Sunday, October 23, 2022

DEC ANNOUNCES START OF CONSTRUCTION FOR NEW ACCESSIBLE ONEIDA LAKE BOAT LAUNCH

 

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Public Access Site in Town of Verona, Oneida County, Will Enhance Recreational Opportunities for Residents and Visitors

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the start of construction of a new boat launch on the Barge Canal at Cove Road in the town of Verona, Oneida County, to enhance fishing and boating recreational opportunities. The boat launch will connect to Oneida Lake and provide additional access to the world-class fishing in Oneida Lake for all visitors, including people with disabilities.

“DEC continues to invest in new facilities to provide safe and accessible experiences for anglers, boaters, and outdoor enthusiasts,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Once complete, the Barge Canal Cove Road boat launch site will attract more visitors to enjoy boating and fishing on Oneida Lake and its tributaries, as well as those just looking for a place to experience Oneida County's natural surroundings.”

As DEC continues to expand recreational opportunities for people of all abilities, the site will have several Americans with Disabilities Act- (ADA) compliant features. Plans include a two-lane, concrete launch ramp with floating docks, canoe/kayak launch, fishing pier, parking area with 24 car and 49 car/trailer parking spaces, including some accessible parking, and port-a-johns.

Once complete, anglers will have additional boating access to Oneida Lake, New York’s most heavily fished inland water. Oneida Lake is the largest lake lying wholly within New York State, with a surface area of 50,894 acres. The lake’s waters support walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and panfish, among other fish and wildlife species. Lake sturgeon can be found in the lake and its tributaries; however, lake sturgeon are on New York's threatened species list and cannot be fished for or possessed.

The projects is being funded with $1.6 million from the Environmental Protection Fund and NY Works. Under the State's Adventure NY initiative, DEC is making strategic investments to expand access to healthy, active outdoor recreation, connect more New Yorkers and visitors to nature and the outdoors, protect natural resources, and boost local economies. The EPF is a critical resource for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects. Among the many environmental victories in the 2022-23 State Budget, Governor Hochul succeeded in increasing the EPF from $300 to $400 million, the highest-ever level of funding in the program's history.

Anglers are reminded that statewide fishing regulations apply in Oneida Lake and it is an angler's responsibility to know when the seasons are open in their area, size, daily and possession limits, and legal methods of taking fish. For current state fishing regulations, consult the 2022 Fishing Regulations Guide or go to the freshwater fishing regulations webpage.

Earlier this summer, DEC launched the new 'Tackle Box' feature to enhance fishing-related tourism and help new and experienced anglers enjoy the great fishing offered throughout New York. The Tackle Box feature is available on DEC's HuntFishNY smartphone app, (available for iOS and Android) and can provide information on Oneida Lake and nearly all other waterbodies, as well as fishing regulations, State-operated fishing access sites, stocking information, and other useful features like photos to help identify fish likely found in a certain river, lake, or stream. More information on the HuntFishNY Mobile app can be found on DEC's website.

Arthur Aviles at BAAD! Oct. 27 and 28

 

ARTHUR AVILES TYPICAL THEATRE ANNOUNCES PERFORMANCES 

OF HOMAGE! “UNTITLED SERIES” ON OCTOBER 27 and 28th 2022 


Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre, a Bronx-based contemporary modern dance company, announces performances  of “Homage! Untitled Series” at BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, located at 2474 Westchester Avenue in the Westchester Square section of the Bronx. Performances are at 8 PM on Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28.  Tickets are $20 in person and free to $20 for the livestream (Friday only).  For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.BAADBronx.org.


The “Untitled Series” pays tribute to Martha Graham,  Jose Limon and Loie Fuller via Jody Sperling with contemporary interpretations that braid in queer and intersectional perspectives into classic works orginally created in the twentieth century.  The works will be performed by Johnnie Cruise Mercer, Priscilla Marrero, Dea’Shinique Ramsey, Hunter Sturgis, Josiah Vasquez and Rafael Cañals Pérez with live drumming by Mobey Lola Irizzary and costumes by Liz Prince.

