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Monthly Archives: February 2016

N.Y. POWER AUTHORITY WINS TWO AWARDS FOR RESEARCH ON POWER LINE FAILURES, WORKER SAFETY

The New York Power Authority has received two Electric Power Research Institute Technology Transfer Awards for research that sheds new light on how crucial components of transmission lines can fail and on conditions that can jeopardize the safety of workers working on energized lines.

SCHUMER CALLS ON EPA TO SEND INSPECTORS TO HELP ITHACA FURTHER TEST WATER FOR...

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection (EPA) to immediately send inspectors to the City of Ithaca, where two schools were found to have high levels of lead in the water. Recently, elevated levels of lead were found in more than 50 samples taken at the Caroline Elementary School, and in 11 samples taken at the Enfield Elementary School

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES NEW LEGISLATION TO COMBAT MAJOR LEAD CRISIS PLAGUING UPSTATE NY; SENATOR SAYS...

During a conference call with reporters, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced new legislation that would directly address the persistent lead problem in Upstate New York. Lead paint was not banned until 1978 and countless homes built before then contain lead paint. Schumer said federal funding for lead poisoning prevention has plummeted and Congress must act fast and pass his legislation to help homeowners reduce the cost of removing lead from homes

New York State housing market stays hot in January

The New York State housing market started the new year on a strong note as closed sales jumped more than 13 percent compared to January 2015 to reach 7,640, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS (NYSAR). The January 2016 statewide median sales price remained unchanged compared to a year ago

NEW YORK CITY OFFICIALS JOIN HELP USA, CMC DEVELOPMENT, AND PARTNERS TO CELEBRATE THE...

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. joins HELP USA and CMC Development, LLC to celebrate the start of the construction of 984 Woodycrest Avenue in the Highbridge section of the Bronx. The new development will contain 48 affordable studio apartments, 29 of which will serve formerly homeless households with a preference for homeless veterans. The remaining apartments will serve very low-income individuals.

INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE LAUNCHES SENIORS FIRST INITIATIVE

Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein (D-Westchester/Bronx) and State Senator Tony Avella (D-Queens) on Monday joined leaders from New York’s senior organizations across the state, to launch the IDC Seniors First Initiative.

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, VELAZQUEZ, DE BLASIO ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $4.8 MILLION TO COMPLETE SANDY-RELATED REPAIRS...

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez and Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced over $4.8 million in federal FEMA funding for the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) for repairs to electrical substation G in Building #386 and Dry Dock No. 1/Caisson Gate and Pump Well No. 124 at the Brooklyn Navy Industrial Park damaged as a direct result Superstorm Sandy. The funding was allocated by the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through two grants, $3,122,543.70 for the electrical substation repairs and $1,764,921.60 for dock renovations.

Governor Cuomo Announces 900 Solar Projects Underway Through 26 Community Solarize Campaigns Across the...

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 900 solar projects are underway through 26 community “Solarize” campaigns across New York State. A component of the NY-Sun program and the Governor’s comprehensive Reforming the Energy Vision strategy, the “Solarize” campaigns are geared towards locally-organized community outreach efforts aimed at getting more homes and businesses to install solar. The Governor also announced another 31 Solarize campaigns are set to begin this spring.

New York Department of State to Hold Public Meeting of Real Estate Board on...

The New York Department of State will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 11:30 a.m., regarding the profession of real estate salespersons and brokers. The meeting will take place at the following office locations: 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, 65 Court Street, Buffalo; and, 123 William Street, New York City. The public has the right to attend the meeting at any of these locations.

NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY BEGINS ENERGY SAVING LIGHT UPGRADES AT STATE MUSEUM TO CUT...

The New York Power Authority has begun a lighting upgrade project at the New York State Museum in Albany that is expected to save more than $160,000 in annual energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 900 tons a year, the equivalent of taking 190 cars off the road.

REED REDUCES LOCAL TAX BURDEN

Tom Reed was joined this afternoon by the superintendents of the Gowanda, Lake Shore, Salamanca and Silver Creek school districts to announce that those four districts will collectively receive more than $6 million in Federal Impact Aid in 2016. Impact Aid compensates local schools for “substantial and continuing financial burden” resulting from federal activities such as when Native American populations and activities adversely impact the local tax base. This is why aid is available to these school districts.

Weak Monitoring of Financial Reporting by NYC Housing Provider Led to Overbilling of $1...

A non-profit provider of supportive housing for the City’s Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) overbilled the agency by $1 million according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. DOHMH’s weak oversight of the Center for Urban and Community Services (CUCS) made the overpayments possible and raises concerns about potential overpayments to other vendors

COMPTROLLER STRINGER AUDIT REVEALS CITY OWNS MORE THAN 1,100 VACANT LOTS THAT COULD BE...

