian Kavanagh.

“I’m encouraged that the City has heard the concerns of the community and elected officials and that they are pressing the re-set button on the BQE reconstruction plans by bringing in a panel of experts to look at this process more broadly. This is a critical link in our transportation system and we need broad expertise to ensure that we are examining all feasible repair options and innovative ideas for our transportation network. I commend Commissioner Trottenberg for her work on this enormous undertaking and I am grateful to be working closely with my colleagues Councilmember Levin, Senator Kavanagh and Congresswoman Velázquez.  I look forward to ensuring that the new panel consults with the affected communities so that their voices are heard throughout this process,” said Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon.

“When our community comes together in the name of health and safety, in a united voice, we can be heard. We were heard when we organized to secure design-build authorization for the replacement of the BQE triple cantilever, and we’ve been heard now that we’ve organized out of concern for the initially proposed replacement plan. Now is the time to find a better way to move people through Brooklyn, to design a healthier, more sustainable future. I commend the de Blasio Administration’s decision to take a step back, take in innovative ideas, and take on the best solution that is environmentally sound and supported by our neighbors,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

"This project presents an extraordinary set of challenges that will take the collective thinking of many stakeholders to find the least disruptive, and most effective plan to repair the BQE," said Council Member Stephen Levin. "I'm optimistic that this panel of engineers, architects, and transportation experts will thoroughly engage with community members and stakeholders to ensure that all options are on the table. We must think creatively and be committed to new and innovative ideas. I want to thank the Brooklyn Heights Association, a Better Way, Senator Kavanagh and Assemblymember Simon, Speaker Johnson, Comptroller Stringer, Borough President Adams, and all of the community members for making their voices heard and calling for an expanded process."

“Ever since the City presented its proposals for rebuilding the BQE, the BHA has called for meaningful community involvement in the planning of this massive transportation project as part of a comprehensive and inclusive approach to involve those who will be most affected by the project. We are gratified that the City has now acknowledged our request by convening an outside panel of experts to take a fresh look at the project and evaluate all of the proposals that have been, or may be, submitted by the community, architects, engineers and planners.  The BHA is looking forward to working with the panel to help develop a new BQE plan that will serve the transportation needs of the region into the 21st century and will gain the broad support of the affected communities,” said Peter Bray, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Heights Association.

“We applaud the City and DOT for assembling a panel of experts to find a better way to restructure the BQE,” said A Better Way spokeswoman Hilary Jager. “Passionate community voices led us to this moment, and those same voices will demand a say in this process as it moves forward. We look forward to being part of a solution that reimagines the BQE to the benefit of all New Yorkers for decades to come.”

“The CHA is relieved to hear the community and other stakeholders will engage with an expert panel to discuss the entire impact along the entire corridor of the BQE rehabilitation/rebuild. Our concerns in Cobble Hill remain - no through traffic on our local streets, safer on and off ramps at Atlantic Avenue and better quality of life with less toxins in the air and more green space to enjoy the views and gain safe access to the waterfront,” said Amy Breedlove, President of the Cobble Hill Association.

“The rehabilitation of the BQE is an urgent transportation priority for Brooklyn residents, businesses, and the thousands of New Yorkers who rely on this major inter-borough artery every day. The project is a complex and challenging undertaking, and I look forward to consulting with NYCDOT and the panel to help ensure this much-needed project is planned with a 21st century traffic perspective to manage traffic effectively and minimize disruption to neighboring communities,” said Regina Myer, President of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We just wanted to show you how things get done in Brooklyn where Mayor de Blasio is from.

Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Community Meeting 4/9/19

The next meeting  of the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association will be on Tuesday  April 9th  at Bronx House,990 Pelham Parkway South at 7:15 pm.Our special featured speaker will be the Ms. Hazel Miura, Director of Housing and Community Development for NIDC Corp.. Please bring  your issues ,questions, and concerns to our next meeting.The PPNA works around the clock and year round to improve the quality of life in Pelham Parkway. .We can always be reached  by email at pelhamparkwayNA@gmail.com. Please look for and like  us on Facebook for neighborhood updates. Please join us for this very interesting guest..Get involved in your community. It's time.

Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo: 2019-20 State Budget Highlights

Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo (D-Bronx) announced that he helped pass a $175.5 billion 2019-20 state budget that builds on the historic progress that’s already been made this year and stays true to the Assembly Majority’s commitment to putting families first.   “An unexpected budget deficit undoubtedly posed some challenges, but we didn’t let that stand in the way of crafting a budget that truly delivers for New Yorkers,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “First and foremost, this budget cares for our most vulnerable and holds true on the Assembly Majority’s promise to create a fairer, more just state for all, where opportunity and success are not reserved only for the lucky few. For the student who goes to school hungry, to the commuter who’s tired of getting to work late because of unreliable service to the innocent New Yorker who’s unfairly sat in jail for far too long, we heard you and we’re looking out for you.”   Increasing Fairness in Our Criminal Justice System   The 2019-20 state budget includes sweeping criminal justice reforms to ensure New York treats all defendants fairly and equally.   “New York should be a place where everyone is treated equally,” Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo said. “But our current criminal system is deeply flawed, perpetuating racial bias, putting the wealthy above the poor and leaving individuals who can’t afford bail behind bars for months or even years. No matter their circumstances, New Yorkers must be able to trust that the criminal justice system isn’t working against them every step of the way.”   To remedy this ongoing injustice, the final state budget eliminates cash bail for misdemeanors, excluding sex offense misdemeanors, and non-violent felonies, allowing individuals to be released on their own recognizance or under non-monetary conditions. Electronic monitoring will not be available for most misdemeanors, but can be ordered as a condition of release, following a hearing, for felonies, domestic violence misdemeanors, sex offense misdemeanors or a misdemeanor where the defendant had a violent felony conviction within the past five years.   Under the legislation, a cash bail option will be retained for sex offense misdemeanors and most violent felony offenses, excluding felonies classified as “violent” but which do not actually have a violent component, such as second-degree robbery or burglary.   Additionally, the legislation will require police officers to issue desk appearance tickets in lieu of making a custodial arrest for most misdemeanors and Class E felonies. Further, the court will be required to consider the defendant’s financial resources, ability to post bail without undue hardship and set at least three alternative bail or bond methods.   The budget also secures: Reforming the discovery process Ensuring the right to a speedy trial Advocating for fairness and equality The budget also works to protect immigrants from automatic deportation by lowering the maximum sentence for those charged with Class A misdemeanors from 365 to 364 days. The one-day sentence reduction avoids triggering deportation proceedings, which happen with a sentence of one year or longer.   “By picking and choosing who gets equal protection in a court of law, we’re saying to the rest of the world that justice is not really blind in New York State,” Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo said. “No matter their situation or circumstance, everyone must be treated with fairness and given the proper resources they need to defend themselves and navigate the legal system.”   Education   The 2019-20 state budget continues the Assembly’s commitment to expanding opportunity for our youngest New Yorkers by increasing funding for public schools by $1 billion over last year and putting a college degree within reach for more students.   “Our kids need to know that we always have their backs, and a crucial part of that is providing them with stronger schools and a well-rounded education,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “They’re relying on us to prepare them for the future. That’s why I fought for a state budget that helps make sure a student is never defined by their ZIP code, income or the color of their skin, but rather by the motivation they show, the creativity that inspires them and the hard work they put in.”   The state budget provides a total of $27.8 billion in education funding, an increase of $1 billion – or 3.7 percent – over last year. This includes a $618 million increase in Foundation Aid for a total of $18.4 billion. The budget also rejects the executive’s proposal to require certain districts to distribute a percentage of their Foundation Aid increase to specific schools and instead requires those districts to report to the commissioner of education on how they are prioritizing underfunded high-need schools. Further, $30 million of uncollected lottery winnings is earmarked for public schools, and districts are authorized to create a reserve fund to finance contributions to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System. And to help more kids get started on the right foot, the spending plan also includes a $15 million increase in funding for grants for prekindergarten, for a total of $822 million.   The plan also rejects the executive proposal to consolidate 11 expense-based aids, including BOCES aid, special services aid and transportation aid, and allows them to be reimbursed at their present levels.   To ensure local school districts can adopt teacher and principal evaluation systems best suited to their students’ needs, the budget includes legislation removing the mandate that state-created or administered assessments be used for evaluations. The Assembly has led the way on this issue, spearheading the measure last year and passing it again earlier this year. Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo noted that this will help allow teachers to craft lesson plans that are most effective for their students rather than following a cookie-cutter approach that could leave some of our young learners behind.   Opening Doors to Higher Education    “Our commitment to New York’s students doesn’t end when they walk across the stage at their high school graduation,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “The next part of their life is just beginning, and each and every one of them deserves the chance to go to college. That’s why we’ve worked so hard to make it affordable for every family – because college should be for all, not just the privileged and wealthy.”   The budget continues the Excelsior Scholarship, which was established in 2017 and makes SUNY and CUNY schools tuition-free for eligible New Yorkers. The income eligibility threshold increases this year to $125,000. Students who attend a private college in New York and have a family income of less than $125,000 this year would also be eligible for a scholarship award of $6,000.   Earlier this year, both the Assembly and Senate passed the Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act to help the children of immigrants achieve their college dreams. The budget includes $27 million to implement the law and fund TAP awards for eligible “Dreamers.”    “They may not have been born here, but ‘Dreamers’ are New Yorkers,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “The DREAM Act breaks down barriers to ensure all students – regardless of immigration status – are able to pursue a college degree and have the same opportunities to succeed.”   Strengthening Public and Community Colleges   The 2019-20 state budget also invests in SUNY and CUNY schools, as well as community colleges across the state. The plan:   allocates $12.1 million to SUNY, and $6.1 million to CUNY, to increase community college base aid by $100 per full-time equivalent (FTE) student, bringing the total rate to $2,947; provides $6 million more for Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs), for a total of $61 million; restores $2.5 million in funding for the CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP); provides $1.1 million to SUNY and $902,000 for CUNY for Child Care Centers; and restores $1 million to Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) labs for a total of $5.5 million.   The budget also allows SUNY and CUNY schools to reduce or waive tuition for high school students enrolled in college courses, supporting those who want to get a head start on the journey to a college degree.   Additionally, the budget: restores $4.5 million for the Foster Youth College Success Initiative to support foster students on their path to higher education; restores $1.5 million for the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, formerly known as the Joseph S. Murphy Institute; restores $700,000 for Small Business Development Centers, which offer business counseling and entrepreneurial training; restores $600,000 for Graduate Diversity Fellowships; restores $500,000 for mental health services and telecounseling at SUNY; provides $200,000 for the SUNY Institute for Leadership and Diversity and Inclusion; provides $150,000 for the Hispanic Leadership Institute at SUNY; and allocates $100,000 to the Center for Women in Government. Supporting College Opportunity Programs    The Assembly Majority has long recognized how invaluable college opportunity programs are to ensuring disadvantaged New Yorkers are given a fair chance to pursue higher education. This year’s state budget restores $23.8 million to these programs, providing:   $35.5 million for the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP); $32.2 million for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP); $28.1 million for Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK); $18.4 million for Liberty Partnerships; $15.8 million for the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP); $11.9 million for the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (C-STEP); and $1.3 million for College Discovery.   “College opportunity programs give disadvantaged New Yorkers hope for a successful future,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “They provide promising, hardworking students the tools and resources needed to pursue their college dreams.”   Ensuring Accurate Count in 2020 Census             “The 2020 Census will have major implications on the future of our state,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “Each person not counted costs New York thousands of dollars in federal aid, putting the funding we need to maintain our hospitals, schools and transportation infrastructure at risk, as well as the size of our congressional representation. We need to ensure every person is counted – there’s too much at stake.”   While hurdles are already being put in place by the federal government to make it harder for certain communities to participate in the census – including a proposed citizenship question – the Assembly is taking steps to combat this thinly veiled power grab. To that end, the 2019-20 state budget includes $20 million to promote the census and to assist with funding for local outreach efforts. Neighborhood organizations not only know their communities best, but their members are trusted and will be better able to motivate people to participate, noted Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo.             