 

The company is led by Arthur Aviles, an award-winning New York-Rican dancer/choreographer,  who was crowned “...one of the great modern dancers of the last 15 years” in 2003 by The NY Times chief critic Anna Kisselgoff. Aviles founded his Bronx-based contemporary dance company, Arthur Aviles Typical Theater (AATT) in 1996, and co-founded BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance in 1998. He toured internationally for eight years as a member of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, and was honored with New York Dance and Performance (Bessie) Awards for his outstanding creative achievement during the Jones/Zane seasons in 1988 and 1989. In 2020, the Bessies honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Dance.  He’s choreographed nearly three dozen works through AATT that have been performed at Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, Jacob’s Pillow, Central Park Summerstage, and dozens of venues in NY,  Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Connecticut. He’s been awarded dance residencies at dozens of universities in the US and Italy, and he’s danced with two dozen choreographers including pioneers Toby Armour and Aileen Passloff and contemporary artists Merian Soto and Tina Croll & Jamie Cunningham in “From the Horse’s Mouth.”


BAAD! was crowned “a funky and welcoming performance space” by The NY Times. It was co-founded by dancer/choreographer Arthur Aviles and writer/activist Charles Rice-Gonzalez in 1998, and presents five, multi-disciplinary arts festivals with programming that is empowering to women, people of color and the LGBTQ+ communities.


Saturday, October 22, 2022

MAYOR ADAMS AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCE MAJOR ACTIONS TO KEEP SUBWAYS SAFE AND ADDRESS TRANSIT CRIME, BUILDING ON ONGOING STATE AND CITY COLLABORATION

 

NYPD and MTA Police to Surge Officer Presence on Platforms and Trains by Approximately 1,200 Overtime Shifts Each Day – Officers Will Be Present at Over 300 Stations During Peak Hours

  

New, Dedicated Units at Psychiatric Centers Will Address Street and Subway Unhoused Population with Severe Mental Illness 

  

New Training for MTA Police, NYPD, EMS/EMT on Best Practices for Engaging Unhoused Population, Authority for Transporting Individuals in Need of Psychiatric Evaluation 


New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul today announced expanded initiatives to keep New York City subways safe and address transit crime. The initiatives include a significant investment from the state’s public emergency fund and a commitment to work with the city on a dedicated revenue source to support additional police presence in the subway system. NYPD and MTA will surge officer presence on platforms by approximately 1,200 additional overtime officer shifts each day on the subway — equating to approximately 10,000 additional overtime patrol hours every day — as well as two new dedicated units at psychiatric centers to help provide those experiencing serious mental health illness with the assistance they need.  

 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Police Department and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) will specifically work together to strategically deploy more officers across the system and increase their presence on platforms and on trains, building on the progress made over the last eight months since Mayor Adams released his Subway Safety Plan.

 

The MTA Police are going to be deployed into the subway system at four major commuter railroad hubs — Penn Station, Grand Central Station, Atlantic Terminal, and Sutphin-Archer (Jamaica) Station. This action will result in freeing up roughly 100 NYPD officers for deployments at other priority transit locations on trains and in stations — allowing commuters and those attempting to commit crimes to see an omnipresence of officers in the transit system.  

 

Further, the MTA will continue to install cameras in each subway car to enhance security coverage and increase rider confidence, as well as have train conductors announce to riders when they are entering a station with police officers present.  

 

To continue to address the unhoused population sheltering in the subway system and those who are suffering from severe mental illness, as well as build on progress since Governor Hochul deployed Safe Options Support crisis intervention teams, Governor Hochul has directed the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) to create two new, dedicated 25-bed units, for a total of 50 inpatient beds.

 

In addition, OMH will expand crisis intervention training for MTA Police, the NYPD, and EMS/EMT, teaching them best practices for engaging individuals experiencing homelessness and ensuring they are fully informed of the statutory authority for the transport of individuals in need of a psychiatric evaluation. These expanded initiatives build on ongoing collaboration between the city and state on subway safety and outreach to the population experiencing homelessness. 

Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul also pledged to explore strengthening and improving laws providing assistance to those suffering from serious mental health illness.

