Schumer Writes to FEMA Urging Fed Agency To Be Ready To Approve Fire Management Assistance Grant To Help Reimburse Hudson Valley Communities As They Fight Back 1,700-Acre Forest Fire

In 2010, New York City reached an all-time population high. Yet, the average New Yorker in 2010 lived in a lower-density neighborhood than in 1970, according to a report released today by the NYU Furman Center. The report also finds that, despite common fears, density is related to certain positive neighborhood amenities and unrelated to many negative attributes, such as higher crime rates, crowded classrooms, and lower-performing schools

Schumer Successfully Secured A Direct Line To Senior Norfolk Southern Official; Norfolk Southern Railway Says Idling Was Due to Adverse Weather Conditions During Winter Months; But, If Idling, Noise And Emissions Continue To Be A Problem Corning Residents Will Now Be Able To Call & Voice Concerns

Carolyn Maloney (NY-12) Congressman Luke Messer (IN-06), who both serve on the House Financial Services Committee, introduced legislation last week that would require Federal banking regulators to include municipal bonds under the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR).  This change will help encourage financial institutions to continue to invest in local communities following new regulations that threaten to slow or even stop cash flow for crucial infrastructure projects.

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer presented the South Farmingdale Water District (SFWD) with a check for $3.3 million due to the recent U.S. Navy reimbursement settlement as a result of plume contamination. SFWD has borrowed almost $5 million from the Town of Oyster Bay to construct Plant No. 3, a water treatment facility to filter and purify the ground water impacted by the Bethpage plume.

Earlier today, Poppi Metaxas, the former President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gateway Bank, FSB (Gateway) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud for her role in defrauding the bank of more than $1.8 million in the aftermath of the financial crisis.

The bill seeks to expand affordable housing for low-income grandparent-headed families by creating a competitive grant program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development for eligible non-profit organizations that provide specialized housing and supportive services to seniors raising children under the age of 18.

The New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division heard oral arguments on Thursday in the Mechanical Contractors V. NYCDOB, Case No. 13-10093, regarding controversy over whether the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) has the legal authority to ignore Building Code requirements when buildings are constructed modularly. This includes the largest Lego-style modular construction project in North America located at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards (now rebranded as Pacific Park), a 32-story, 363 unit residential building.

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the selection of 11 organizations to deploy their innovative technologies and climate change solutions to at-risk and vulnerable small businesses. The technologies were selected from a group of 27 finalists competing in the Resiliency Innovations for a Stronger Economy (RISE : NYC) competition, a New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) program designed to help small businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy prepare for future storms, sea level rise, and other effects of climate change, while strengthening New York City’s long-term resiliency efforts

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $632,000 in federal grant funding and a $222,000 federal loan for the Town of Saranac in Clinton County to help finance improvements to Standish Water District. Funding was allocated through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today launched two major economic development programs – the Upstate Revitalization Initiative and Round V of the Regional Economic Development Councils – officially kicking off the 2015 competitions for $1.5 billion and up to $750 million in state economic development resources, respectfully.

FLUSHING (QUEENS), N.Y. - April 28, 2015 - (RealEstateRama) - The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been today announced the selection of a development team for the Flushing Municipal Lot 3 in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens. The joint venture between Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), HANAC Inc., and Monadnock Development was selected as the development team for this project through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process. The development team’s plan, called One Flushing, includes the creation of 208 units of housing affordable to households earning between $24,200 - $72,600 annually for an individual and $34,520 - $103,560 for a family of four.

Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of Financial Services, announced today that Deutsche Bank will pay $2.5 billion, terminate and ban individual employees who engaged in misconduct, and install an independent monitor for New York Banking Law violations in connection with the manipulation of the benchmark interest rates, including the London Interbank Offered Bank ("LIBOR"), the Euro Interbank Offered Rate ("EURIBOR") and Euroyen Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate ("TIBOR") (collectively, "IBOR").

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a $1.7 million, 500-kilowatt solar system to be installed at Robert Moses State Park, which will make the Suffolk County coastal park the first energy neutral state park in the nation. The new system will create a greener, more sustainable park and achieve an annual $130,000 in cost savings. The announcement is in honor of Earth Week, April 19-25, which Governor Cuomo proclaimed as a weeklong celebration of New York’s commitment to protecting our environment.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that he is teaming with the Rochester Area Community Foundation and Home HeadQuarters, Inc. in Syracuse to launch a $2 million sustainable homes program. The program will help low-income families lower their energy bills and eliminate serious home health and safety hazards in older homes. The program is funded with money from a $9.5 million court-ordered settlement with American Electric Power (AEP), the largest U.S. power company, over violations of the federal Clean Air Act

Congressman Eliot Engel (NY-16), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement on Earth Day. “We have a lot to celebrate this year as we honor the 45th anniversary of Earth Day. Climate change can no longer be denied, and the United States is leading the global effort to address its threats.

This plan would bring a total of 203 new residential units to the neighborhood, nearly four times the number of units that was agreed upon in 2008 when the community board and City Council negotiated a plan for 52 single-family homes to be constructed at the site.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the groundbreaking of the country’s first U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home, which will be built by veterans, for veterans, in Huntington Station. As part of the United Way of Long Island VetsBuild® program, projects like this help veterans find employment in the green construction industry. Building a zero energy home—one which has a renewable energy system that offsets all or most of its annual energy consumption—translates into virtually nonexistent energy bills

Mayor de Blasio today signed into law five pieces of legislation – Intro. 421-A, in relation to increased reporting by the Human Rights Commission; Intro. 689-A, in relation to establishing a housing discrimination testing program; Intro. 690-A, in relation to establishing an employment discrimination testing program; Intro. 656, in relation to the establishment of the South Shore Business Improvement District; and Intro. 497-B, in relation to the interest rate and discount percentage recommendations provided by the New York City Banking Commission

Mayor de Blasio today announced three new solar installations on City buildings as part of the Administration’s green buildings plan, taking another step toward dramatically reducing the City’s contributions to climate change. The three solar installations, completed by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services in collaboration with the Department of Design and Construction and other City agencies, are located at City Hall, the Port Richmond Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Daniel D. Tompkins Elementary School in Staten Island

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to extend the HOME Investment Partnership Program expenditure period for the City of Buffalo. Schumer and Gillibrand said that the program is set to expire June 30, 2015 but should be extended for eight months, until February 29, 2016, due to the fact that many projects were delayed by unforeseen circumstances. Schumer and Gillibrand explained that the funds to finance numerous community projects were authorized through the HOME Program in FY 2010 and included the construction, purchase, and rehabilitation of several affordable housing projects.

With two weeks to go until the special election in the 43rd Assembly District, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer endorsed Diana Richardson, who is running on the Working Families Party line, from the steps of City Hall

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced, as part of Earth Week, the completion of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s largest-ever energy-efficiency project, which will save $2.5 million in annual energy costs at Grand Central Terminal

This morning (Tuesday) on the steps of City Hall, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer will endorse Diana Richardson, the candidate on the Working Families Party ballot line, for the open seat in the special election in the 43rd AD

Highway construction work is resumed on two transportation projects along Route 5 & 20 (Hamilton Street) in the city and town of Geneva, Ontario County this week. The $3.7 million project to rehabilitate the bridge carrying Hamilton Street over Norfolk Southern Railroad began in 2014. Traffic is reduced to a single lane.