New York State Assemblywoman for the 80th Assembly District, Nathalia Fernández, said the latest New York State Budget of $212 billion, the largest in the State’s history, invests in the future of The Bronx. Fernández released a statement on Thursday, April 8, describing the new budget as “bold and progressive,” one that will bring much-needed aid to Bronxites and galvanize the state’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These critical investments in our infrastructure, small businesses, schools, and health care services will strengthen our borough’s response, and most importantly, help people get back to work,” she said, acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic had further exposed deep, existing inequities in society and had left many Bronxites struggling financially.
“The budget includes $3 billion in rent and homeowner relief, and additional funding for child care, expanding UPK (universal prekindergarten) state-wide,” she continued. “It also includes the first-ever program to fund excluded workers who were left out of previous relief – many of whom are essential workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. For New York students dreaming of going to college, the budget provides $13.7 billion for higher education and restores critical funding to SUNY and CUNY. The state fiscal plan also increases funding and protections for the environment, bringing jobs and environmental justice to our borough.”
Norwood News reported on a recent protest in the Northwest Bronx by CUNY faculty, staff and students against the various cuts imposed over the last year to the salaries and jobs of adjunct professors, which impacted not only on the livelihoods of the adjunct professors themselves, but also on the range of courses offered by the various CUNY institutions.
The assemblywoman, who is currently running for the position of Bronx borough president, had provided an overview of what was to be expected from the budget during the Bedford Mosholu Community Association meeting held on Wednesday, April 7. Acknowledging that, at times, residents didn’t feel in the past that the State budget went far enough in meeting the needs of the community, she said legislators did the best they could to make the most of the federal stimulus package, and some of the revenue raises the State had acquired in order to pass what she called a “helpful budget.”
She confirmed that $2.1 billion had been secured to provide relief to workers who had been excluded from previous stimulus relief, saying, “This was a big deal this year because for the last year, undocumented friends, neighbors, families here, members of this community have been unable to get SNAP benefits, unemployment benefits, and have really been trying the most to survive.” She added, “So, we’re really happy to have [a] first-in-the-nation-type program – $2 billion for excluded workers to help with the bills they haven’t been able to pay, because everybody did lose their job or were furloughed one way or another.”
For small businesses, Fernández said $1 billion was to be made available in grants and tax credits for small businesses, and $1.3 billion extra was to be allocated to the education budget. “The best thing about this education budget is now we have a three-year phase in or phase out to finally reach the amount of foundation aid that we’ve been fighting for every year, for the last couple years,” she said, adding that a couple of years ago, it was found that certain school districts were owed more money and those impacted schools would finally get fully funded in the next three years.
In addition, she said that with the federal grants that were received, the State was able to allocate $2.4 billion for childcare. “Businesses and everyone alike will be able to apply for childcare coverage for their employees,” she said.
The assemblywoman confirmed that $50 million would be made available to food service organizations like Norris Food Services and Common Food Pantry that have organized various food distribution sites. “Like, on 204th Street, we’ve got Lexa Bar. They are now getting extra to continue to address the food insecurity that is happening here, so I look forward to getting more mobile food pantries all over the district,” Fernández said.
In terms of other funding, the assemblywoman said that with the monumental changes to the election laws, like adding early voting and early registration, the technology that’s needed to facilitate this will require an extra couple of million. “I don’t have the exact number, but I believe it’s about another $10 million for Boards of Elections to get the proper equipment and, and to be able to hire enough staffing so our elections can run smoothly,” she said.
In terms of hospitals and healthcare, Fernández said that while she did not vote for it, last year, there had been some cuts made to health services but that this year, she was pleased to report this was not the case. “There are no cuts proposed, and our hospitals will be able to sustain for another year,” she said.
Additionally, as part of the budget, quality of care at nursing homes is to be enhanced with patient-centered reforms. These reforms establish minimum thresholds for nursing home spending of 70 percent of revenues on direct resident care and 40 percent of revenues on resident-facing staffing, capping profits at five percent, and targeting unscrupulous, related party transactions between nursing homes and third parties.
She went on to say that this year was also the first time that a “good amount” [$29 Billion] of investment had been reached for parks and green spaces. “New York State and members understand that our green space has been really a saving grace to us this past year,” Fernández said. “Many people went to their parks and State parks and, and woodland areas for not only recreation, but also for mental health needs, so we are giving a great amount of funding to our green spaces.”
Source: NYPD Compstat
Violence intervention programs led by groups such as SUV (Standing Up to Violence), Save Our Streets and BRAG (Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence) will also receive funding. “This is a big one that we had to fight last minute to get in but understanding that there has been an increase in gun violence and community violence, we have $10 million in the budget to help fund community intervention programs,” Fernández said. “These programs will get more funding to be able to do the good work that they’ve been able to do in stopping the crime before it happens.”