The budget also ensures public libraries are getting the funding they need since they’re going to play a major role in the census, which is being offered online for the first time. The Census Bureau is aiming to receive half of its 2020 submissions online, but this can be a real problem for lower-income households and communities with limited internet access. Libraries bridge this divide. Not only are they the primary channel of internet access for many, but public libraries across the state are hosting programs and setting up census stations to inform communities about the importance of the census and how to participate.   “The census helps determine the path of our nation, state and communities,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “We will continue doing everything we can to protect its integrity and ensure every New Yorker is counted.”   Protecting Tenants and Ensuring Safe, Affordable Housing   “As the cost of living continues to outpace wage growth, we must ensure our families aren’t priced out of the communities they helped build,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “Our budget makes critical investments to protect and expand affordable housing statewide for homeowners and tenants alike and helps ensure every New Yorker has a safe, affordable place to call home.”   The budget includes $402.14 million for housing, including restoring $12.83 million for Neighborhood Preservation Programs and $5.36 million for Rural Preservation Programs, which help community-based not-for-profits provide safe, healthy and affordable housing throughout the state.   To improve the administration of the STAR tax exemption/credit and make data collection more efficient in manufactured homes parks, the budget will allow park owners to report to the Commissioner of Tax and Finance instead of to Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). Tax and Finance must send the report to HCR within 30 days, and HCR must report annually to the public on data to increase transparency and maintain proper oversight of the parks, as well as determine the best steps to protect tenants.   The budget also includes an $8 million increase for HCR’s Office of Rent Administration – which helps enforce rent regulations and protect tenants from landlord harassment – as well as $5.5 million for its Tenant Protection Unit.   Supporting Homeowners and Seniors   To help more New Yorkers remain in their homes, the state budget provides $20 million for the Communities First program to fund foreclosure prevention assistance. It also requires lenders to provide 90 days’ notice to homeowners facing foreclosure and makes settlement conferences mandatory.    The budget includes a $15 million increase for Expanded In-home Services Program (EISEP), which offers non-medical in-home services such as personal care and housekeeping, for a total of $65.1 million. To help more seniors remain in the communities they helped build, the budget increases the maximum amount the state can provide a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) from $200,000 to $300,000.    “Seniors helped make New York the vibrant and diverse state that it is today, and it’s our responsibility to support them as they age,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “The budget expands access to critical services to ensure seniors can remain in their homes, surrounded by family and friends, for as long as possible.”   Expanding Access to Child Care, Protecting At-Risk Youth   To ensure more New Yorkers have access to quality child care they can afford, the budget allocates $832 million for child care subsidies – an increase of $26 million over last year’s final budget. The budget also includes $334,000 to support SUNY and CUNY child care. The budget also creates the New York State Employer-Provided Child Care Credit, which is equal to 100 percent of the federal credit, for employers who provide child and dependent care facilities to their employees.   Further, the budget restores funding for programs that help young people – regardless of family or financial background – achieve success, including:   over $33 million for the Advantage After School Program, which provides structured activities for kids to help them succeed academically, including $10.8 million to support minimum wage increases and $5 million for additional services; million for Safe Harbour to help support victims of childhood sexual abuse overcome the unspeakable trauma they have suffered; $2.45 million for settlement houses, which provide educational, recreational and other social services to the community; million for Kinship Cares and $100,000 for Kinship Navigator, which provides a support system for relative and non-relative kinship caregivers; and $1.5 million for the Youth Development Program, which builds relationships between children and their communities.   “The saying goes that children are our future, but the truth is, it’s what we do in the present that molds them down the line,”Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo said. “When we give kids opportunities and support, we’re giving them a chance to rise above their circumstances. No child should have to face hardship, but the sad reality is that far too many do. We can’t just reach out a hand – we need to lift these kids up onto our shoulders so they can see past now and dream about tomorrow.”   To ensure continued eligibility for federal child care funding, the budget includes language to enact various provisions of law required to comply with the health, safety and training standards contained in the federal reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant of 2014. In addition to provisions related to compliance, language was also included to provide due process for individuals newly required to receive state and federal background checks under the federal reauthorization.   