MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES $15 MILLION IN NEW FEDERAL FUNDING TO PLANT, MAINTAIN CITY’S TREES

 

New Funding Will Support Green Jobs, Urban Forest Restoration Work, and Community Development and Engagement

 

Adams Administration Surpasses $1 Billion in Federal Infrastructure Funding Awarded

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue announced that the city has been awarded $15 million in new federal funding to create new green jobs, improve and expand the city’s urban tree canopy, and increase equitable access to the many benefits that urban forests provide. With this funding — provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service through the Inflation Reduction Act — the city has now been awarded more than $1 billion in federal infrastructure funding under the Adams administration.

 

This new funding comes on the heels of NYC Parks’ banner year for tree planting, with 15,000 street and park trees planted across the city — the most planted in six years. The funding will further the Adams administration’s commitment to achieve a 30 percent tree canopy cover across the city, as laid out in “PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done.” With an eye towards equity, 5,700 trees were planted in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods across the city last fiscal year, utilizing an expanded pool of minority- and women-owned contractors for plantings. Trees play a critical role in reducing outdoor temperatures by providing shade on hot days and purifying the air. Urban trees can cool city streets by up to 2°F, shading buildings and reducing energy consumption. And natural area forests are up to 5°F cooler, giving respite from the city’s hot summers.

 

“I often say we have two mothers: the mother that gave birth to us and Mother Earth, the mother that sustains us. Both deserve our care, attention, and investment,” said Mayor Adams. “This $15 million investment will cool and beautify our streets, expand job and apprenticeship opportunities to New Yorkers from underserved communities, and protect our natural areas. With the budgetary reality our city faces, we are aggressively pursuing every federal dollar available, and that work is paying off. I’m grateful to our partners at the city, state, and federal level for helping us secure these grants.”

 

“Thank you to the Biden administration and our congressional delegation for providing critical funding for our city’s trees, ,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “New York City’s trees are much more than pretty foliage for our public spaces — they lower temperatures and absorb storm water in the midst of increasingly oppressive heat and torrential rains, they clean our air, and they provide home to our wildlife. But the essential work of planting and maintaining trees also provides good green jobs for New Yorkers, helping to sustain our economy.”

“Our urban forest is vital to New Yorkers, and we sincerely thank our congressional delegation, our local elected officials, and our many partners for their advocacy for this grant,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Donoghue. “Thanks to this investment, our city will soon have more trees, expanded and more resilient forests, and new green jobs, helping us to further our commitment to expanding and preserving our natural environment.”

 

“This crucial funding will help us advance ‘PlaNYC’ initiatives to achieve a 30 percent tree canopy cover, improve the health of our forested areas, and grow New York City’s green workforce,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “By increasing stewardship opportunities, the programs also strengthen New Yorkers’ relationship to their natural environment, which means NYC Parks is truly getting sustainability done.”

 

NYC Parks will establish the following programs using these grants:

 

New York City Forested Natural Areas Care and Job Training ($10 million): This program will make New York City’s forested natural areas healthier, more resilient to ecological threats, and more beneficial to the surrounding communities. To do so, NYC Parks will work to improve the health of forested natural areas in disadvantaged communities, including Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx Park, Inwood Hill Park, Kissena Corridor Park, Alley Pond Park, Pelham Bay Park, Rockaway Community Park, Arverne East Nature Preserve, and Vernam Barbadoes Preserve. Work in these parks will include forest restoration activities, including planting of native species and removal of invasive vegetation and debris.

 

In addition to directly improving these parks, the city will establish a job training program with three types of paid employment — internships, apprenticeships, and early career employment with NYC Parks — creating opportunities for members of underserved communities to access training and develop skills in forest restoration, community stewardship, monitoring, and native plant production. Public educational and volunteer opportunities will be provided in each of these parks, empowering community members to take part in forest restoration efforts, project planning, and overall enjoyment of their urban forests.

