presented by Vision Long Island and the Long Island Main Street Alliance January 28th, 2022
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Quote(s) of the Week
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Ceremonial Groundbreaking for the Sewers in Mastic and Shirley
On Thursday, January 27th, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Congressman Lee Zeldin were joined in Mastic with community and business leaders, environment, labor and federal, state, and local elected officials at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the $224 million dollar Suffolk County Coastal Resiliency Initiative (SCCRI) Forge River Watershed Sewer project. This initiative was first proposed out of a community visioning with the resulting Montauk Highway Corridor plan led by the William Floyd Community Summit and the Town of Brookhaven. Engineering feasibility studies followed to help set up the district along with the formation of the Save the Forge River project. The Tri Community Hamlet Study moved the project further along with support for sewers on the Federal and State level led by US Senator Chuck Schumer and then Governor Andrew Cuomo. County Executive Steve Bellone in the wake of Superstorm Sandy received Federal and NYS funding for the $408.8 million dollar Suffolk County Coastal Resiliency Initiative which comprised of three individual sewer projects which will connect 5,755 homes in areas along Suffolk County’s south shore to sewers, thus eliminating the cesspools and septic systems that have been identified by scientists as the primary source of the nitrogen that is polluting local waterways. Building upon the ongoing project in Carlls River, the Forge River Watershed Sewer project will connect 1,889 homes to a new state of the art treatment plant to be built in Mastic. It will improve water quality in the Forge River Watershed, create new jobs, and allow businesses along the Montauk Highway Corridor to access sewers in order to boost economic development.
Addressing the crowd, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said, “Today we break ground on a historic sewer project that will both improve water quality in the Forge River and attract new investment to the Mastic community. It is not easy to get to a point like this, where you are ready to put a shovel in the ground on a project that is game-changing for our environment, our economy, our communities, and the region. It means that a lot of people had to come together, work together, and persevere together over many years. It is not easy to make big things happen, but when you start with the community as the driving force, you are starting in the right direction and this project started with the community.” Congressman Lee Zeldin stated, “Coming out of a storm that hit us so hard came great opportunity to be able to rebuild stronger than ever before. This project, in many respects, is the fruit of hard work by a lot of people – a vision from many of you in the local community who, for so long, saw such an important need for this to get done. This is one of those days where there are no politics, no red/blue, no conservative/liberal.” Acknowledging three people who were not mentioned, Congressman Zeldin thanked former Governor Mario Cuomo, former Congressman Tim Bishop and former State Senator Kevin LaValle and members of the LI Lobby Coalition Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey explained, “The bottom line is that these beautiful bays and streams and drinking water do not belong to us. We are simply borrowing them from our children and our grandchildren. We have an obligation to return it in a better way than we found it.” New York State Assemblyman Joe DeStefano noted, “This project will benefit our community is many ways. On a broad scale, it benefits our waterways, including our bays and potentially, the entire coastline of Long Island.” Beth Wahl, President of the Mastic Shirley Chamber of Commerce, stated to an excited crowd, “I can’t believe we are here. So many years ago, I met with Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island and we did the first visioning in the Town of Brookhaven. That resulted in our saying we need sewers. To get to this point is amazing. This is going to be such a boom, not only for our residents, but our business community that needs this desperately. We want this to happen.” Eric Alexander, Director of Vision Long Island and founder of the Long Island Main Street Alliance said, “The community was told for decades that this project will never happen but they persevered. Their leadership lobbied for the funds to multiple levels of government, built public support and voted overwhelmingly in a referendum for the sewer district. Special thanks to the William Floyd Community Summit, the Chambers of Commerce of the Mastics and Shirley and the steadfast support from the Town of Brookhaven as projects of this scale do not get done without community support.”