 

“This effort will help with two things New Yorkers desperately want: The addition of hundreds of additional strategically deployed officers on our trains and help to those suffering from serious mental health illness so they can find a way out of the subway system,” said Mayor Adams. “We must address both the perception and reality of safety, and the expanded partnership we are announcing today with Governor Hochul will do just that, while building off the successes of our Subway Safety Plan. The bottom line is that riders will see more officers in the system, and so will those thinking of breaking the law. On behalf of all New Yorkers, we’re thankful for this state investment that will make our subways safer.” 

“My number one priority as governor is keeping New Yorkers safe in the streets, in their homes, in their schools, and on the subway, and we will do whatever it takes to make our subways safer for riders,” said Governor Hochul. “Our expanded subway safety strategy of Cops, Cameras, and Care will crack down on subway crime, help those experiencing homelessness get the support they need to get out of the system, and alleviate concerns of riders to ensure New Yorkers feel safer throughout the subway system. Building on our ongoing collaboration with the city, we will continue to work hand-in-hand with the mayor and the NYPD to deliver the safety and security New Yorkers deserve.” 

 

“The NYPD and the MTA are proud partners in the ongoing work to keep all of those who use our subway trains and stations safe,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “Utilizing seamless collaboration, police omnipresence, and proactive communications with the riding public, we will deepen our ability to ensure a safer transit system — and a safer city.”

 

“Today’s announcement is possible because of the partnership between city and state to assure the safety of our subway system,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Subway ridership has surged since Labor Day, and we remain focused on growing rider confidence through increased deployment of uniformed officers, cameras installed in every subway car, and further progress on quality-of-life issues. The MTA is grateful to Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams for their leadership and commitment to the subways.” 

 

“With Governor Hochul’s resolve to assist New York’s most vulnerable individuals living with mental illness, OMH is launching two critical initiatives to assist New Yorkers who are experiencing homelessness,” said OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan. “The Transition to Home Inpatient Units will provide individuals with recovery-oriented, person-centered care towards the goal of obtaining an enriched life in the community. Additionally, a new Community Residential Step-Down Program will be available to those who need more structure and support in reintegrating to the community. It will consist of semi-independent, short-term housing with intensive recovery services designed to teach the life skills needed to successfully live in a more independent setting. These new programs will benefit from the Safe Options Support Teams, which have already been actively engaging homeless individuals living with mental illness."

Increased MTA Police and NYPD Officer Presence  
The MTA Police Department and the NYPD will work together to strategically deploy more officers and increase their presence on platforms and trains, with the MTA Police taking primary responsibility for policing the subway stations adjacent and linked to the four major commuter rail hubs by deploying platoons of officers — providing a constant 24/7 presence — thereby allowing the NYPD to increase coverage at additional stations across the subway system. The MTA Police Department’s coverage of 60 officers per day is the equivalent of 90 additional NYPD officers given the difference in length of shifts between the departments.  

 

With this additional NYPD presence and the additional support, the NYPD will dramatically increase police presence in the transit system by approximately 1,200 overtime shifts every single day, or approximately 10,000 overtime hours. New Yorkers will see officers cover platforms on extended tours in at least 300 stations during peak hours. This increase in officers will also allow dedicated Transit officers to ride hundreds of additional trains per day during peak hours. There will also be a substantial increase of officers at turnstiles that will enforce the law and deter fare evasion. Combined, this omnipresence of officers on the subways will help increase public safety and deter those from considering crimes.

 

MTA will also place security guards (Gate Guards) at certain subway stations in order to increase security presence, to function as “eyes and ears” for law enforcement, and to deter fare evasion.

  

New OMH Transition to Home Units 

Governor Hochul also today directed OMH to launch two new Transition to Home Units (THU), a new treatment program for street and subway patients experiencing homelessness with severe mental illnesses and poor community tenure who would benefit from recovery-oriented, person-centered care at OMH's center of excellence for psychopharmacological care. 

 

This new program will include two new 25-bed inpatient units, with the first one launching at Manhattan Psychiatric Center (MPC) by November 1. OMH is evaluating capacity at downstate psychiatric hospitals and will open a second unit by early next year. Both units will serve individuals aged 18 years or older with severe mental health illnesses who are experiencing homelessness, and MPC will partner with referring hospitals to provide acceptance for patients who need to be medically stabilized. The THUs will be accepting referrals from a limited number of New York City Hospitals and their Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs (CPEP) and expand the number of referring facilities. 