Norwood News reported previously on the work of BRAG and other anti-gun violence groups in the Bronx. During the March Bronx Community Board 7 executive meeting, the deputy inspector of the 52nd precinct, which covers Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights, Thomas J Alps, said the command was still struggling with gun violence. “Year to date, we have six shootings versus three last year,” he said on March 18, adding that they had experienced a “horrific one” the previous night [March 17] at 3339 Hull Avenue, as reported by Norwood News.
The 52 precinct is currently trying a new tactic in addressing gun violence in Fordham Manor where they have seen the highest concentration of this crime. In conjunction with City agencies and volunteers, the precinct is organizing regular clean-ups and improving the quality of life for residents living in the area, in hopes that it will create a different atmosphere. They also plan to address employment opportunities in the area by partnering with the BIDs and other local employers. A second clean-up event is planned on Morris Avenue on Thursday, April 15.
As also reported by Norwood News, in January, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that Mervin Joseph Moore, an active member of the anti-gun violence group, SUV, had been charged for fatally shooting another man in August 2020.
Source: NYPD Compstat
Back at the Bedford Park community meeting, local resident, Sirio Guerino, asked Fernández about relief for homeowners. “I didn’t hear anything about a mortgage relief,” he said. Fernández confirmed that mortgage relief for homeowners was indeed accounted for, as well as moratorium extensions for utility bills. The following day she confirmed that for tenants and homeowners, $2.3 billion had been allocated to help with relief, and added that as soon as everything would be finalized, her office would have the applications available to access it.
Thanking the assemblywoman for her work on the budget to date, Guerino also asked about eliminating water bills, referring to the burden of homeowners having to pay for water bills while some people open fire hydrants and sprinklers during the summer and let the water run free. “I don’t believe that’s fair to the community as a whole,” he said.
Fernández said that such bills were indeed being taken into account. “That’s definitely detailed in there, and we have continued middle class tax cuts to reject the changes to the STAR program for homeowners,” she said, adding that it was important that homeowners and landlords who bore the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic would not be left out of the equation in terms of relief.
According to the New York State Tax Department, the School Tax Relief (STAR) program offers property tax relief to eligible New York State homeowners. Those who are eligible and enrolled in the STAR program receive their benefit each year in one of two ways, either through a STAR credit check or a STAR exemption, which is a reduction on a homeowner’s school tax bill.
According to the New York State governor’s website, the new budget provides a personal income tax credit for resident homeowners with incomes up to $250,000 if their total property tax exceeds a fixed percentage of their income. This framework will target New York families with the highest property-tax-to-income burden. The calculation of this credit is capped at $350 per STAR-eligible household, while also utilizing a $250 credit minimum to further target homeowners impacted the most by high property taxes. It is expected that claims will average about $340. Qualified homeowners will be able to claim this new property tax relief credit for taxable years 2021, 2022, and 2023.
During the Bedford Park community meeting, Elizabeth Quaranta, another resident and executive director of the Friends of Mosholu Parkland, asked how long it would take before individuals could start applying for the relief. In response, Fernández said, “Everything, right now, is to go into effect immediately because most of these applications and funds [are] from the immediate money that came from the federal stimulus, so that will be available probably within the next week or less.” She asked people to check her social media and her website for further details of the State budget specifics.
Other budget highlights include a $311 billion infrastructure plan, the largest in the nation and the most expansive in the State’s history according to New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who said it is anticipated to create thousands of jobs across the State.
A first-in-the-nation program to make broadband internet more affordable is also part of the plan, whereby $15 broadband plans must be offered to low-income families.
Under the budget, a clause has been included which authorizes the withholding of 50 percent of State and federal funds from local jurisdictions that fail to produce a police reform plan, and requires the Attorney General to appoint a monitor to ensure safe policing.
The budget also ensures that New York uses “buy American” principles in the manufacturing of renewable components, and requires that the “prevailing wage” principle continue to be applied in construction labor agreements for operations and manufacturing. Under New York State Labor Law, contractors and subcontractors must pay the prevailing rate of wage and supplements (fringe benefits) to all workers under a public work contract. Employers must pay the prevailing wage rate set for the locality where the work is performed.
In closing, Fernández said appointments could still be arranged at her constituency office although generally she said she and her staffers were still working remotely until everybody was fully vaccinated. She added that one of her staffers was still recovering from COVID.
On Thursday, as part of her official statement on the budget, Fernández said, “While I know there is still a lot more work to do, I believe this budget will help bring immediate relief to our state, and there will be brighter days ahead. I will continue to work tirelessly to bring relief to the borough.”
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
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