Others instrumental in advancing this historic project include New York State Senator Alexis Weik, New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo, Adrienne Esposito, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, and Ryan Stanton, Executive Director, Long Island Federation of Labor and many many others. “Today’s groundbreaking marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to build resiliency," Governor Kathy Hochul stated in a press release. “Everyone deserves easy access to safe water, and this project will help improve water quality for Suffolk County residents, reduce harmful pollutants, and further protect Long Island's delicate coastal ecosystem so that it can better withstand more intense storms in the future." The major funding for the SCCRI project includes $243.5 million of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and $66.4 million of Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery funding from US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Carlls River project is anticipated to be completed in 2024, with Forge River to follow in 2026. Town of Brookhaven Approves Bellport Overlay District
The Town of Brookhaven has unanimously approved a proposed Bellport Overlay District addressing the community’s need for affordable housing. More than a dozen community members spoke in favor of establishing the district at the Board’s public hearing on the matter, with no voices in opposition. “I support the overlay district because we need more affordable housing in Bellport,” said Joann Neal, the daycare coordinator of the Boys and Girls Club. “This is evidenced by the hundreds of people coming to the Boys and Girls Club, the [BHEP] Alliance, and the South Country Library to pick up applications for the Gleneagle apartments being built in Bellport.” Gleneagle Green is an the affordable-housing gated apartment complex on Atlantic Avenue in Bellport, developed by D & F Development Group, consisting of a nine-building, two-story complex on 9 acres, providing 70 units, a community center and a playground. The overlay district is divided into four sub-districts: • The first is the Bellport Hamlet Center Overlay between Montauk Highway and Atlantic Avenue, south of the Boys and Girls Club. This sub-district allows for high-density residential development. The Bellport Overlay District is another example of the success of collaboration between community minded developers, community leaders and government engaging residents. This is another instance where affordable-housing is embraced with no community opposition,” states Eric Alexander, Director of Vision Long Island and the Long Island Main Street Alliance. You can read Greater Long Island’s complete article here. Housing Task Force in Greenport Village Created
While the housing market continues to skyrocket in Greenport, the availability of affordable housing has grown increasingly smaller. To address this issue, Village Trustee Julia Robins has founded a new committee to resolve what she says has grown into a housing crisis. While not an official village committee, the group falls under the oversight of Mayor George Hubbard Jr. The eight member task force is expected to initially meet twice a month and report back to the village board during work sessions. “I’m looking forward to it,” said Diana Gordon, a village Zoning Board of Appeals member and task force member. “We want to fit people into this village in a way that welcomes newcomers but preserves the wonderful atmosphere of the village for people who are already here. And particularly for lower income people who cannot afford the very high prices that houses are commanding now.” The median sales price for a single-family house in the Greenport school district for December 2021 was $799,000, as compared to $677,000 in December 2020. The average sales price for a single-family house in the Greenport school district for December 2021 was $959,742, versus $796,523 the previous year. Homes available to purchase or rent have been increasingly more expensive and harder to find according to Trustee Robins. The lack of affordable housing has exacerbated an ongoing staffing shortage that only worsened during the pandemic, and has made it more difficult for first responders to live in the village. Trustee Robins also noted that the task force might look into such matters as zoning changes to increase housing density, allowing accessory apartments, and a possible code revision to make the entire village an Affordable Housing overlay district. You can read the entire article from The Suffolk Times here. Penn Station Neighborhood Opposed to NYS Zoning
According to Empire Station Coalition, over 400 people signed into the Empire State Development Corporation’s (ESD) public hearing regarding the Penn Station Neighborhood proposal on January 19th. Of the 259 people who got a chance to speak at the 8-hour hearing, 85% were opposed to the project. Of the 15% who testified in favor of the demolition and towerizaton of the neighborhood, almost all were representatives of the real estate industry or construction unions in the suburbs and outer boroughs. Most notably, very few supporters actually lived in Manhattan. The tower project would include some ten new buildings, five taller than 1,000 feet, which would surround Penn Station and create a soaring business district stretching west toward Hudson Yards. It would be biggest private development in the country. The most common points at the public hearing included: • There is no need for this tower project to get improvements to Penn Station or to improve train efficiency - it is false to claim the project is necessary Empire State Co-Coordinator and Human Scale NYC lead Lynn Ellsworth points out that the argument by supporters that the area is blighted does not stand up to scrutiny. Ms. Ellsworth notes that successful cities require great diversity of office space, kinds of buildings, industries, residents and incomes. It is circular reasoning to claim that if an area does not show constant demolition and rebuilding with Class A office space, it is therefore stagnant. The ESD's logic is that if market forces have not already demolished a neighborhood and replaced it with taller Class A buildings, then the ESD should use state power to force that result river to river. This would lead to all of Manhattan being demolished and rebuilt every ten years. Layla Law-Gisiko, Chair of the Land Use, Housing and Zoning Committee of Manhattan Community Board Five, argues this plan and its corollary will