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

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

East New Yorkers celebrated the completion of the rehabilitation of 468 homes and the start of construction on 242 affordable apartments today. BRP Companies is the lead on both of the new construction and the preservation projects which have a combined total of 710 units of affordable housing. In addition to much-needed affordable housing, the new construction project will create 30,000 square feet of community and retail space to enrich the East New York Community. All work is being completed through a partnership with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC)

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today the arrests of Alexander March, 34, and his wife Sima March, 35, for their roles in an alleged residential mortgage fraud scheme. Both Marches were indicted in May 2011 on charges of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, but fled to Canada before they could be arrested. After years of extradition proceedings, the Marches surrendered to New York State authorities yesterday at the Canadian border and were arraigned in Onondaga County Court

U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice is hosting a Mortgage Modification Fair on Saturday, September 24th from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in cooperation with Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano's office. Homeowners who are struggling to make mortgage payments will have opportunities to attend lectures and seminars on financial best practices by homeownership and mortgage modification specialists, and meet directly with attorneys, counselors, support groups and lenders in the exhibit zone on the lower level of the museum in order to learn how to make homeownership more affordable and avoid foreclosure.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced an agreement to help small businesses, homeowners and renters access state funds for uninsured losses and physical damage they have incurred as a result of the Chelsea explosion

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, along with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today highlighted the multiple tax credits available for “going green” by conserving energy and reducing carbon emissions during Climate Week NYC, which runs September 19-25.

Congressman Eliot Engel, the lead House sponsor of the Medicare Home Infusion Site of Care Act (H.R. 605), received the National Home Infusion Association’s Congressional Leadership Award yesterday in recognition of his work to support patients who rely on infusion therapy.

The New York Power Authority will host on Wednesday a first responders training at the Niagara Power Project. NYPA security and staff will work with the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Response Team on this exercise, which will run from 5-10 p.m. and involve deputies in full tactical gear and SWAT vehicles

SBH Health System (St. Barnabas Hospital), L+M Development Partners and Hornig Capital Partners joined New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and Wells Fargo today to break ground on a new $156 million, mixed-use development on the SBH Health System campus that incorporates affordable housing with a range of on-site services aimed at easing health disparities and promoting wellness in the Bronx

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that Long Island MacArthur Airport is receiving a $3,874,557 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant to construct an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Building. Earlier this year, the Senators announced $5,880,437 for the Firefighting Building.

Governor Cuomo directed the New York State Division of the Budget to execute a memorandum of understanding to release approximately $2 billion in funding for the creation of more than 100,000 units of affordable and supportive housing over the next five years, including 6,000 units of supportive housing. Here is his announcement

A lengthy investigation into illegal sand mining and solid waste dumping at a property in Holtsville, town of Islip, has resulted in a $700,000 fine and an order to clean up the site, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the grand opening of the $14.4 million Trolley Station Apartments in Canandaigua, Ontario County. The 48-unit supportive housing development, operated by DePaul Community Services, offers residential based services for low-income individuals and residents with behavioral health issues

State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) and NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo (D-Bronx), and Councilwoman Annabel Palma (D-Bronx) joined tenants of the Sack Wern Houses to announce the delivery of hundreds of new refrigerators today

Frederick C. Braun III, chairman of the Town of Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency (IDA), announced that the agency has closed on an economic assistance package that will allow two Ronkonkoma businesses to relocate to a 25,000 square foot building in Yaphank

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed Robert Mujica, Director of the New York State Division of the Budget, to execute a memorandum of understanding to release $2 billion in funding to advance the creation of more than 100,000 units of affordable and supportive housing over the next five years. The executed agreement is now before the New York State Senate and Assembly for action.