With a housing affordability crisis that includes thousands of New Yorkers sleeping in shelters, an audit released by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer revealed that New York City owns over 1,100 vacant properties that could be used to site thousands of units of affordable housing.

NY City Fire Sprinkler Industry Lauds Near-Record Low Number of Fire Fatalities

The Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) and Steamfitters Local 638 members, who install the fire suppression systems that have helped make New York City the safest big city in America, laud the near-record low in fire fatalities last year. In 2015, the FDNY responded to a record 1.7 million calls, yet reported just 59 fire fatalities—the second lowest number since the city began record keeping a century ago

COMPTROLLER STRINGER AUDIT REVEALS CITY OWNS MORE THAN 1,100 VACANT LOTS THAT COULD BE...

With a housing affordability crisis that includes thousands of New Yorkers sleeping in shelters, an audit released by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer revealed that New York City owns over 1,100 vacant properties that could be used to site thousands of units of affordable housing.

WeWork Cleaners Go Back To Work

Building service workers union 32BJ SEIU said today that 24 contracted cleaners at WeWork who fought to improve their jobs last year returned to the co-working start-up’s offices in New York this week for their first days of work with a new contractor.

New York State’s REALTORS support Gov. Cuomo’s focus on Fair Housing for all

“The New York State Association of REALTORS (NYSAR) and its 50,000 REALTORS applaud Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for his newly launched Fair Housing Enforcement Program. New York State’s REALTORS vigorously support the ideal that no one should be discriminated against based on race, color, national origin, disability or familial status as well as the additional protected classes under New York State Law including sexual orientation, military status, age or being a victim of domestic violence.

Governor Cuomo Congratulates First Graduating Class of the Solar Ready Vets Program at Fort...

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today congratulated the first 19 Fort Drum military personnel to complete the Solar Ready Vets training program, which prepares them for careers in the growing solar industry after their transition from military service. The Solar Ready Vets program at Fort Drum is the first graduating cohort supported by the U.S. Department of Energy in New York and one of five active programs in the nation

Rep. Rice Announces HUD Extension of Interim Mortgage Assistance for Sandy Victims in New...

U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has agreed to extend the Interim Mortgage Assistance (IMA) Program beyond 20 months to a total of up to 36 months for victims of superstorm Sandy in the State of New York who are still displaced. The IMA Program provides up to $3,000 a month to displaced homeowners who are making monthly mortgage payments on a damaged primary home while also paying for temporary housing

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Judgment Obtained Against Fraudulent Home Improvement Contractors, Urges Potential Victims To...

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced that his office has obtained a judgment against home improvement contractors who repeatedly and persistently ripped of customers in the Southern Tier and Central New York by going door-to-door seeking to pave or repair driveways and perform roof repairs, and quoting prices that were significantly inflated after the customers agreed to the work.

New York Department of State Announces $175,000 in Grants to Assist with Village Dissolutions

The New York Department of State today announced four Local Government Citizens Reorganization Empowerment Grant (CREG) awards to implement dissolutions as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s plans to make New York State more affordable and provide much needed relief to taxpayers. Grants were awarded to the Village of Herrings in Jefferson County to develop a Dissolution Plan, to the Town of Trenton in Oneida County to implement the dissolution of the Village of Prospect, and to the Town and Village of Hermon in St. Lawrence County to implement dissolution of the Village of Hermon.

New York State Agency Orders Aggressive and Immediate Actions from New York City Department...

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced that it is requiring New York City to take a series of actions to ensure the safety of residents in the New York City shelter system. These requirements follow the stabbings of a mother and her three daughters earlier today at an emergency shelter under New York City’s jurisdiction.

HPD AND HDC ANNOUNCE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING LOTTERIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN SEVEN LANGUAGES

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Gary Rodney announce new updates to the City’s electronic housing lottery application website, NYC Housing Connect. Applicants now have the ability to access the Housing Connect system and each housing lottery in seven languages, including English. This update is the most recent change made by the de Blasio Administration to promote equal access to information for all New Yorkers.

Joint Statement By A.G. Schneiderman, States, Cities And Counties In Response To Temporary Stay...

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, on behalf of the states of New York, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, the District of Columbia, the cities of New York, Boulder, Chicago, Philadelphia, South Miami and Broward County, Florida, issued the following statement in response to the decision by the United States Supreme Court to temporarily stay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan

SCHUMER, HIGGINS ANNOUNCE, FOLLOWING THEIR PUSH, TONAWANDA WILL RECEIVE $160,000 IN FED FUNDING TO...

Huntley Generating Station Plant Has Been An Economic Anchor in Tonawanda For Years, But Decreased Demand & Increased Coal Costs Have Slashed The Plant’s Output – The Town Has Lost Nearly 50% Of The Plant’s Tax Revenue, Forcing Tonawanda To Consider Cuts to Services & Threatening Further School Closings in Ken-Ton School District; NRG Recently Submitted a Plan to Fully Retire the Plant as of March 2016