perpetuate all the mistakes of the past, including destruction, lack of connectivity, lack of a dignified train hall presence, displacement, and expropriation. Lucy Koteen, of New York City's Branch of the Sierra Club notes, “We strongly oppose the demolition of highly functioning buildings and historic properties. New York City claims they care about sustainability and climate change, but they practice the opposite. Urban centers around the country are concentrating on preservation and adaptive reuse. There is no conversation about conservation talk going on here. Other cities honor their historic buildings which excite residents and tourists alike. These are not derelict buildings; these are high functioning structures.” Significantly, Ambur Nicosia, President of Penn South, notes, “For our residents, there has been no plan put into place that realistically solves the permanent impact of increased traffic and congestion, air and noise pollution, light and air limits and significant safety concerns for the increasing number of residents that use our bike lanes.” Lastly, according to activist Roberta Gelb, Chelsea, “There is a false premise here that you are either for fixing Penn Station or you are against it. This is the land grab. We want the jobs through the unions, we want the people from the Bronx to get here easily, and we want the people from Long Island to have an easier commute. We’re all getting older, we want to be able to get in and out of Penn Station easily, but not to the destruction of a neighborhood. The Empire Station Coalition is a group of 12 civic organizations opposed to the proposed tower redevelopment plan of the area around Penn Station known as the Empire Station Complex. |
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Long Island Business News 2022 Outlook Issue
Long Island Business News 2022 Outlook issue brings a unique look at what to expect in the year ahead, through the eyes of over sixty Long Island leaders, including Vision Long Island board members and staff, LI Lobby Coalition members and downtown supporters. Here is just a sample of their many perspectives: Jan Burman, president, Engel Burman Group - Engel Burman will continue to make substantial investments on Long Island and the tri-state area, a reflection of our corporate commitment to one of the most diverse and dynamic regions in the nation. Our investments will include new retirement communities, multifamily condos and rentals and assisted living… Daniel Eichhorn, president and COO, PSEG Long Island - In 2022, utilities across New York State will need to help customers continue to recover from the pandemic. PSEG Long Island will be devoted to assisting customers while further improving on every aspect of the service we provide… Steven Dubb, principal, The Beechwood Organization - New York stands at a fork in the road as we enter 2022. The path taken may decide our state’s future. Albany tells us the system is rigged against the poor, then piles on regulation making it harder to get ahead. Our glimmer of hope is the election of more moderate local politicians better in touch with the everyday New York experience… Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank - Many of our neighbors continue to struggle financially from the ongoing pandemic. Coupled with the rise in inflation, and the region’s high cost of living, countless Long Island families are often a paycheck away from financial disaster. We expect the increased demand for supplemental food support on Long Island to continue for at least the next two years as the region’s economy continues to struggle to recover due to the pandemic and the uncertain path it continues to take… Richard Humann, president and CEO, H2M architects + engineers - As we look toward 2022, my hope is that upgrading infrastructure is a priority for all. The federal government has passed this historic bill which provides an opportunity for states and municipalities to truly make a difference in their communities… James Bonner, president, New York & Atlantic Railway - NYA continues to develop rail freight service on Long Island because of its ability to reduce truck traffic on our roads and lessen harmful emissions. We believe rail freight will play an increasingly vital role in developing the local economy through rail’s efficiency and economic benefits of transporting products on and off Long Island… Ralph Fasano, executive director, Concern Housing - 2022 is going to be a big year for the advancement of more affordable housing options throughout our region. As Long Island’s economy continues to grow and the cost for housing continues to climb, we must ensure our workforce and others who earn less than the Area Median Income (AMI) have quality places to live… Terri Alessi-Miceli, president and CEO, HIA-LI - I foresee a robust 2022 both for the Long Island business community, and for HIA-LI. The entire HIA-LI advocacy agenda aims to strengthen the Long Island economy. To boost our ability to achieve this in the coming year, HIA-LI will be looking to increase partnerships with other Island-based trade associations and business groups to advocate for the region… Matt Cohen, president and CEO, Long Island Association - The Long Island Association will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen our region as we encounter challenges that threaten our progress including Covid variants, supply chain issues, and inflation. Our vision for 2022 and beyond is to support small businesses as they recover from impacts of COVID-19, make Long Island an affordable place for all residents, retain young professionals, turbo-charge our economy through innovation, and create an economy that is equitable and inclusive… Dale Lewis, founder, Arts Reach Fund at Long Island Community Foundation; vice chair, Long Island Arts Alliance - Long Island’s arts and culture institutions have responded to the pandemic with programming that reimagines the performance, museum and gallery experience. The challenge for 2022 is whether Long Island museums, theaters, galleries and concert halls can replace lost income with a combination of streaming and live events together with the renewed support of a generous donor community… Jeffrey Reynolds, president and CEO, Family & Children’s Association - There’s an influx of new funds for health and human services coming from Washington, our new governor understands the value of community-based services and we seem to have some newly elected local officials eager to help. That said, the hungry folks… will still need food, housing