 

Stewarding Canopy and Community in Central Queens ($5 million): NYC Parks — in partnership with Trees New York and Partnerships for Parks — will maximize access to urban forest benefits for underserved Queens communities in Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and Corona. The project includes growing the urban forest through planting trees and preserving existing trees. It promotes community engagement through outreach, education, and empowerment. The project will also offer paid training and employment opportunities for youth and adults, focusing on workforce development and green jobs.

 

Under the Adams administration, New York City has been awarded more than $1 billion in total federal infrastructure funding, including through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Recognizing the vast potential in the historic level of federal funding available through this legislation, Mayor Adams created the Federal Infrastructure Funding Taskforce, led by Deputy Mayor Joshi. Winning grant applications include $110 million to upgrade the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market, $47 million to provide on-site water infrastructure at community gardens across the city, $25 million to build safe e-bike charging and storage facilities at New York City Housing Authority developments, and $18.3 million to electrify school buses. These projects will help the city reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create family-sustaining and accessible jobs in the city’s growing green economy, and help New York adapt to the increasingly severe effects of climate change.

 

“When the environment wins, we all win,” said New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard. “Connecting young people with providers offering workforce training, paid work experiences, and wraparound services is among the highest priorities of Mayor Adams. DYCD’s long-standing workforce development partnership with NYC Parks will help boost the economic resiliency of underserved communities and enable youth and young adults to pursue advanced education and careers in urban and community forestry.”

 

“Talent is the city’s most important asset. That is why it is critical to develop new programs that provide New Yorkers with economic mobility,” said Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Abby Jo Sigal. “This new funding will leverage the city’s hiring power to create pathways to good jobs, while ensuring our parks are well maintained and our city is more prepared for climate change.”

 

“Workforce development is a critical part of improving and maintaining our city's valuable and vulnerable forested natural areas,” said Sarah Charlop-Powers, executive director, Natural Areas Conservancy. “We're proud to partner with NYC Parks to provide training to New Yorkers that will not only help ensure new job opportunities in local communities but also increase forest stewardship in neighborhoods across the city.”

State Senator Gustavo Rivera on DOHMH's New Guidelines for Overdose Prevention Centers

"New York is leading the nation with expansive access to naloxone, fentanyl test strips, overdose prevention training, and harm reduction tools. I want to thank Commissioner Vasan and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for the Commissioner’s Advisory and for issuing guidelines for overdose prevention centers, affirming their importance and legitimacy. The guidelines establish that harm reduction spaces like OPCs are expected to employ trained professionals who offer medical care to people who use drugs, ensure the surrounding community is made safer by reducing public drug use and syringe litter, provide wraparound services to address poverty and homelessness of their clients, and adhere to federal and state laws applying to government-funded, existing harm reduction programs and services.

OPCs may be new in the US, but they have existed in other countries for decades and have prevented countless overdose deaths. Passing my Safer Consumption Services Act at this critical juncture is a necessity because it would allow the state to authorize and regulate medical facilities for New Yorkers with substance use issues to seek help and access suitable resources.

I encourage all New Yorkers to review the Commissioner's Advisory to stay informed on overdose prevention and talk to loved ones about substance use and the resources available.”

Governor Hochul Celebrates Completion of 188 Unit Affordable Senior and Supportive Housing Development in the Bronx

2850 Webster Avenue Brings Affordable Homes and 12,000-Square-Foot Grocery Store to Bedford Park Near The New York Botanical Garden

Builds on Governor’s Commitment to Increasing Housing Supply

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of 2850 Webster Avenue in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx, which offers 188 apartments for New Yorkers aged 62 and older. The energy-efficient, mixed-use development includes a 12,000-square-foot grocery store operated by Cherry Valley Marketplace and on-site social services provided by Fordham Bedford Community Services. The development was constructed on property owned by and adjacent to the New York Botanical Garden, and residents will enjoy complimentary membership to the garden.

