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Monthly Archives: July 2013

At Gillibrand & Schumer’s Urging, Feds Lift Restrictions for Hundreds of Sandy Homeowners Currently...

Washington, DC - July 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Charles E. Schumer announced that the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agency revised its regulations to allow New York City to expedite reimbursement for home repairs and rehabilitation for hundreds of Sandy homeowners currently deemed ineligible. Previously, HUD regulations blocked the City from conducting environmental reviews for Sandy victims’ homes that were “substantially damaged,” which is defined as losses greater than half the value of their home.

AFTER SCHUMER’S PUSH, HOMEOWNERS THAT DECLINED SBA LOANS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR CDBG GRANTS; URGES...

New York, NY - July 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged Sandy-impacted homeowners on Staten Island to apply to New York City’s “Build it Back Program” now that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has modified its guidelines to include more flexibility for those who originally turned down Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. Originally, HUD’s guidelines included a “duplication of benefits” policy that negatively impacted victims who were offered but turned down SBA loans, often times because they were prudently avoiding additional debt. Previously, for these homeowners the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) assistance they would be eligible for

SUNY Campuses To Share IT Services and Increase Energy Efficiency at Data Centers As...

New York, NY - July 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The State University of New York (SUNY) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced that SUNY will save more than $1.2 million annually in energy costs throughout its 64 campuses by incorporating energy-efficient information technology and related facility improvements. The energy-saving projects, which are expected to be completed in 2014, support Governor Cuomo’s Build Smart NY initiative, which aims to increase energy efficiency in state buildings by 20 percent in seven years

Senate Majority Coalition Leader Jeff Klein, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, and Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein...

BRONX, NY - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Alongside Bronx foreclosure victim Daisy Vargas—and the four generations of family members who call her Castle Hill residence home—top elected leaders highlighted recently passed legislation aimed at preserving important homeowner rights during the foreclosure process. Since the financial crisis, banks have exploited judicial loopholes to deny foreclosure victims their right to the type of court-mediated settlement conference that can help homeowners keep their homes. The legislation (S.4530A/A.5582), known as the “Certificate of Merit” bill, would close that loophole, and protect every homeowner’s right to an in-person, court supervised settlement conference within 90 days of entering foreclosure.

LIU RAISES ALARM OVER DEEPENING CRISIS AT NYC HOUSING AUTHORITY

NEW YORK, N.Y. - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- City Comptroller John C. Liu today called on the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to open its operations to the public as well as reject a plan to raise $750 million in a new bond issue, amid grave concerns over a deepening crisis that threatens the Authority’s finances and operations

Strong New York State housing market sees sales, median and pending gains through first...

Albany, NY - July 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State housing market posted strong numbers through the first six months of 2013 with expansions in closed sales, median sales price and pending sales compared to a year ago, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS.

DA VANCE: FORMER PROPERTY MANAGER PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION FROM...

New York, NY - July 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the guilty plea of KEE LIN, 43, a former property manager for two Chinatown buildings, for writing unauthorized checks for more than $1.5 million, and creating false bank statements to mask the fraud. The defendant pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to the top count of the indictment against him, Grand Larceny in the First Degree. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 1, 2013.

Governor Cuomo Announces Flood Recovery Program

Albany, NY - July 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the state is launching the $16 million Mohawk Valley and 2013 Upstate Flood Recovery Program to assist homeowners, small businesses and farms in areas of the State hardest hit by recent flooding. The NYS Flood Recovery Program is intended to provide immediate recovery assistance to victims of these floods and to address gaps in coverage for impacted homeowners, business owners and farmers in Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara and Oneida Counties

MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER CENTER FOR ACTIVE DESIGN TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND...

New York, NY - July 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs, Department of Design and Construction Commissioner David Burney and Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas A. Farley today announced a series of first-in-the-nation anti-obesity initiatives that will promote physical activity through the design of buildings and public spaces. These include the creation of the Center for Active Design, a non-profit organization that promotes changes to the built environment to fight obesity and related chronic diseases and an Executive Order requiring all City agencies to use active design strategies when performing all new construction and major renovation

Hundreds Protest Four-Year Wage Freeze, Health Insurance Loss at Bronx Co-op

New York, NY - July 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Concourse Village workers, tenants and hundreds of their supporters will rally outside the apartment complex this Wednesday afternoon to protest the co-op board’s proposed 4-year wage freeze for their staff. Sixty-seven porters and handypersons are about to lose their health insurance and pension if an agreement with the board is not reached soon. Workers and their union, 32BJ SEIU, have bargained in good faith with the co-op board since the contract expired in 2011 to no avail

SCHUMER: HALF DOZEN LOCKPORT HOMES AT RISK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION – URGES EPA...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to relocate six residences along Eighteenmile Creek in Lockport that are routinely impacted by flood waters from the contaminated creek. Eighteenmile Creek is an EPA Superfund site that has been plagued by hazardous waste contamination, which is now threatening the health and safety of half a dozen homeowners and their families along Water Street. Currently, the EPA is reviewing two options for remediation, either relocation of the homeowners or a temporary soil cap on the contamination.

