Kelly T. Currie, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, David A. Montoya, Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Frederick W. Gibson, Acting Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, announced the filing of a civil suit against the Rainy Day Foundation, Inc., a purported charitable “counseling fund,” together with its associated business entities and principals. The case was filed today in federal court in Central Islip and has been assigned to United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco.

Our resident expert Julia Rosner did a timely disaster training yesterday via webcast for legal services providers in California, focusing on the most common post-disaster legal issues and how to participate in a regionally coordinated disaster legal services pro bono effort

New York City’s Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) joined Barrier Free Living (BFL), Alembic Community Development and Foxy Management to celebrate the grand opening of Barrier Free Living Residences for Families and Individuals in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx.  The project reflects the City’s ongoing efforts to expand supportive housing for its most vulnerable residents, and is BFL’s first permanent supportive housing development.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) joins the Acacia Network, the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), and partners to announce the opening of 92 West Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. The newly constructed six-story development will serve as a safe and affordable home for 60 senior citizen households, age 55 or older.

Commissioner Rubin delivered the keynote speech at the Rural Housing Coalition’s Housing and Community Development Conference in Oswego on September 17th. Attendees included 200 housing and community development professionals from Rural Preservation Companies (RPCs) around the state.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $175 million in awards for five large-scale clean energy projects that will help the State meet its Reforming the Energy Vision goals to increase the amount of electricity generation from renewable energy sources. The projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the resiliency of New York’s electric grid and energy infrastructure while decreasing the state's reliance on fossil fuels leading to a cleaner, healthier environment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing $400,000 to the City of New York to supplement the city’s program to clean up contaminated Brownfields properties throughout the city. This grant, which will be added to New York City’s Revolving Loan Fund, will help fund hazardous substance cleanups in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, creating jobs while protecting public health and the environment.

New York City’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen, New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Commissioner Gilbert Taylor, and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Gary Rodney join the Bowery Residents’ Committee (BRC) and partners to break ground at the Landing Road Residence. This development will be the first project created under Mayor de Blasio’s HomeStretch program to finance the new construction of a co-located permanent supportive affordable housing development and new homeless shelter.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced 53 state-supported projects are underway or set to begin in New York to provide clean, resilient on-site power for hospitals, schools and other buildings, as well as reduce demand on the state’s power grid. When completed, these projects will increase the total number of combined heat and power systems in the state by approximately 10 percent.

Mandatory Inclusionary Housing would require permanent affordability in new major zoning actions Zoning for Quality & Affordability would promote better buildings and architectural quality while reducing costs of building affordable and affordable senior housing

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $750,000 in federal funding for the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and the Unity House of Troy. Specifically, Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York will receive $400,000 to strengthen civil and criminal legal assistance programs for adult and youth victims of domestic violence and the Unity House of Troy will receive $350,000 to a broad range of holistic, victim-centered transitional housing options and supportive services. The funding was allocated through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women

New York State closed home sales, selling price and pending sales all continued to grow during August, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS®. Closed sales grew by 4.3 percent compared to last August, while the median sales price jumped 7.4 percent and pending sales were up 10.8 percent.

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma), Sunnking, Time Warner Cable and the Rush-Henrietta High School Natural Helpers announce a free electronics recycling event on Saturday, October 17. Residents can drop-off and properly dispose of electronic devices free of charge between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the parking lot of Rush-Henrietta High School at 1799 Lehigh Station Road.

Today, at a community forum at the Touro Law Center, Empire Justice Center released its most recent report, “The Lingering Storm: Mortgage Lending Disparities on Long Island,” analyzing mortgage lending in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Governor Cuomo announced $3.6 million in grants are available to businesses in New York’s fishing industry affected by the impacts of Superstorm Sandy. Funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the grants will reimburse sectors of New York’s fishing industry that suffered a loss of revenue due to the storm.

Two projects in New York State were among six that have been awarded a total of $5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve efficiency in operations of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that he had reached settlement agreements with a disbarred attorney, an attorney, and a mortgage broker, who along with others allegedly operated a mortgage foreclosure rescue scam on Long Island that robbed 14 Long Island homeowners out of their homes’ deeds and equity. The mortgage foreclosure rescue scam involved multiple alleged partners: Empire Property Solutions and its principals, John Rutigliano and Kenneth Kiefer, located in Medford and Bethpage

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that, after his push, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will waive its policy mandating a “duplication of benefits” assessment for Superstorm Sandy victims who receive $20,000 or less from FEMA. For the minority of cases that remain, HUD will look at each on a case-by-case basis and determine if there is a potential duplication of benefits

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced today the second round of support for Solarize campaigns is now open. Under Andrew M. Cuomo’s NY-Sun Community Solar NY program, Solarize campaigns make solar easier and more affordable through community-driven initiatives and are an essential component of Reforming the Energy Vision (REV).

On Wednesday, September 16, owners of small- to mid-sized multifamily buildings will have an opportunity to speak individually with city representatives and their partner nonprofits and community development financial institutions to learn how to make their properties more energy and water efficient, reduce maintenance costs, and sustain affordable housing at the Isabella Geriatric Center, 515 Audubon Avenue, in Inwood from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will continue a long tradition in promoting conservation awareness when it hosts its 30th Wildlife Festival Sept. 26-27, at its Niagara Power Vista visitor center in Lewiston

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), joined the NHP Foundation and partners to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Plaza Borinquen. Built in 1974, the project is a scattered site development that includes nine buildings located along East 137th, East 138th, and East 139th Streets between Brook and Willis Avenues in the Mott Haven section of The Bronx.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the appointment of Donovan Gordon as Director of Renewable Thermal, where he will lead efforts to develop markets that support clean, high-efficiency, renewable thermal systems, including solar cooling, heating and hot water; air and ground source heat pumps, and wood-fired heating systems.

“This summer a record number of bicyclists, runners, families and visitors flocked to the Outer Harbor to bike and walk the trails, visit the parks, take in the lighthouse, ride the ferry, and be close to the water. Last summer the public sent a clear message that their vision for the future of the Outer Harbor includes more access that brings people to the water’s edge, improves public space, and adds amenities and places to enjoy the natural beauty of Buffalo’s front yard.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Board of Directors met today and voted to accept Explore & More’s exciting revised plan for a children’s museum at Canalside. Following the public meeting Explore & More Children’s Museum and ECHDC announced the plans to build a stand-alone building on a new parcel along the canal towpath in the South Aud Block.