“As we work to increase New York’s housing supply, it is critical we invest in housing that allows seniors to live independently with access to the life-enhancing resources and amenities they need to thrive,” Governor Hochul said. “Support services, sustainable features, and access to green space improve outcomes and help people flourish. 2850 Webster Avenue is the result of public and private partners committed to creating housing that has long-term benefits – not just for residents, but for their families, their communities, and our entire State.”

The recent completion at 2850 Webster Avenue complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan that will create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

The 12-story development includes 151 studio apartments and 36 one-bedroom units affordable to households earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Fifty-seven units are reserved for individuals formerly experiencing homelessness. Fordham Bedford Community Services offers on-site social services to residents including benefits screening, advocacy, and group activities.

Additionally, the building is designed with features that promote aging in place, such as grab bars in bathrooms, roll-in showers, and lower counter heights. Other amenities include an on-site laundry room, fitness room, bike storage, and outdoor space on both the second floor and the building’s rooftop.

The building is also designed to meet criteria for certification from Enterprise Green Communities and Energy Star programs. Energy efficient features include low flow, water sense plumbing fixtures, and Energy Star appliances and lighting. The building also includes a green roof and urban gardening planters on the terrace.

The 2850 Webster Avenue units were constructed by Douglaston Development LLC and are the first of a two-phase development being built on lots owned by the New York Botanical Garden. The second phase will include 258 units for low-income households and an additional 8,000 square feet of grocery space on the ground floor.

State financing for the $91 million development includes $32.1 million in tax-exempt bond financing, $33.6 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and $6.6 million in subsidy. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $14 million through the Senior Affordable Rental Apartments Program. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - Newsletter: Government Shutdown

 

Newsletter: Government Shutdown

To our neighbors in NY-14,

We are currently anticipating that the federal government will shut down on Sunday, October 1, 2023.  While the Biden administration and House and Senate leadership reached a budget deal earlier this Summer, some conservative members will no longer vote in support of the deal (more).  Unless an agreement is reached, the federal government will run out of funding at the end of this week. 

What does that mean for you? If you require our office’s assistance, please reach out before September 30.  Many federal agencies will be forced to furlough staff, which will slow response times and, in some cases, may suspend their services all together.  This may include but is not limited to passport appointments, assistance with Social Security, Medicaid, IRS as well as Veterans Affairs.  You can reach our office by email or phone - 718-662-5970. You can also find our office hours and locations on our website.  

If the government does shut down, our casework team will continue to work without pay, in order to respond to urgent cases. We appreciate your patience and kindness as our team navigates this difficult time. 

Here is a list of some federal services that we expect may be impacted....

• Servicemembers and Law Enforcement Officers Will Work Without Pay: All active-duty military personnel and many law enforcement officers would remain at work, but receive no pay until funds are available. 

• Kids May Lose Access to Head Start: Thousands of children across the country may lose access to Head Start, as the Department of Health and Human Services wouldn’t be able to award Head Start Grants during a shutdown.  

• Travelers May Face Significant Delays: Air traffic controllers and TSA Officers are expected to work without pay—potentially leading to significant delays and longer wait times for travelers at airports across the country like there were during previous shutdowns. 

• Small Businesses Will Not Get New Loans from the SBA: The Small Business Administration will not accept, review, or approve any new business loans, in the event of a shut down. 

• Immigrants May See Their Court Hearings Canceled: Approximately 60,000 immigration court hearings for non-detained respondents were canceled during the last government shutdown.

We deeply regret that the shut down will have severe impacts on some of our constituents' lives. We will do everything in our power to help you during this difficult time and to help bring the government shut down to a close.

