Assemblywoman

Catherine
Nolan

reports to the people

Winter 2002

Sunnyside:
Saturday, January 11, 2003 -10am - 1pm
Nak-Won Reformed Church, 41-20 Queens Blvd., Sunnyside
(entrance on 42nd Street)

Astoria/Long Island City:
Saturday, January 25, 2003 - 10am - 1pm
Community Church of Astoria, 14-42 Broadway, Astoria

Ridgewood:
Saturday, February 1, 2003 - 10am - 1pm
St. John’s United Methodist Church, 1735 Linden Street, Ridgewood

Part of my job as your representative in Albany is to fight to direct our fair share of tax dollars back home into our communities. Although our city and our state are enduring hard financial times, I am pleased that I was still able to direct state dollars in the budget to numerous community groups in our district, from tenants’ associations to senior and youth centers, and to businesses and graffiti removal efforts.

In addition to the funding listed below. I have also secured funding for a Queens Manufacturing Initiative, worker education programs and occupational safety and health clinics.

For the fifth year in a row, I was able to obtain a Jobs for Youth grant which is administered jointly by LaGuardia Community College, Jacob Riis Settlement House and Elmcor in order to continue to expand youth job-training efforts in western Queens.

I have included a list of the local programs that I obtained funding for in the state budget; in most cases their telephone numbers are included. I urge you to take advantage of their valuable services.

Under the Statewide Transportation Multi-Modal Funding program created by the Legislature, I have been able to secure over $1 million for numerous projects in the 37th Assembly District. Numerous streets were re-paved including 41st Avenue between Vernon Blvd. & 29th Street, Astoria Blvd. between Main Avenue and the dead end at Astoria Houses, and 1st Street between 27th Avenue & Astoria Blvd. Also, the installation of sidewalks at the triangle at Astoria Blvd., Main Avenue and 30th Avenue is scheduled for this coming spring. Other projects have recently been added and are as follows:

• Decorative lighting will be installed along Myrtle Avenue from Myrtle/Wyckoff to Fresh Pond Road. This is part of a larger project spearheaded by the Ridgewood Local Development Corporation to improve Myrtle Avenue.
• I also secured $47 million in the MTA Capital Program for the renovation of the Myrtle/Wyckoff M and L lines subway stations, which is scheduled to begin in 2003. It includes a new ground level station entrance and building as well as renovations to the mezzanines and station platforms. I recently secured an additional $2 million for improvements to the streets, sidewalks and lighting to improve the bus terminal area at this hub.
• I have set aside funding to repair the dilapidated Sunnyside Arch. Plans are proceeding and the city is working with the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce to begin renovation.
• Work is now being completed on the nearby #7 line viaduct. The final phase of this project includes the rehabilitation of the columns supporting the #7 Flushing Line Viaduct on Queens Boulevard between 32nd Street and 48th Street, the abutments at both ends and the stairwells at 33rd Street-Rawson, 40th Street-Lowery and 46th Street-Bliss. This project is part of an overall $60 million program to completely rehabilitate structure and stations in Sunnyside.

	I recently discussed transportation issues with Jerry Walsh, Senator George Onorato, Bob Wilson and other members of the Dutch Kills Civic Association.

• The track, roadbed, upper structure and stations were completely rebuilt with the installation of a new drainage system. The work was separated into three phases in order to maintain operations and better administer the project. As part of the project the curbs under the elevated structure will be replaced or repaired, as needed. The stairwells and columns are the final phase of the project and are expected to be completed by 2003.

Working with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver we were able to obtain a grant of $5 million for LaGuardia Community College’s Business Incubator Program. The grant was awarded for the expansion of a demonstration incubator at LaGuardia to provide community-based entrepreneurs with low-cost, wired space as well as administration, legal, financial, managerial and funding support.

Through the project, East River Studios will provide space and intensive business support services to emerging design companies which include industrial and product designers, such as new media and software developers focused on the arts,

	Attending the press conference with me where Speaker Silver announced the launching of the incubator program at LaGuardia were Dino Valaorites of Siena Designs, Speaker Sheldon Silver, LaGuardia President Gail Mellow and Kenny Greenberg of Kryton Neon. (Photo credit Randy Fader-Smith)

as well as artisan firms that produce high-quality, hand made or limited production goods. The LaGuardia facility will involve about five businesses in the initial demonstration phase. By its completion, about 25 design companies are expected to use it.

Business incubators have tremendous economic development potential, with over 80% of graduates still in business after five years. This is a very exciting venture for the LaGuardia Long Island City public private partnership. I look forward to continuing to work with LaGuardia President Gail Mellow on issues such as these.