 

The THUs will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and other clinical and non-clinical personnel and provide recovery-focused treatment. The programmatic model for the THUs will include an intensive focus on life management skills that will help facilitate discharge to the community, assist those with gaining functional skills, and work with agencies within and outside of OMH to enhance engagement in mental health care. 

 

The transition of care planning process for THU patients to return to the community will include an individualized assessment of services needed to foster stability in the community. An array of services will be available to support successful community integration. 

 

As part of this new initiative, OMH will develop a Community Residential Step-Down Program to provide a transitional space for people who are being discharged directly from the THUs. This short-term residential program will include 15 units across four locations for a total of 60 transitional beds and provide service recipients with the opportunity to acquire the skills needed to move to a more independent housing setting. Individuals will also be supported in procuring benefits to ensure long-term success. 

 

Individuals in the step-down program will be connected to Safe Options Support, Assertive Community Treatment, and Intensive Mobile Treatment teams to support their transition back to the community and to permanent supportive housing within 120 days or less. 

  

Enhanced Training for Law Enforcement and First Responders 

OMH offers training to law enforcement and first responders in the fundamental crisis intervention skills training for law enforcement. The state will expand this training to inform MTA Police, NYPD, and EMS/EMT on the statutory authority for the transport of individuals in need of a psychiatric evaluation at hospitals and CPEPs. This training will also incorporate best practices for engaging the street population experiencing mental health illness.  

 

Conductor Announcements of Police Presence  

Onboard subway announcements are another tool the MTA and NYPD are using to collaboratively deter crime and assist customers in need of law enforcement. To increase public awareness of the availability of police — when present in stations and on platforms — officers will contact train conductors to announce their presence. 

 

Subway Camera Installation 

Cameras within the MTA system have proven invaluable in identifying the perpetrators of crimes and bring them to justice. To this end, as recently announced by Governor Hochul, the MTA is expanding camera coverage to the inside of over 6,500 subway cars, which will include installation of cameras in subway cars at a rate of 750 cameras per month, following the completion of a procurement process, until the entire subway car fleet is camera-equipped in late 2024. Ahead of that, 100 cameras currently on hand will be installed in the coming days across subway cars. The MTA and the NYPD continue to work hand-in-hand to ensure immediate access to cameras in the subway system.  

 

Safe Options Support Teams 

Earlier this year, Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul announced that the OMH would launch Safe Options Support (SOS) Teams and deploy them in New York City. SOS teams are comprised of trained mental health professionals who coordinate with New York City-run outreach teams to engage with and assist individuals suffering from chronic street homelessness. The teams connect individuals to critical supportive services and help secure placement in emergency or supportive housing programs. Since beginning work in April, the teams have enrolled 410 individuals into such services.  


Permits Filed For 1827 Waterloo Place In Crotona, The Bronx

 


Permits have been filed for a seven-story residential building at 1827 Waterloo Place in Crotona, The Bronx. Located between East 175th and East 176th Streets, the lot is near the 174th Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Elena Borokhovich of Affordable Living NY is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 65-foot-tall development will yield 14,570 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 23 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 633 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a 20-foot-long rear yard and seven enclosed parking spaces.

RSLN Architecture is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

MAYOR ADAMS APPOINTS MARCELLA TILLETT AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MAYOR’S FUND TO ADVANCE NEW YORK CITY

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the appointment of Marcella J Tillett as the executive director of the Mayor’s Fun to Advance New York City. The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization working with 50 city agencies and offices, 300 institutional funders, and 100 community-based partners. Tillett will lead the Mayor’s Fund and work with its partners to advance initiatives that improve the lives of New Yorkers from all walks of life and across all five boroughs.

 

“Marcella Tillett is a dedicated public servant and philanthropic powerhouse, and I’m so excited to tap her to helm the Mayor’s Fund,” said Mayor Adams. “Marcella has the heart, vision, and expertise to take this agency to the next level by facilitating public-private partnerships to create a stronger and more just New York City. I look forward to working with her to meet all our city’s needs that lie ahead.”