In service, 

The Office of Representative Ocasio-Cortez

MAYOR ADAMS GIVES NEW YORKERS ABILITY TO USE CITY-FUNDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE VOUCHERS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE

 

City Continues to Develop and Utilize All Tools Available to Get New Yorkers Housed

 

New Yorkers With CityFHEPS Housing Vouchers Will Now Be Able to Find Permanent, Affordable Homes Not Only Within New York City but Also Across New York State

 

Amid Severe Housing Shortage and Record-High Shelter Populations, Thousands of Households With Housing Vouchers Are in NYC Shelters Unable to Find Permanent Homes

 

City Connected More New Yorkers to Permanent Homes With CityFHEPS Last Year Than in Any Year Since Program’s Creation

 

Only CityFHEPS Voucher Holders Will Be Eligible for Expanded Program

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced further innovations to the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) rental assistance program that will immediately and significantly expand access to housing for New Yorkers with housing vouchers. While New York City continues to face a serious housing shortage with a record-high shelter population totaling more than 113,000 individuals in the city’s care, CityFHEPS voucher holders will now be able to utilize their voucher to obtain permanent, affordable housing not only within New York City but also in any county or locality across New York State.

 

“As a result of a housing crisis and more than 116,000 asylum seekers arriving in New York City asking for shelter since last spring, we have more people than ever in the city’s care. Our shelters are far past capacity, but thousands of households still remain left stuck without any affordable housing options across the five boroughs. Now is the time to create new options for permanent affordable housing for New Yorkers by expanding CityFHEPS even further than this administration did earlier this year,” said Mayor Adams. “These reforms will give longtime New Yorkers the ability to move out of our city’s shelter system to other parts of the state with more affordable housing options, while simultaneously opening up space in our city’s shelter system for the approximately 10,000 migrants who continue to arrive in the city seeking shelter month after month. We hope our partners across the state will greet these longtime New Yorkers with open arms and good job opportunities.”

 

“Today’s announcement puts more choices in the hands of New Yorkers who hold CityFHEPS vouchers by increasing the housing stock from which they can choose,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “They can now settle here in the city or anywhere across the state, thereby quickening the rate at which they can secure stable housing for themselves and their families. This important policy change helps take one more step in the city’s effort to help every individual and family secure a permanent home.”

 

“Despite housing supply constraints, we helped connect a record number of CityFHEPS voucher-holders to permanent housing in New York City through the implementation of robust reforms, innovative housing solutions, and focused placement efforts this past fiscal year,” said New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. “With this critical statewide expansion of housing opportunities for CityFHEPS voucher-holders, we will be able to honor their choice to pursue stable housing and job opportunities anywhere in New York State, while better aligning the city-funded rental assistance program with federal rental assistance standards. With this commonsense step, we also look forward to building on the vital progress we have made increasing placements from shelter to permanent housing by nearly 18 percent year over year.”

 

The commonsense step Mayor Adams is taking today will build on the significant progress the city has already made to connect vulnerable New Yorkers, including those in the city’s shelter system, to permanent, affordable housing. In the last year, the Adams administration implemented robust reforms and process improvements to expand access to CityFHEPS vouchers and then eliminated the 90-day length-of-stay requirement for New Yorkers in shelter to be eligible for CityFHEPS vouchers — allowing New Yorkers who would have otherwise been required to wait 90 days before becoming eligible for a housing voucher to immediately become eligible for CityFHEPS and bringing them one step closer to finding permanent housing.

 

Those changes helped contribute to the Adams administration making historic progress moving New Yorkers from shelter into permanent housing by connecting more households to permanent homes in New York City with CityFHEPS last year than in any year since the program’s inception. Furthermore, in Fiscal Year 2023, DSS helped 15,000 households move out of shelters and into permanent housing using a variety of tools and subsidies — an approximate increase of 18 percent over the prior fiscal year. As a result of the agency’s focused efforts, new initiatives, and process improvements, DSS also increased overall placements in supportive housing by 32 percent year-over-year.

