Senator Montgomery’s “Waterfront Bill” Passes Senate Cities Committee And Advances To 3rd Reading Calendar

Dear Neighbor, 

I am happy to share that my Waterfront bill which would enable New York City community boards located along New York's coasts or designated inland waterways to apply for grant funding under the State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program(S4489/A2407) passed the Senate Cities Committee and advances to the Senate calendar. I am asking for your help in garnering the support needed to get this bill passed. Please contact our Legislative Leaders to share your support for this bill and urge that this bill be brought before the Senate for a vote:

Senator John J. Flanagan

Majority Leader

518-455-2071

flanagan@nysenate.gov

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Democratic Conference Leader

518-455-2585

scousins@nysenate.gov

Assemblyman Carl E. Heastie

Speaker

518-455-3791

Speaker@nyassembly.gov

Under current law, only a village, town or city along the State's coast or designated inland waterway is eligible to apply for funding under the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. My bill would expand eligibility to allow community boards to apply for funding to support local waterfront revitalization initiatives in our community.

In 2007, former Assemblywoman Joan Millman and I authored a law that allowed New York City's 59 community boards to apply for and receive brownfield opportunity area grants to study areas affected by brownfield pollution. The “Waterfront bill” continues my legislative agenda of expanding resource opportunities for community boards who play an important role in dealing with land use and zoning issues as well as addressing the needs and issues facing our community. 

As the State Senator for the 25thDistrict, I represent several neighborhoods with waterfront access such as Red Hook and Sunset Park. I believe strongly that maintaining a working waterfront is essential to the City’s economy and have supported the expansion of opportunities at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Industry City and the Brooklyn Army Terminal to preserve New York City’s manufacturing and maritime industries. 

To learn about more about waterfront revitalization bills that have passed in the New York State Senate to assist other parts of the state and to view Senator Montgomery's comments reminding her  colleagues of her own Waterfront Revitalization bill which would assist her constituents and those livig in New York City, click on the videos below.

I just want to say that I think this is the time for us to consider our state as a whole.  It's not north, south, east or west. It is New York State. As one of our former Presidents would say about America. I want to make sure that this body considers the bill that I have introduced which would allow the community boards in the City of New York to be eligible for funding under the same state program.    

For more information about how you can get involved, please contact my staff member Shakti Robbins-Cubas at 718-643-6140 or cubas@nysenate.gov