Key City Council Chairmanships were announced this week. Jumaane Williams, a former executive director of New York State Tenants and Neighbors, was named chair of the Housing and Buildings Committee. David Greenfield is the new chair of the Land Use Committee. Both represent Brooklyn districts. Mark Weprin of Queens continues to chair the Zoning Subcommittee.
Governor Cuomo issued his 2014-15 State Budget proposal, calling for no change in staffing at the Division of Homes and Community Renewal. The Governor proposed extending the Brownfield tax credit by ten years and an $11.5 million increase in the Low Income Housing Trust Fund. Funding for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program would remain flat. He also proposed using $100 million in federal Hurricane Sandy recovery funds for affordable housing in some way.
Meanwhile, National Public Radio was surprised to learn that an improving neighborhood was a good thing. A recent report noted separate studies by Columbia researchers and the Federal Reserve that show gentrification does not mean massive displacement. People move out of static neighborhoods and gentrifying neighborhoods at about the same rate. In fact, they tend to stick around gentrifying neighborhoods a bit more.
Join us Tuesday, the 28th, at 2 p.m. in the McGraw Hill Conference Center, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, room 208 for an explanation of NYSBA and ABO’s new employee benefits marketplace. The is an online portal for employers to manage their employee benefits. You can join the program and still maintain your current insurance and broker relationships. Every member should come or send your H.R. people. RSVP by email to associatedbuilders@abogny.com or call 212 385-4949.