and an array of other services. The kids struggling with anxiety, depression and uncertainty will need mental health services for years to come and if we aspire to lower Long Island’s sky-high drug overdose rate, we still have lots of work to do… Marc Perez, president, Bank of America Long Island - In light of the pandemic’s ongoing impact, we continue to partner with local nonprofits who are meeting people at their point of need. Bank of America supports the important work of organizations like Long Island Cares, Options for Community Living and Hispanic Brotherhood. It will be critical next year that companies and individuals remain committed to supporting the impactful work of Long Island’s nonprofits... Eric Alexander, director, Vision Long Island - Most Main Street businesses are hopeful that 2022 will get them past Coronavirus regulations. The heightened support of “Shop Local” sentiment will continue to help them stay afloat. Downtown, TOD’s and affordable housing projects will continue due to financing and market support. Developers that plan projects with the public and local municipalities will see a much higher rate of approval. Federal and state resources are available for infrastructure. Local governments will be the place where folks of all cultures and incomes can come to consensus. Philanthropy will need to increase… You can read the complete LIBN article here. Legislation Helping Small Businesses and Workers Recover From the Pandemic Passes NY State Senate
On January 25th, the New York State Senate passed legislation introduced by Senator Anna M. Kaplan to support small businesses and unemployed workers who are still dealing with the impacts of the pandemic. The bill, S.6791A, freezes increases in the unemployment insurance taxes that businesses pay for the 2022 and 2023 fiscal year, preventing a previously scheduled tax hike from taking effect. Additionally, the legislation will increase the maximum unemployment benefit for workers who have lost their jobs by up to 10.5%. Senator Anna Kaplan stated, “So many of our State's small businesses barely survived the challenges of the pandemic, and if we allow them to be hit with massive increases in their payroll taxes, many will be forced to close their doors for good. Our long-term economic recovery depends on the success of our small businesses. Bill S.6791a would also adjust the unemployment insurance tax rate schedule for the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years to reduce an employer's tax obligation and increase the weekly maximum unemployment benefit for workers in 2022 and 2023 by up to 10.5%. The bill now goes to the Assembly for consideration. Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO, said, “Far too many New Yorkers continue to struggle financially after losing employment due to the pandemic. That hardship is more challenging given inflation and other cost increases, combined with the fact the federal unemployment relief expired in September of last year. That is why this bill is so critical. It will clear the way for the state’s maximum weekly unemployment benefit to catch-up to the scheduled increase level for 2022, providing much needed relief to unemployed workers trying to figure out how to make ends meet.” Ashley E. Ranslow, NY State Director, National Federation of Independent Businesses said, “Small businesses are the engines that drive our state and local economy, and now, more than ever, are in desperate need of financial relief.” Jeff Williams, New York Farm Bureau Public Policy Director, said “Unemployment Insurance taxes paid by employers have steadily increased creating yet another burden for our state's family farms that often operate under thin profit margins. This legislation would provide some relief at a time when labor costs continue to rise on our farms.” You can review the full text of Bill S.6791a here. |
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AARP New York Accepting 2022 Community Challenge Grant Applications
AARP New York invites local organizations and governments across the state to apply for the 2022 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through March 22, 2022. Grants fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable in the long-term by improving public spaces, transportation, housing, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more. Now in its sixth year, the grant program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live. “AARP New York is excited to kick-off the Community Challenge again in 2022 to continue helping communities across New York become great places for people of all backgrounds, abilities and ages, especially people 50-plus,” said AARP State President James O’Neal. “The program has proven that quick-action projects can lead to long-lasting improvements right where New Yorkers live.” AARP will prioritize proposals that are inclusive, address disparities, directly engage volunteers, support residents age 50 and older and aim to achieve one or more of the following outcomes: • Support communities’ efforts to build engagement and leverage funding available under new federal programs through laws like the American Rescue Plan Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and more. The program provides direct support to all community types, including rural, suburban and urban communities. Previous projects have enabled long-term progress by garnering additional support from public and private funders, encouraging similar improvements throughout the community, advancing local policy, and generating engagement among residents and local leaders to advocate for change. The Community Challenge is open to 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits and government entities. Other types of organizations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to tens of thousands for larger projects. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. ET, March 22, 2022. All projects must be completed by November 30, 2022. To submit an application and view past grantees, visit www.AARP.org/CommunityChallenge. |
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Our SponsorNew York & Atlantic Railway
New York & Atlantic Railway began operation in May 1997 as result of the privatized concession to operate freight trains on the lines owned by Long Island Rail Road. The railway serves a diverse customer base and shares track with the densest passenger system in the United States. NYA connects with CP, CSX, NYNJ, NS and PW. |
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