 

New York City’s severe housing shortage has been one of the greatest impediments to the administration’s efforts to connect New Yorkers experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity to stable, affordable housing, as less than 1 percent of apartments with rents below $1,500 are currently available for new tenants — the lowest in 30 years. As a result, thousands of households with housing vouchers are currently living in shelter, unable to find permanent, affordable housing. By allowing CityFHEPS voucher holders the opportunity to identify and obtain housing outside of the five boroughs, the city is expanding a critical pathway out of shelter and into permanent, affordable housing, while simultaneously reaffirming its commitment to voucher holders who have long requested additional flexibility to explore housing opportunities beyond the bounds of New York City. Housing mobility is a key pillar of fair housing policy, and this step will help better align the CityFHEPS voucher program with the federal Section 8 voucher program in that regard.

 

As the Adams administration enters the second year of responding, largely alone, to a global humanitarian crisis, and the federal government declines to implement the national decompression strategy Mayor Adams has urged for months, such solutions are critical to the city’s efforts to quickly move more New Yorkers from shelter into permanent housing and make additional space available for tens of thousands of asylum seekers, as well as the large population of longtime unhoused New Yorkers.

 

Increasing the number of households able to move out of city shelters and into permanent housing has become increasingly urgent as more than 116,000 people seeking asylum in the United States have come through the city’s care seeking shelter since spring 2022, with hundreds more arriving each day, often without existing support systems and in need of temporary housing assistance. Though the city has continued to lead on this national crisis without the proper support necessary from its partners, this unprecedented influx has severely strained the city’s capacity to provide a temporary place to stay for those who need it. Before this crisis began, the New York City Department of Homeless Services shelter census was approximately 45,000 people, down from a previous peak of about 61,000. Today, the total number of individuals in the city’s care, including both longtime unhoused New Yorkers and asylum seekers stands at more than 113,000 — more than doubling in just over a year.

 

The Adams administration continues to urge the state and federal government to provide substantial support to help address the increasingly dire need for shelter for the more than 10,000 asylum seekers arriving every month in New York City in search of shelter. State law dictates that the overwhelming majority of asylum seekers are not eligible for non-emergency, ongoing assistance and thus are not eligible for CityFHEPS, including this expansion.

 

CityFHEPS is the largest city-funded rental assistance program in the nation. The program — established under the CityFHEPS rule — allows individuals and families to rent apartments at competitive market-rate rents based on the federal Section 8 Payment Standards. To support local housing markets outside of New York City, CityFHEPS payment standards will be adjusted based on the fair market rent levels of each locality, and all apartments will be required to pass a physical or virtual walkthrough, in accordance with existing DSS policy. This process will ensure that all voucher holders are placed in safe and habitable units, regardless of where they choose to move. Since the implementation of city-funded rental assistance in 2014, nearly 150,000 New Yorkers in 63,000 households have received support to move into permanent housing or remain stably housed. Currently, the CityFHEPS program alone supports 30,000 households through the provision of a rental subsidy.

 

“Children's Rescue Fund supports the expansion of CityFHEPS housing voucher for more New Yorkers to obtain permanent housing in all 62 counties of New York State,” said Orlando Ivey, president and CEO, Children’s Rescue Fund. “We understand the profound impact that stable housing has on individuals and families and the expansion of CityFHEPS vouchers to encompass housing opportunities statewide is a powerful step towards this goal and a testament to the city and state’s collaborative efforts in addressing homelessness and providing individuals and families with a second chance at a brighter future. It not only provides hope but tangible options for those striving to rebuild their lives."

 

“BronxWorks is encouraged by the announcement by the New York City Department of Social Services to expand housing opportunities for CityFHEPS voucher holders to counties throughout New York State,” said Eileen Torres, executive director, BronxWorks. “This is an important development, as New York City is currently experiencing a housing crisis. Allowing households to use the CityFHEPS voucher across the state will create opportunities for housing access and choice that will reduce the amount of time people spend in shelters. Shorter stays in the shelter system will improve the quality of life for families, especially children, and will allow individuals and families to more quickly get back on their feet and rebuild their lives.” 

EDITOR'S NOTE: 

We are sure this use of New York City housing vouchers will be attempted to be stopped in court. The CityFHEPS  vouchers are for housing in New York City not outside of the city.