Further, the budget limits the circumstances under which detention and placement of youth alleged or adjudicated to be persons in need of supervision (PINS) in foster care agencies is allowed and restores state reimbursements to local social services districts for preventive services available to PINS.              Combating Addiction    To help address the ongoing opioid crisis that continues to devastate communities across the state, the budget allocates an additional $1 million to expand jail-based substance use disorder services in county jails for a total of $4.75 million. It also restores $2 million for New York City’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialists (SAPIS) program, which provides a host of support services for school-aged children.   “Substance use disorder is a serious and life-threatening issue that breaks families apart, leaves communities in pieces and steals lives too soon,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “Addiction is not a character flaw, or a struggle reserved for a certain subset of people – it’s a disease that spans the spectrum of people we know and those we’ve never met. This disease doesn’t discriminate, and we can’t afford to discriminate against the people it affects. The sooner we recognize this, the sooner we can help those struggling get onto the road to recovery and protect more New Yorkers from addiction’s deadly grasp.”   The budget also creates a new credit for employers of up to $2,000 for each person hired who is in recovery from a substance use disorder.   Supporting Working New Yorkers               The budget restores funding to several labor programs, including: $1.62 million to the Displaced Homemakers Program, which provides career and job search assistance to unemployed and underemployed New Yorkers who previously provided unpaid services for their families; $350,000 for the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), a coalition of labor groups and safety professionals dedicated to reducing workplace injury; $150,000 for the Sexual Harassment Prevention Program at the Cornell School of Industrial Labor Relations; and $50,000 for the Criminal Records Discrimination Program at Cornell University. To provide more workers with on-the-job experience and training, the budget expands the Employee Training Incentive Program (ETIP) Credit for New York businesses by including in-house training, software development and renewable or clean energy internships as part of eligible training activities. The budget also extends the Workers with Disabilities Tax Credit until 2023 for those employing individuals with developmental disabilities.   The Historic Rehabilitation Credit, which encourages job creation in the trades, is also expanded to qualified rehabilitation projects within state parks and historic sites and other state-owned land.     Investing in Job Creation Across the State   The budget provides over $900 million for economic development programs and approximately $750 million for the ninth round of REDC awards to fuel economic growth across the state. To better spur technological advancement and foster collaboration between institutions of higher learning and the private sector, the budget allocates $11 million for Centers of Excellence, an increase of $1.4 million over the executive budget proposal. It also provides $609,000 in additional support to Technology Development Organization Matching grants, for a total of $2 million.   Small businesses are the foundation of the state’s economy, providing jobs to approximately 4 million New Yorkers. To help these critical economic engines thrive, the budget allocates an additional $150,000 for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), for a total of $1.65 million. It also provides an additional $365,000 for the Minority- and Women-Owned Business (MWBE) Development and Lending Program, for a total of $1 million.   Making the Property Tax Cap Permanent, Keeping Taxes in Check The 2019-20 state budget makes the 2 percent property tax cap permanent, limiting the annual growth of local property taxes to 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. Implemented in 2012, the tax cap has saved New York property taxpayers $24.4 billion statewide. Making it permanent will provide taxpayers with predictable tax bills from year to year and guard against skyrocketing double-digit hikes, Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo noted. The 2 percent property tax cap was set to expire next year. The budget also continues the phase in of middle-class tax cuts.  “We drew a line in the sand with the cap so that families wouldn’t be priced out of their homes and to make our state more business friendly,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “The cap makes New York more affordable, helps seniors stay in their homes and has saved homeowners thousands of dollars.” Extending the Millionaires Tax, raising funds for MTA repairs    The 2019-20 state budget extends the millionaires tax by five years to continue funding important programs that New Yorkers rely on and ensure everyone is paying their fair share. It also implements a progressive and supplemental mansion tax starting on properties valued at more than $2 million at an additional 0.25 percent and ending at a top rate of 2.9 percent for properties in excess of $25 million. The mansion tax is projected to raise $243 million. Additionally, the budget creates a supplemental Real Estate Transfer Tax of 0.25 percent for residences above $3 million and commercial properties over $2 million to raise $122 million. Together they will raise $365 million in financing for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) capital lockbox. The budget also allocates $232 million from internet sales tax revenues to the MTA.   