Monthly Archives: March 2016

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein today announced two proposed local laws enhancing the property tax exemptions Ulster County currently grants to its Veterans. Based upon new exemption levels recentlyadopted by the New York State Legislature, this legislation ensures that Ulster County continues to grant its Veterans the most up-to-date exemptions allowable under New York State Real Property Tax Law

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a $1.1 million dollar settlement of a whistleblower case alleging that real estate developer Asher Roshanzamir wrongfully deferred payment of New York state and New York City income taxes. Federal law allows a seller of real property to defer paying income taxes on certain capital gains when he exchanges it for ‘like-kind’ real property, under certain conditions. An investigation by the Attorney General’s Office found that Mr. Roshanzamir wrongfully deferred payment of New York State and local income taxes by disguising withdraws of approximately $3.5 million from the like-kind exchange and by disguising approximately $5 million in equity contributions as loans.

The New York Power Authority Board of Trustees has approved $2.58 million in awards to three Buffalo enterprises that are expected to lead to more than $40 million of capital investments and protect 17 jobs.

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Chief Fire Marshal Scott Tusa are honoring the tradition of spring cleaning by reminding residents what they can do in the home to stay fire safe. Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicate that nearly 85% of all United States fire deaths occur in the home, which is why it’s important to be proactive this season. Accordingly, spring fire safety tips are offered below

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $193,164 in federal funds to the Akwesasne Housing Authority in Hogansburg, located in Franklin County. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) program and will be used to advance local programs designed to help those most in need become self-sufficient.

The HomeOwnership Center (HOC), headquartered in Utica, NY, is now accepting applications for the City of Utica’s Homeowner Occupied Rehabilitation Program. Rehabilitation projects funded under this grant are targeted to be completed during 2016

Scajaquada Creek Has Been Polluted With Raw Sewage & Garbage From Outdated City of Buffalo Sewer System & Surrounding Towns For Years; City Received $1.8 Million In 2015 Through Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Fed Program To Upgrade Sewer System & Mitigate Overflows Into The Creek

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that the New York Power Authority Board of Trustees has approved low-cost power allocations to 30 organizations under the ReCharge NY program that will support 1,362 jobs, including 230 new positions.

“With the passage of the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) and Zoning for Quality and Affordability (ZQA) proposals, all New Yorkers can now rest assured that our city will continue to be the ‘Mecca’ for economic opportunities, cultural enrichments and ethnic diversity, not only for those who presently live and work here but for the anticipated millions of new residents, migrants and visitors coming to this great metropolis in the next decade. By passing MIH and ZQA, we have taken an important first step in meeting the huge demand for affordable, low income and supportive housing, thus avoiding a looming housing crisis for the middle, working class and poor citizens of this city

A former senior investigator of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) pleaded guilty today to charges of conspiring to defraud NYPA and for filing a false 2010 tax return to hide substantial income from the government, the Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service and the New York State Inspector General announced

State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) announced today that, with the help of Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), he negotiated the re-regulation of 82 apartments in The Bronx.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $984,000 in federal funds for four housing councils in the Hudson Valley Region. These funds were allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) program. Specifically, a total of $246,000 will be allocated to the Curran Court Homes Tenant Council in the City of Yonkers; another $246,000 will be allocated to the Troy Manor Tenant Council in Yonkers; and $246,000 will be allocated to the Walsh Road Homes Tenant Council in Yonkers.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced$230,108 in federal funds to the Binghamton Housing Authority. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) program and will be used to advance local programs designed to help those most in need become self-sufficient

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $738,000 in federal funds for three housing councils in Utica, NY. These funds were allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) program. Specifically, a total of $246,000 will be allocated to Adrean-Matt Resident Association, Inc. in the City of Utica; another $246,000 will be allocated to Gillmore-Humphrey Resident Association, Inc. in Utica; and $246,000 will be allocated to Marino-Peretta Resident Association, Inc. in Utica.

The New York Power Authority has received an Electric Power Research Institute Technology Transfer award for research that contributes to the understanding of the social cost of carbon emissions

Some residents of Mitchell-Lama apartments in New York City make far more than the program’s maximum allowed incomes and pay a modest monthly surcharge as their only penalty, according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit found the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has not done enough to verify that residents are reporting their true income and are paying the correct surcharge when their income exceeds allowable limits.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Housing Committee Chair Keith L.T. Wright and Social Services Committee Chair Andrew Hevesi today announced the Assembly's SFY 2016-17 budget proposal that will help hardworking New Yorkers stay in their homes and help communities provide resources to prevent homelessness and support those living in or transitioning from homelessness.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the initial financing for nearly 600 new affordable apartments across the city, paid for by $10 million in settlements with property owners who violated the law. The new homes will serve formerly homeless New Yorkers, low-income families, veterans, seniors and people with mental health and substance abuse challenges.

Standing this afternoon at Pioneer Warehousing & Distribution, LLC in Liverpool, U.S. Representative John Katko (NY-24) announced the introduction of the Working Parents Flexibility Act, bipartisan legislation that he recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-9)to support Central New York working families without placing a burden on businesses.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Member Inez Dickens today visited a $70 million, 28-building rehabilitation project underway in Harlem. The massive affordable housing preservation project will repair apartments, improve the buildings and keep the rents of 358 apartments affordable to low-income families for the next 30 years

In a letter to NYC Economic Development Corporation President Maria Torres-Springer sent today, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer raised concerns about the de Blasio administration's selection of an out-of-state operator for the planned citywide ferry service.

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark G. Peters, today announced in a 40-count indictment that a contractor, his subcontractor and a foreman have been variously charged with stealing over $1 million in wages by underpaying 27 employees who worked on a construction project in Brooklyn that was financed by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). The defendants allegedly instructed the workers to lie to integrity inspectors about how much they were actually earning and also demanded kickbacks from four workers.

National nonprofits GRID Alternatives, Vote Solar, and the Center for Social Inclusion today launched the Low-Income Solar Policy Guide, a new online tool offering the most comprehensive look at proven policies and program models for expanding access to solar power and solar jobs around the country.

The trustee of Dr. Anne LaBastille's estate donated her 32-acre "West of Wind" property on Twitchell Lake in the western Adirondacks to New York State, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today. LaBastille, the famed writer and conservationist who died on July 1, 2011, envisioned her land be managed to: "...preserve the natural, ecological, and historical integrity of my 30 acres of North Country wilderness, where writers can find inspiration in the Adirondacks" and her cabin be protected.