The Director of Legislative Affairs is responsible for monitoring and preparing responses to state and national legislative proposals and working with other organizations to address planning-related legislative issues.
Governor Patterson Signs Smart Growth Bill
On Monday night, after what I have been told was a spirited and conflicted discussion amongst his top staff, Governor Paterson made the decision to sign the Public Infrastructure Policy Act. I am deeply appreciative that the Governor went with his principles and made this bill law.
I truly believe that this bill will start to change some of the structural fiscal and land use problems that afflict New York.
I am also deeply appreciative of the work done by Eric Alexander, Assemblyman Sam Hoyt and Paul Beyer to keep the bill on course as it was buffeted by strong cross-currents at the proverbial last minute. There were Powerful forces trying to scuttle the bill.
Again, I thank each of you for your personal efforts to make this happen along the way and over the past 2.5 years. Those of you who conceived of a broadly-based advocacy coalition working from outside government had just the right idea. The power of Empire State Future is rooted in its diverse and active members.
We turn next to making sure that the Paterson Administration sets the State Agencies on the course to a robust and comprehensive implementation of the bill. Then, we turn to making sure that the candidates for statewide office are aware of this bill, supportive of its intent, and supportive of smart growth overall.
Peter B. Fleischer
Executive Director
Empire State Future
Public Comment Period (9-8-10 through 10-7-10) Announced by NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal
TO: Our colleagues across the State
FROM: Vera Prosper, Senior Policy Analyst,
New York State Office for the Aging
RE: Public comment period (9-8-10 through 10-7-10) announced by the NY
State Division of Housing and Community Renewal
The NY State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has announced a 30-day public comment period for the State's draft five-year Consolidated Plan for 2011-2015, the draft Annual Action Plan for 2011, and the draft update of the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. Preparation of a five-year Consolidated Plan and annual Action Plan are required by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in order for the State to participate in various Federal housing and development financing programs.
Below is DHCR's announcement of the public comment period, which includes: (1) the dates of the comment period, (2) DHCR's web site at which the three documents can be viewed and downloaded, (3) contact information for requesting copies of the documents, and (4) where to send (by email or regular mail) any comments you may have on each of the three documents.
DHCR announcement:
NEW YORK STATE DRAFT 2011-2015 CONSOLIDATED PLAN
DRAFT 2011 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
AND UPDATE TO THE ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ANNOUNCEMENT
To participate in certain federal community development and housing programs, the State of New York must prepare a five-year Consolidated Plan and an annual Action Plan and provide opportunities for citizens to participate in its development. As part of this process, New York State invites interested persons to review and comment on the five-year Consolidated Plan for 2011-2015 and the Annual Action Plan for 2011 during an upcoming public comment period.
The Consolidated Plan and the Annual Action Plan focus principally on
four federal programs: the New York State Community Development Block
Grant Program (CDBG); the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME);
the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA); and the
Emergency Shelter Grants Program (ESGP).
The Consolidated Plan will be a five-year strategy for addressing the housing and non-housing community development needs of New York communities. The Consolidated Plan will set long-term goals for the development of viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. New York State must submit a completed Consolidated Plan, including the Annual Action Plan, to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by November 15, 2010.
The Annual Action Plan will describe the State’s planned use of federal Fiscal Year 2011 CDBG, HOME, HOPWA and ESGP funds it administers to address the needs identified by its five-year Consolidated Plan and further the Consolidated Plan’s objectives, and will also describe the State’s methods for distributing these funds.
In addition, New York State is updating its Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing which will identify impediments to fair housing choice in New York State and what actions are being taken to overcome the effects of those impediments. Interested persons are also invited to review and comment on the draft update of the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing during the upcoming public comment period.
The 30-day public comment period will begin on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 and extend through close of business Thursday, October 7, 2010. Beginning on September 8, 2010, New York State’s draft five-year Consolidated Plan for 2011-2015, draft Annual Action Plan for 2011, and draft update of the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, may be viewed on and downloaded from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). In addition, copies can be requested by email (DHCRConPln@nysdhcr) or by calling 1-866-ASK-DHCR (275-3427).
Comments should be mailed to: NYS DHCR, Attention: Brian McCarthy, 38-40 State Street, Albany New York 12207 or emailed to DHCRConPln@nysdhcr.gov. Comments must be received by close of business Thursday, October 7, 2010.
April 28, 2010
Livable New York
Innovative initiative –The New York State Office for the Aging and the New York State Department of State are pleased to advance a new initiative to help municipalities better plan for the housing and community needs of the State's older people, younger people with disabilities, families, and caregivers. Municipalities will be provided with information, technical assistance, and examples of successful models and practices related to: housing, universal design, planning, land use, zoning, energy alternatives and efficiency, green-building, mobility, and transportation.
Governor David A. Paterson and the State Legislature have directed that these resources be widely disseminated as a means for supporting communities' efforts to develop a variety of housing alternatives, incorporate new and innovative building design and energy ideas, and institute creative planning approaches and zoning strategies.
Population and policy trends in New York State underscore the importance and timeliness of this initiative
For more information about this initiative, click HERE and HERE.
April 9, 2010
New York State has the third highest pedestrian fatality rate in the country for people over the age of 65. This may not be surprising news to you. As a (stakeholder, senior center, community organizer, etc.) you see firsthand how roads, which are designed primarily for people who drive, pose many challenges for those who need to walk to go shopping, visit friends, and get to appointments.