Funding Early Voting  To help ensure every New Yorker has an opportunity to participate in our democracy, the Assembly passed a law establishing early voting during a nine-day period before any general, primary, run-off primary or special election to make voting more accessible (Ch. 6 of 2019). To offset the costs of additional poll hours for financially strained local governments, the final state budget earmarks $10 million for localities. The budget also makes primary voting hours consistent across the state, requiring all counties to have polling sites open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. This measure addresses a discrepancy that saw most upstate counties provide six fewer hours to vote on primary day than downstate. The budget also includes legislation ensuring that workers receive three hours of paid time off on Election Day. “Giving New Yorkers more flexibility and time to cast their votes should boost participation in our elections,” Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo said. “Voting should be an easy and convenient process. No one should have to jump through hoops to vote or miss out on the opportunity to make their voice heard on vital issues that will impact their life.”   Modernizing Our Voting System  The state budget enacts an electronic voter registration system through which voters can register and have their application submitted to the appropriate local board of elections online. The state budget also authorizes the use of electronic poll books to administer elections and provides $14.7 million in capital funding for counties to purchase e-poll books and on-demand ballot printers to support the implementation of early voting. Most states and the District of Columbia already use e-poll books, which can reduce crowding at polling sites and get voters in and out much faster, Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo noted. Making Progress Toward Public Financing    The state budget also establishes a commission that will examine, evaluate and make recommendations regarding a public campaign financing system in New York. The commission’s findings are to be reported by Dec. 1, 2019, and will be binding unless modified by law within 20 days. The budget also prohibits lobbyists, political action committees, labor unions and independent expenditure committees from making loans to candidates for political office.   Getting the Subways Back on Track and Clearing the Roads   “If you’ve ever stepped foot on a subway, you know our transit system is a train wreck,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “Any straphanger can tell you that delays and rerouted trains are the rule, not the exception. Fares skyrocket with seemingly nothing to show for it. We need to fix our public transportation so New Yorkers can keep moving forward, instead of getting stalled at every junction.”   To raise funds for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and make critical improvements to public transportation, the budget creates the first congestion tolling program in the country. The congestion pricing zone includes 60th Street and south in Manhattan – excluding FDR Drive and West Side Highway – and spans New York City’s Central Business District. The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) will oversee the program’s creation and operation, working closely with the New York City Department of Transportation. The Assembly fought to ensure that the TBTA would oversee the program – pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with the City of New York – rejecting an executive proposal that would have bypassed local input. Electronic tolling devices would be installed on the perimeter of the Central Business District, with dynamic pricing for tolls. Passenger vehicles would be charged only once per day.   The TBTA will establish a six-member Traffic Mobility Review Board to recommend the price of the tolls and the value of any exemptions or credits. To allow ample time for installation and public input – including public hearings – the program would not go into effect before Dec. 31, 2020. This tolling program is expected to raise $15 billion, which the budget ensures goes entirely toward the MTA capital budget and is prohibited from being used for non-capital spending.    To determine the needs of the MTA and see that the funding is used strategically, the budget takes several steps to improve oversight. This includes requiring the MTA to develop a reorganization plan by June and undergo an independent forensic audit and efficiency review. The budget also modifies MTA Board appointments to align with the appointing authority, creates a unit made up of independent experts to review major projects, increases the competitive procurement threshold from $100,000 to $1 million and establishes a 30-day review notice for comptroller contract approval. And, to increase transparency, the budget also requires public reporting on MTA performance metrics.   Further, the budget would require any Capital Program Review Board member who does not approve of the MTA capital plan to issue a written explanation for their veto. To save both time and money, the budget also allows the MTA to disqualify any contractor that exceeds 10 percent of the contract cost or time on a capital construction project and any MTA capital project over $25 million will be required to use design-build, unless such use would be inefficient or costly.   To supplement funding for the MTA and ensure the wealthy pay their fair share, the budget implements a progressive and supplemental mansion tax starting on properties valued at more than $2 million at an additional 0.25 percent and ending at a top rate of 2.9 percent for properties in excess of $25 million. The mansion tax is projected to raise $243 million. Additionally, the budget creates a supplemental Real Estate Transfer Tax of 0.25 percent for residences above $3 million and commercial properties over $2 million to raise $122 million. Together they will raise $365 million for the MTA capital lockbox. The budget also allocates $232 million from internet sales tax revenues to the MTA.   