 

“Marcella Tillett brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role of executive director of the Mayor’s Fund,” said Deputy Mayor of Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “I’m confident that under her dynamic leadership, the Mayor’s Fund will start a new chapter — evolving into a vibrant, innovative partner to achieve the administration’s bold vision and coordinating with our philanthropic and corporate partners across the city.”

 

“As the Mayor’s Fund approaches its third decade, it has established itself as a critical strategic partner, uniquely positioned to leverage the brilliance, innovation, and commitment of philanthropic partners, city agencies, community organizations, and other institutions towards creating a just and prosperous city for all New Yorkers,” said Marcella J Tillett, executive director, Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. “I am incredibly proud to join the Mayor’s Fund during this time of great need and opportunity in our city’s history. My professional and personal work has been rooted in a commitment to intersectional racial equity and social justice, which I am excited to bring into this new role. As a Black woman, who has called Brooklyn home for 20 years, I look forward to leading change on a broad range of health, social, and economic issues facing New Yorkers in diverse communities across our great city.”

 

About Marcella J Tillett:

 

Marcella J Tillett, LMSW is an experienced and transformative nonprofit and philanthropic leader, who recently served as the vice president of programs and partnerships at Brooklyn Community Foundation (BCF), directing strategic grantmaking, partnerships, and community leadership programs. She was responsible for developing, refining, and routinizing how BCF operationalized its values of racial equity, racial justice, and community engagement, with a focus on shifting power to directly impacted communities.

 

Tillett serves on national and regional philanthropy panels and advisory committees, including CF Leads Fund for Shared Insight Advisory Committee, Nonprofit Finance Fund's Capital Advancing Racial Equity Fund Advisory Committee, and Philanthropy New York’s Racial Equity Working Group.  

 

Prior to joining BCF, Tillett provided senior leadership at Planned Parenthood of New York City. Tillett spent well over a decade actively engaged in community planning and engagement work related to HIV prevention and access to care, substance misuse harm reduction, and sexual and reproductive health and justice issues in New York City and nationally. She has always aimed to assert community voices and priorities into the development of policies, services, and funding plans.

 

Tillett earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University and a master's degree in Social Work from Columbia University, where she is an adjunct professor.


Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 10/17/22-10/21/22

 

Senator Alessandra Biaggi

Dear Community,

I’m writing with exciting news! The application to apply for federal student loan debt relief is now open. This is a one-time debt relief program that will provide eligible borrowers with full or partial relief up to $20,000 to Federal Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 to non-Pell Grant recipients. Those who qualify include individuals who made less than $125,000 in 2021 or 2020 and families that made less than $250,000 in 2021 or 2020. 

The application takes less than 5 minutes to complete, and does not require you to provide any documents. I strongly encourage those eligible to apply as soon as possible as this will ensure thayou receive relief before payments resume and interest accrues. The application deadline is December 31st, 2023. Visit here for more information. 

Apply here

I would also like to remind everyone that the deadline to nominate individuals for the Liberty Medal Award and businesses for the Empire Award is this upcoming Wednesday, October 26th. These awards will be presented by my office to exceptional individuals and businesses who have made immeasurable and lasting contributions to District 34. 

Lastly, this upcoming Monday is Diwali. I’d like to wish everyone observing a happy Diwali!

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez - What's Happening in District 13

 

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Dear Neighbor,

Our community has been working together to bring awareness to several causes, particularly breast cancer and pregnancy and infant loss. As I mentioned earlier this month, October plays host to several awareness months that impact women in many ways, and as a community, it’s important to listen and be there for each other.

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women. In New York City, nearly 1,000 women die from breast cancer, and roughly 6,300 women are newly diagnosed. Women of color, particularly Black and Hispanic women, die at a higher rate, with Hispanic women diagnosed with more aggressive forms of cancer. These statistics are alarming, however, we can prevent the growing number of cases through early detection. This Saturday, the Italian-American Cancer Foundation will be providing no-cost mammograms to women over the age of 40 in front of my office. If you haven’t already, please pre-register for an appointment. Appointments can be made by calling my office today, Friday, October 21 from 9 AM to 5 PM at 718-931-1721 or emailing District13@council.nyc.gov.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss are topics that no one wants to discuss. This is disheartening, and unfortunately, 1-in-4 pregnancies will result in miscarriage or infant loss and 1-in-100 pregnancies at or later than 20 weeks results in stillbirth. We must arm ourselves with the knowledge to ensure we are advocating for ourselves and those at risk for loss. As a reminder, kindness is the best form of medicine.

