NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB CREATION, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CITIES

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING


SUBJECT:

Municipal Participation in the Restore New York's Communities Initiative (Restore NY)

PURPOSE:

To discuss the processes local governments use to select priority projects for submission for Restore NY funding.

ALBANY
Wednesday
February 27, 2008
10:30 a.m.
Roosevelt Hearing Room C
Legislative Office Building 2nd Floor


Restore NY was established in the 2006-2007 New York State Budget to provide eligible municipalites with financial assistance to encourage economic development and neighborhood revitalization. A total of $300 million was dedicated to this program in the New York State Budget with $50 million appropriated for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2006-2007, $100 million appropriated for SFY 2007-2008 and $150 million proposed for SFY 2008-2009. The program goals of Restore NY are to improve housing stock, encourage commerical investment and revitalize urban centers. Eligible municipalities have submitted proposals for funding for the demolition, deconstruction, rehabilitation or reconstruction of vacant or obsolete buildings. This hearing will examine the processes by which local governments determine which projects shall be included in their applications for funding from Restore NY.

Please see the list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committees will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees' interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.


James Brennan
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Cities


Sam Hoyt
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Local Governments


Robin Schimminger
Member of Assembly
Chair Committee on Economic Development,
Job Creation, Commerce and Industry



SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

  1. What do you think is the level of need in your municipality for the Restore NY program?

  2. How does Restore NY address those needs?

  3. How does your local government identify projects for submission to Restore NY for funding?

  4. How has the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) responded to funding requests from your municipality?

  5. Have Restore NY funds helped in stabilizing neighborhoods in your community?

  6. What other funding sources besides Restore NY have been used by your municipality in stabilization efforts?

  7. What is the average cost for a Restore NY demolition in your municipality?

  8. What improvements can you suggest for the Restore NY program?



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Municipal Participation in the Restore NY Program are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Ali Vanderhoef
Legislative Associate
Assembly Committee on Cities
Room 520 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
E-mail: vandera@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4363
Fax: (518) 455-5182


box I plan to attend the following public hearing on Municipal Participation in the Restore NY Program to be conducted by the Assembly Committees on Cities, Local Governments and Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry on February 27, 2008.

box I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.

box

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:





box I do not plan to attend the above hearing.

box I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports.

box I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.

box

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:






NAME:

TITLE:

ORGANIZATION:

ADDRESS:

E-MAIL:

TELEPHONE:

FAX TELEPHONE:

*** Click here for printable form ***


New York State Assembly
[ Welcome Page ] [ Committee Updates ]