Relates to allowing community boards to apply and receive grants for waterfront revitalization programs for coastal areas and inland waterways

1 Co-sponsor

• Leroy Comrie

BILL NUMBER:S1062A

Title of bill

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to allowing community boards to apply and receive grants for waterfront revitalization programs for coastal areas and inland waterways

Purpose

This legislation would enable New York City community boards located along New York's coasts or designated inland waterways to be eligible to apply for grant funding under the State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.

Summary of provisions

Community Boards, as defined in section twenty-eight hundred of the New York City Charter, are added to the list of applicants that are eligible to apply for funding under the State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program as enumerated in various subdivisions of Section 1 of the executive law.

Justification

Community Boards are local representative bodies that perform a variety of important tasks that affect the quality of life for residents of New York City's five boroughs; there are 59 community boards throughout the City. The Boards' responsibilities include but are not limited to implementing procedures to improve the delivery of City services to the district; advising on land use and zoning issues; assessing the funding needs of their districts and making funding recommendations during the City's budget process. Community Boards are the chief advocate on all issues that are important to the people who live and work in their communities, including traffic problems, housing, and economic development.

Community Boards are involved in planning for and helping implement projects in their respective communities, including waterfront revitalization initiatives. Yet, as the local representative body, they are unable to apply for targeted funding under the State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.

Under current law, only a village, town or city along the State's coast or designated inland waterway can prepare and submit a funding proposal under this Program. Given their role and involvement in community life, Community Boards should be able to apply for necessary funding to support local waterfront revitalization efforts in their respective districts.

Legislative history

2012-2014: Died in Committee

Fiscal impact

None. Community boards would be competing for funding under an existing program.

Effective date

Immediately.