Governor Kathy Hochul announced that construction is beginning on a $26.7 million project to rehabilitate a 13-mile stretch of Interstate 390, between Exit 8 in the Town of Geneseo and Exit 10 in the Town of Avon, both in Livingston County. The project will improve travel conditions and enhance safety along a vital artery in the Finger Lakes Region. Additionally, new landscaping and tree plantings will be used in selected areas to create natural snow barriers and help safeguard the environment.
“New York State continues to make historic investments in infrastructure that will improve travel, protect our environment and fuel economic growth for all our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “This project will help ensure that a vital access route for motorists in the Finger Lakes Region is ready to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, and keep goods and people on the move throughout this picturesque area for many years to come.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion announced a tentative contract agreement with the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) that will offer pay increases for New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers for the first time in six years. The eight-year agreement — which is retroactive to 2017 and would cover roughly 23,000 members of New York’s Finest — represents the first contract agreement with a union representing uniformed employees under the Adams administration. For only the third time since 1994, the City of New York and the PBA have reached a voluntary agreement.
The tentative agreement is retroactive, beginning on August 1, 2017, and ends on July 31, 2025. It includes wage increases ranging from 2.25 percent to 4.00 percent over the contract period. It also includes an equity fund to increase starting salaries for NYPD officers and to improve the schedule for raises in the early years of employment. Additionally, a new pilot program will allow officers to test working extended tours of 10 and 12-hour shifts. Officers participating in the pilot will work the same number of hours per year, but the program provides greater flexibility to increase staffing during times when crime is highest, or other issues arise.
“New York City will always support the men and women of the NYPD as they do one of the toughest jobs anywhere — and today, we’re proud to announce a historic deal with the Police Benevolent Association that will do just that,” said Mayor Adams. “As someone who wore the blue uniform and the badge for 22 years, I know that today’s agreement represents an acknowledgment that working people keep this city running and how this administration will always put working people first. The contract will allow our police officers to work a more flexible schedule, build morale, and ensure that New York remains the safest big city in America. I want to thank our tireless OLR commissioner, Renee Campion, and PBA President Pat Lynch for their partnership.”
The New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) committed $1.3 billion to two funds as part of its Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions (SICS) Program, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, trustee of the Fund, announced.
“These investments will position the Fund well for the future as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy,” DiNapoli said. “The Fund is a recognized leader in addressing climate-related investment risks and pursuing opportunities created by efforts to address the climate crisis. These latest commitments will help us protect the Fund’s long-term strength, transition its portfolio to net zero emissions by 2040 and position it for changes already happening in the markets.”
The Fund committed $1 billion to funds tracking the MSCI World ex-USA Climate Change Index, which is designed to address climate-related risks and opportunities by overweighting companies that will benefit from the transition to a low carbon economy, while underweighting those that face greater risks due to climate change. Key factors that are considered include a company’s carbon intensity, climate risk management, potential stranded assets, physical risk exposure and development of climate solution products and services.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $2 million State investment to add 12 apprenticeship programs at the City University of New York for its associate degrees starting in the Fall 2023 semester, a large expansion of CUNY’s offering of for-credit apprenticeships in in-demand industries. The additions build on the five existing apprenticeship programs embedded within CUNY associate degree programs in software engineering, consulting, finance, risk management and cybersecurity.
“Apprenticeships are a critical launching pad for good-paying, impactful careers and we’re proud to build a robust program for CUNY students,” Governor Hochul said. “With this additional $2 million investment, we’re able to expand apprenticeship programs for associate degree programs and open up new opportunities for New Yorkers across the state.”
Governor Kathy Hochul announced over $70 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State. The Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors has approved low-cost financing and previously announced grants, authorizing municipal access to the capital needed to get shovels in the ground for drinking water and sewer projects that reduce potential risks to public health and the environment. The Board also approved low-cost long-term financing for five completed projects, providing debt relief through lower interest rates than if the municipalities borrowed on their own.
“New York State is committed to providing communities with the resources needed to take action on critical water infrastructure projects that prevent exposure and health risks,” Governor Hochul said. “The grants and financings approved by the Environmental Facilities Corporation Board will leverage even greater local investments to help ensure our communities in every corner of New York have access to clean, safe water.”
