Members & Friends,
As you are undoubtedly aware, Gov. Paterson has put forth yet another budget proposal that calls for additional cuts to the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Programs, in addition to a proposed cut to the Technical Assistance contract between the state and the Coalition (that cut amounts to $59,000!!) The Coalition has been in near constant contact with our friends in the Legislature and with DHCR to determine just what this proposal means to you and what the dollar impact will be on your current contract.
NPP contracts for FY’08-09 were awarded at $88,400.00 (which included the Legislative add-on). After the previously announced cut of 6%, and this new proposed cut, your total contract award will be modified to $77,437.00, thereby reducing your contract award by $10,963.00. REMEMBER: This cut is only a proposal, as of this writing. The Governor has called a Special Session of the Legislature for Tuesday, November 18th, to deal with the state’s fiscal crisis and his new proposals. From all accounts, it appears that the Senate Majority is unwilling to deal with additional budget cuts at this point in the year. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has said publicly that his conference WILL NOT deal with the Governor’s proposed cuts.
Coalition Members and Friends are URGED to send an email to the Governor’s office with the following sample message:
“While we recognize the severity of the state’s fiscal crisis, in addition to the foreclosure and mortgage issues hundreds of New Yorkers are now facing, this is not the time for cutting funding to the infra-structure of the service delivery system for desperately needed affordable housing services. The Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Programs must be kept fully-funded as we work with the state to address these difficult issues.”
Email your message to:
William.Cunningham@chamber.state.ny.us (Gov. Paterson’s Secretary)
skelos@senate.state.ny.us (Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos)
speaker@assembly.state.ny.us (Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver)
masmith@senate.state.ny.us (Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith)
tediscj@assembly.state.ny.us (Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco)
You should also send the message to your local Legislator, even if you have already talked to them about this issue. Every contact made is recorded and will be useful. The Coalition will keep you informed as new information becomes available. Please be sure to send your email message BEFORE next Tuesday!!
Joe
Joseph A Agostine Jr., Executive Director
Neighborhood Preservation Coalition of NYS, Inc.
40 Colvin Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
(518) 432-6757
(518) 432-6758
agostine@npcnys.org
www.npcnys.org |
