NEW YORK STATE RURAL ADVOCATES

The  selection of Shaun Donovan, to be HUD Secretary is good news for affordable housing and New York’s future  partnership.  Great pick!

Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith

“Today I am announcing that the Democratic Members of the Senate have elected to cease negotiations on reorganization matters with all three Senators as discussed both in private and in the press. We are suspending negotiations, effective immediately, because to do so otherwise would reduce our moral standing and the long-term Senate Democratic commitment to reform and to change. Continue reading →

With the latest news from NYS Democrats, upstate Senators will hardly be in a good position to  be making any deals in Albany next year. Senator Smith is to become Senate president pro tem,  Espada majority leader, Kruger  the Chair of the Finance Committee, and Diaz  Chair of the Aging Committee.

With upstate Republican Senators suddenly talking about a coalition, there are only four Senators north of NYC in the majority party:

Neil Breslin, Bill Stachowski, Antoine Thompson, Darrel Aubertine and David Valesky

The Senate will return to Albany to reconsider budget cuts for this fiscal year on December 15. The Assembly has not agreed to return, but we still have a few weeks until then – so draw down any pending funds, expedite contracts when possible and keep your budgets lean!

Preservation Companies sponsored many of the  2008 Main Street Awards, recently announced by NYS Division of Housing. Once again, it is the RPCs and NPCs  that are the catalyst to local economic development in our upstate communities. Well done!

Remember when a downturn meant more contractors and builders were available for affordable housing? This NYT Article points to a different perspective Affordable Housing Deals Are Stalling.

Governor Patterson has proposed to close his budget gap in part by reducing the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Program by 2 million dollars and cutting an additional 2 million dollars next year.  The legislature needs to pass this budget reduction measure when it meets on Tuesday.  While some Senators have commented that they are interested in seeing next years budget before they agree to cuts for this year, an additional session has been mentioned for December.

Some think, so far, not  enough with his current plan. What policy changes would help affordable housing in your community?

Now more than ever, we need the non profit delivery system to be strong and vibrant!  Congrats to those who were funded in the latest AHC round: Continue reading →