Helping our Veterans Get Ahead   While the brave men and women who fought for our country have a vast array of skills and invaluable experiences, there are times where they may need assistance when they come home. The 2019-20 budget honors the immense sacrifices made by our veterans by restoring more than $1.6 million to various programs that will help these heroes begin new chapters of their lives. These vital programs help veterans use their diverse skills to find gainful employment, connect them to needed resources and provide legal and other services to low-income active-duty members so that veterans and their families are supported in their transition back to civilian life.             The funding includes: $500,000 for the NYS Defenders’ Association; $200,000 for Helmets to Hardhats; $200,000 for Clear Path for Veterans; $125,000 for Veterans of Foreign Wars; and $100,000 for the SAGE Veterans Project.             Additionally, the budget changes the name of the state Division of Veterans’ Affairs to the Division of Veterans’ Services to avoid confusion with the federal department and includes $1.38 million to allow it to fully fund county and city service agencies. It also earmarks $4 million for the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Project, a peer-to-peer program that helps veterans who have returned home and are facing the challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).   “Those who put their lives at risk to serve us deserve all the support they need to reintegrate when they come home,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “We owe it to them to extend a helping hand so that they don’t have to worry about where their next paycheck will be coming from or how they will feed their families.”   Banning Plastic Bags   The widespread use of single-use plastic bags is wasteful, unnecessary and puts our marine life and our environment at risk. They also take decades to decompose. New York State has been a strong leader in fighting the very real and present threat of climate change, and tackling the scourge of plastic bags is another step the Assembly is taking in protecting our environment.   To clean up our neighborhoods and waterways, the 2019-20 state budget implements a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags given out by grocery stores and other retailers. The proposal also authorizes counties and cities to impose a 5-cent fee on paper carryout bags, with 40 percent of the fee going back to the municipalities to help distribute reusable bags and 60 percent going toward the Environmental Protection Fund. Low-income New Yorkers who qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services will be exempt from the paper bag surcharge.   “It’s up to us to undo years of damage from pollution so that our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have clean water to drink, healthy air to breathe and fertile land to use,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “This legislation is a strong step in the right direction. I’ll always work to implement policy that protects our natural resources and wildlife now, and for generations to come.”   Protecting the Environment   New York is not only home to some of the country’s most beautiful landmarks that we can explore and enjoy, but also natural resources that help our communities and boost our economy. To help keep our environment vibrant and healthy, the final budget renews a record $300 million for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the highest level of funding in the program’s history.   Additionally, the final budget removes personal service language from the EPF that was included in the executive budget. This proposal would have resulted in the loss of $18.5 million for environmental projects in neighborhoods across the state in order to pay for state agency staff.   To ensure all New Yorkers have access to clean drinking water, the 2019-20 state budget builds on the state’s historic $2.5 billion investment in clean water, including an additional $500 million in funding for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act.   Among the water infrastructure initiatives funded in the 2019-20 state budget are: $200 million for the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) to address emerging contaminants; $50 million for the replacement of lead drinking water service lines; $40 million for Water Quality Improvement Projects; $25 million for the Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure grant program; $25 million for land acquisition for source water protection; and $10 million for upgrades and replacements of septic systems and cesspools. Additionally, to cut down on food waste, the budget requires large-scale food scrap generators to separate as much edible food as possible for donation, and separate food scraps for organic recycling if they are within 25 miles of an organics recycler, exempting hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities and elementary and secondary schools. The budget also encourages the use of clean and alternative energy by providing $23 million for clean energy tax credits.   “Cleaning up our water, land and air is an absolute priority,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “We owe it to our kids and future generations to tackle the consequences of decades of irresponsible environmental practices. This budget takes our health and the health of the planet seriously, because we can no longer afford to ignore it.”