EPA Provides $1.5 Million to Clean Up and Revitalize Contaminated Properties Across New York...

New York, N.Y. - July 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing a total of $1,465,000 to Nassau and Niagara counties and the city of Ogdensburg to clean up abandoned and contaminated properties. The funding is being awarded under the EPA’s brownfields program, which helps communities assess, clean up, redevelop and reuse properties at which moderate contamination threatens environmental quality and public health and can interfere with redevelopment.

SCHUMER: CLOSE TO HALF OF WESTCHESTER VETS DON’T UTILIZE PROPERTY TAX BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO...

New York, NY - July 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- With More Young Vets Returning Home From Iraq & Afghanistan, It’s Time for the Feds to Ensure That Vets Use Local Property Tax Benefits – Worth Thousands a Year in Westchester County – And Other Critical Benefits They’ve Earned

Governor Cuomo Deploying DFS Mobile Command Center to Oneida and Herkimer Counties to Help...

Albany, NY - July 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is deploying the Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Mobile Command Center to Oneida and Herkimer Counties to help homeowners and businesses affected by recent heavy rains and devastating flood damage in the Mohawk Valley region. Governor Cuomo also outlined resources and advice for victims who are dealing with their insurance company to help them get the relief to which they are entitled as quickly as possible, including the availability of a DFS Disaster Hotline at 1-800-339-1759

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES VETERANS OUTREACH CENTER SET TO RECEIVE OVER $2 MILLION IN VA FUNDS...

New York, NY - July 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester is set to receive $1,063,900 in Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families program (SSVF) to serve approximately 550 participant households in Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Livingston and Ontario counties. Veterans Outreach Center will also receive a $1,006,580 grant that will allow them to expand their services to Erie and Niagara counties to serve an additional 520 veterans. Specifically, the funds will allow the Center to provide financial assistance to veterans in relation to their housing, administer support services, manage casework, and develop community partnerships to benefit the veterans

Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation to Allow Breezy Point Residents to Expedite Repairs to Homes...

Albany, NY - July 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation that will allow Breezy Point residents to expedite repairs to homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The new law will allow homeowners in Breezy Point to bypass time-consuming permitting requirements so they can begin to repair and restore their houses and lives

REBNY STUDY REVEALS EXCESSIVE LANDMARKING OF MANHATTAN PROPERTIES STIFLING ECONOMIC GROWTH

NEW YORK, NY - July 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nearly 30 percent of Manhattan properties are now protected by regulations governing landmarks – a milestone that will stifle job creation and important economic development initiatives, increase the cost of living in New York, and further homogenize much of the borough’s neighborhoods

Gillibrand, Entire NYC Congressional Delegation Urge HUD Secretary to Reform Sandy Aid Regulations, Allowing...

New York, NY - July 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is leading New York City’s entire Congressional delegation today in urging Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan to cut bureaucratic tape within the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program that hinders the City from providing Sandy recovery aid to businesses, homeowners, and displaced residents who desperately need relief but are currently ruled ineligible for aid

As Flash Flooding Hits Hudson Valley, Maloney Announces Federal Aid Available to Homeowners And...

Newburgh, NY - July 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As flash flooding hits our region and Hurricane season approaches, Maloney announced federal aid programs available to homeowners and small businesses impacted by Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee. Maloney launched a website last week to help homeowners and businesses continue to apply for federal recovery aid. Specifically, Maloney encouraged businesses and farmers to apply for assistance if they were directly damaged or experienced economic hardship as a result of one of these storms. In addition, Maloney highlighted ongoing housing programs available to homeowners who have unmet rehabilitation or repair needs from one of the storms.

Consumer Alert: Governor Cuomo Warns New Yorkers to Avoid Home Building Contractor Scams

Albany, NY - July 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today advised New Yorkers to be vigilant when seeking the services of home contractors, especially those looking to repair and rebuild their homes in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, and report any illegal activity to the New York State Division of Consumer Protection at 1-800-697-1220