The good news is that AARP is working to make our streets safer for pedestrians of all ages – and we need your help!
During the week of April 19th, AARP’s Create The Good is calling on all of our partners, members, and volunteers across the state to join us to survey key intersections in your communities and evaluate their safety for walkers. This massive, statewide effort is called “Complete Streets Week: Making New York Walkable for All Generations.”
Our goal is to survey thousands of intersections and streets and use our findings to make local level changes and to demonstrate to state policymakers the need for Complete Streets legislation that would create an approach to road design that balances the needs of all people including pedestrians. The survey is simple; you can select the street or streets you want to survey; and you can engage as many people as you like.
We need your help to make Complete Streets Week a success. There are two ways to get involved:
Join a Complete Streets activity in your community:
Go to www.createthegood.org
Enter your zip code
Organize your own activity at a street or intersection:
Go to www.createthegood.org
Click on DIY Toolkit to learn how to conduct a survey
Click on Post an Opportunity to invite others to participate
Note: Name your activity “Complete Streets Week”
If you have any questions, please contact Marissa Kirshenbaum at (212) 407-3701 or at mkirshenbaum@aarp.org. We hope you will join us in making New York’s roads safe for everyone!
Sincerely,
Will Stoner
Associate State Director for Livable Communities
May 6, 2009
Please check out the following links:
A.) Email from Empire State Future describing their latest legislative work (Empire States Future Update 5-5-09)
B.) Policy Statement "NYS Stimulus Oversight"
C.) NYSTEA (NYS Transportation Equity Alliance) Policy Statement
Also check out the new effort to place a referendum on the 2009 ballot in November that seeks bonding funds for a Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act of 2009. This initiative also included funding for Brownfield Area Cleanup.
A.) Press Release
B.) Sample letter requesting referendum and
C.) Bond Act Fact Sheet
Sincerely,
Doug Greene; AICP, RLA
Director of Legislative Affairs
Upstate APA
April 29, 2009
Dear Upstate Planners,
Since the new administration has taken office in January and the accompanying Economic Stimulus Package has been approved, it has been difficult to “follow the money” or for that matter to know where legislative initiatives are headed. New York’s budget is approved and legislators are now moving forward on it’s business.
As Legislative Director, I thought a good point of departure on finding our way into this year’s legislative agenda was to contact Paul Beyer, Director for the Smart Growth Cabinet. He informed me that the Smart Growth Cabinet has adopted 2009 Policy Agenda and provided a file with a list of their initiatives and another list of agency and inter-agency accomplishments. He also told me that each of the policy recommendations would have to be tracked as independent legislative proposals. I will do my best to find out their progress.
Sincerely,
Doug Greene; AICP, RLA
Director of Legislative Affairs
Upstate APA
Dear Upstate APA members
Please take the time to read the important Economic Stimulus message from Paul Farmer, APA Executive Director and think about how the stimulus package affects your planning jurisdiction. I'll continue to monitor how all this relates to New York State.
Thanks,
Doug Greene, AICP, RLA
NY Upstate Chapter of APA, Director of Legislative Affairs
November 21, 2008
Dear Colleagues:Re: Information about a new NY State Initiative: Planning and Zoning Initiative
The New York State Office for the Aging and the State Department of State are pleased to announce a collaborative new Planning and Zoning Initiative that will focus on providing communities with information and technical assistance in the following areas: housing, universal design, planning, land use, zoning, energy alternatives and efficiency, green-building, Transportation.
We wish to provide you with information about this statewide effort, and we have included your name in an email group that we have established to keep interested individuals updated as the initiative progresses.
Below you will find materials that will help you understand the intent of the Planning and Zoning initiative and how we expect to carry it out:
1. Summary: A summary of the new initiative, together with the four major activities we will use to implement the initiative.
2. Comments and suggestions: We convened a meeting on September 4, 2008, to launch this innovative effort, which included individuals from across the State who have expertise and experience in the initiative's focus areas. The comments, suggestions, and guidance gathered from these participants at the meeting's six breakout sessions are outlined here.
3. You can help: This is a sign-up sheet that lists a variety of ways in which you can be directly involved in the initiative's implementation.If you have any comments, ideas, or suggestions you wish to share regarding the initiative itself or the contents of the technical assistance resource manual and DVD series being developed under this initiative, please forward them to vera.prosper@ofa.state.ny.us.
Power point presentations made by five speakers at the September 4, 2008, meeting have been posted on the State Office for the Aging's web site. You may view these presentations at by clicking HERE.
If you know of other individuals who would like to be added to the email group who will receive updates as we move forward, or if you wish to be removed from this email group, please let us know at any time by contacting vera.prosper@ofa.state.ny.us.
Vera Prosper, PhD
Senior Policy Analyst
New York State Office for the Aging
2 Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12223
(518) 474-4382
Please feel free to review the following three documents:
1. A memo describing the drafts and setting a deadline for submitting comments.
2. A proposed Full (long) Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) for SEQR review; and
3. A technical guidance document regarding the inclusion of energy use, energy conservation and climate change (Greenhouse Gases/ GHG) in an EIS.
Please send comments on the EAF (item #2) to: Betty Ann Hughes at bahughes@gw.dec.state.ny.us and
comments on the Greenhouse Gases technical document (item #3) to: Anne Reynolds at akreynolds@gw.dec.ny.us
Note: The DEC is accepting comments until October 31, 2008 via email or hard-copy mail.
Legislative
Update - September 2007
Legislative Update
- January 2008
Legislative Update - August 2008
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