This week, I ask everyone to check in with their friends, family, or a neighbor. Ask them how they are doing and how you can help support them. You never know what someone is going through; breast cancer and pregnancy loss affect multiple parties, including their spouse, partner, and family members, but are often not vocalized. Together we can end the stigma and bring hope to the forefront in our community.

If you have any questions or would like further information, you can reach out to my office Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM at (718) 931-1721 or via email at District13@council.nyc.gov.

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you all around the district and hope you have a safe weekend!

Sincerely,


Council Member Marjorie Velázquez

Attorney General James and NYSERDA Announce Groundbreaking Energy Efficiency Project in Albany's South End

 

$1.2 Million Project Will Dramatically Improve Living Conditions for Steamboat Square Families

New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) President and Chief Executive Officer Doreen M. Harris today announced over $1.2 million in joint funding for a model energy efficiency project at Steamboat Square, an Albany Housing Authority (AHA) residential complex in Albany’s South End neighborhood. The South End is a Disadvantaged Community, a designation created by the Climate Act and defined by the Climate Justice Working Group, which means the community is comprised of predominantly low- and moderate-income households that face disparate public health, environmental pollution, and climate change impacts.

The project is a model of the cost-saving and environmental benefits associated with retrofitting large multifamily buildings with rigorous, state-of-the-art energy-saving measures. The project also includes a “greening initiative” to bring new natural spaces to the Steamboat Square community, reducing air pollution, and mitigating extreme heat.

“Far too often, low-income communities and communities of color are unfairly burdened with higher-cost, lower-comfort homes due to a lack of investment in new energy- and cost-saving technology,” said Attorney General James. “With this groundbreaking project, we are improving conditions and quality of life for Steamboat Square families. I am grateful to our partners at NYSERDA and the Albany Housing Authority for working together with my office to protect New Yorkers’ health and wellbeing.”

“The Steamboat Square project illustrates what can be done to provide energy efficient, comfortable, and healthy homes for New York families living in historically underserved communities as we diligently work to achieve Governor Hochul’s goal of two million climate-friendly homes by 2030,” said Doreen M. Harris, CEO and President, NYSERDA. “NYSERDA is proud to partner with New York Attorney General James on this endeavor and we look forward to continuing to support efforts like this to help bolster vibrant, inclusive communities throughout New York state.” 

The project is part of revitalization efforts at Steamboat 20, an 88-unit high rise building in the Steamboat Square complex. The funding will support the purchase and installation of geothermal heat pump systems and other efficiency upgrades including exterior wall and roof insulation, air sealing, and installation of thermostats and energy recovery ventilation. This work will be overseen by NYSERDA.

These upgrades are expected to provide at least 40 percent energy savings and reduce climate change pollution. At the same time, the investments at Steamboat Square will significantly improve residents’ comfort by providing each apartment with air conditioning and giving each unit control over its own temperature settings, among other benefits.

An additional $91,000 in funding will be used for urban greening measures recommended in the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) October 2019 Albany South End Community Air Quality Study, and may include planting trees and other vegetation and establishing living walls, green roofs, and vegetative barriers. These measures will improve air quality, reduce local heat islands, and improve the natural environment and resident well-being in Steamboat Square and the larger South End neighborhood. This work will be implemented by AHA.

The funding for this project is provided by NYSERDA’s Multifamily Performance Program, by National Grid’s New York State Clean Heat program, and by a 2005 settlement the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) obtained against the Ohio Edison Company. The OAG and NYSERDA have since successfully used these funds to implement a broader Green and Affordable Housing project statewide.

The project is expected to be completed by June of 2024.

“DEC is committed to improving environmental justice communities across the state and it is exciting to see this funding for Albany’s South End neighborhood,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “The recommendations from DEC’s air quality study to coordinate improvements in community housing with air quality and greenhouse gas reduction goals were driven by science and community input, both of which will be critical in reaching our nation-leading climate justice goals. I applaud Attorney General James and NYSERDA President Harris for these investments.”