Yearly Archives: 2016

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Congressman Brian Higgins, a member of the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security, today wrote to the U.S. Department of Energy urging the agency to conduct a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on their plan to transport radioactive liquid material from a site in Ontario, Canada to South Carolina via the Peace Bridge through many municipalities in New York.

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson today announced that a 54-year-old man has been convicted of grand larceny, forgery and related charges for stealing a building in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn by forging a judge’s signature on a judicial order and using it to claim possession of the house, which he then sold. The defendant, who had filed numerous court motions for over a decade, falsely asserting ownership despite orders barring him from doing so, promptly cashed two checks totaling nearly $250,000 which he obtained from the unlawful sale.

As part of his continued efforts to help homeowners reduce their property tax burden, County Executive Edward Mangano will be hosting a series of Property Tax Exemptions Workshops in October at libraries and community meeting halls throughout Nassau County.

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein chose a vacant classroom in the County-owned Business Resource Center (BRC) to deliver his 2017 Executive Budget.  The proposed spending plan calls for reducing the tax burden and protecting property taxpayers again this year yet maintains essential services and continues unprecedented investment in the County’s infrastructure. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today it is charging a Manhattan property owner with violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against a resident with disabilities who required the use of an assistance animal. Read HUD's charge.

The New York Power Authority Trustees has approved a low-cost hydropower allocation to the village of Westfield, in Chautauqua County, to support a food manufacturer that plans to create 48 jobs.

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announces approval of H.R. 5303, the Water Resources Development Act, which authorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) providing $300 million in funding for Great Lakes projects

Home Leasing, LLC and New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) joined Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, Senator Joseph Robach, representatives from The Landmark Society of Western New York and Edgemere Development, and others to celebrate the opening of Eastman Gardens Senior Housing Community in Rochester’s Marketview Heights neighborhood. The $20.7 million project preserves the Eastman Dental Dispensary, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on The Landmark Society of Western New York as one of their “Five to Revive.” The substantial rehabilitation of the building produced 52 apartments for seniors, including 43 affordable and nine market-rate units

Fifty-one Yonkers families now have new energy efficient apartment homes with the grand opening of 188 Warburton Ave. The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB) a leading nonprofit developer of mixed-income housing and the Municipal Housing Authority joined with public officials and community members to celebrate at the ribbon cutting ceremony today

New York State Homes and Community Renewal joined Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Liberty Affordable Housing Housing, Inc., CRM Rental Management at the dedication to celebrate successful, on-time, completion of the total rehab of 246 units of housing for low- and moderate-income families that maintained historic and design integrity in the Pastures Historic District

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Department of Financial Services has proposed a regulation that mandates banks and mortgage services report vacant and abandoned properties in accordance with the new law. The proposal comes on the heels of a law signed by the Governor in June that curbs the threat posed to communities by "zombie properties" by expediting foreclosure proceedings, improving the efficiency and integrity of the mandatory settlement conferences, and obligating banks and mortgage servicers to secure, protect and maintain vacant and abandoned properties before and during foreclosure proceedings. The new law goes into effect on December 20, 2016

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued the following statement today on arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s “Clean Power Plan,” a rule requiring fossil-fueled power plants to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases pursuant to the Clean Air Act.

The New York Power Authority has awarded a $1.3 million contract for work on new recreation facilities at Island View Park in the village of Waddington. The contract went to Northern Tier Contracting of Gouverneur for a new, larger picnic pavilion, including a central hearth and a separate building with bathrooms and catering facilities. Both buildings will be handicapped accessible. The work is expected to begin in the next few weeks and is scheduled to be completed next year. During construction the bathrooms will be closed to the public, but the dock will still be accessible.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Board for Historic Preservation has recommended the addition of 22 properties, resources and districts to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The nominations reflect the remarkable breadth of New York’s history, ranging from the first school to offer special education within the City of Buffalo school system, to an Elmira public housing complex named after an Underground Railroad figure

State Senators Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), Diane Savino (D- SI/Brooklyn) and Democratic Senate Nominee Marisol Alcantara (D-Manhattan) released a new investigation, “Tourist Tenements in the Making,” revealing shocking advertisements for apartments and homes across New York City where hosts offer accommodations for between 13 and over 30 guests. In order to fit so many visitors inside, investigators turned up shocking ads with mattresses placed in odd areas in serious violation of state and city housing codes.

Earlier this week Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) sent a letter to the New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner calling for a portion of the $25 million allocated for the Buffalo train station in 2019-20 to be released this year so planning can begin now on a new station in Buffalo.

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency’s (IDA) approval of an economic development compact for a proposed $70 million transit-oriented apartment project in downtown Mineola. The project is expected to provide much-needed new housing opportunities in the County, new tax revenues, and provide a boost to businesses in downtown Mineola

Conifer Realty, LLC is proud to announce that Susan Sturman Jennings, Esq., has been named one of 2016’s Top Counsel from The Daily Record.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2 million in federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Specifically, the funding is authorized by HUD’s Jobs-Plus Pilot Program, which provides public housing authorities and their partners with funding to help residents increase their earned income and become self-sufficient. Jobs-Plus supports work readiness and connects public housing residents with employment, education and financial empowerment services in order to help public housing residents find and keep jobs

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the filing of a felony complaint charging two individuals for a scheme to rig the bidding process for three multimillion-dollar contracts. Alain Kaloyeros, 60, of Slingerlands, the President of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, has been charged with three felony counts of Combination in Restraint of Trade and Competition. Joseph Nicolla, 59, of Schenectady, the president of Columbia Development, has been charged with one felony count of Combination in Restraint of Trade and Competition.

The Department of Buildings will issue permits for more than 3,000 solar panel installations this year alone and that will bring the citywide total to more than 8,000 installations in 2016. That is an increase from 1,819 installations at the start of the administration. This solar growth puts the City on track to meet its OneNYC goals of installing 100 megawatts (MW) of solar power on public buildings and spurring the installation of 250 MW on private buildings by 2025

Homes sold at a record-setting pace across New York State during August with 13,912 closed sales, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS®. The previous record was 12,938 closed sales in August 2007. The statewide median sales price increased 3.8 percent compared to August 2015.

This week, Senior Member of the House Financial Services Committee, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), led eight Members of the New York City congressional delegation in sending a bipartisan letter [letter below] to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Finance Agency urging the agencies to completely stop and revamp bulk sales of distressed properties.

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) Finance Committee and Board of Trustees will hold regular meetings on Tuesday, September 27th at NYPA’s White Plains administrative office building, 123 Main Street, in the 16th Floor Board Room.  The Finance Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Board of Trustees at approximately 10:00 a.m