OPINION: Lagging Infrastructure and Inflation are a Massive Threat To New York

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New York state is facing a perfect storm of circumstances severely inhibiting its efforts to modernize its lagging infrastructure. Due to a combination of high inflation and an already long list of resiliency projects needed to restore New York to its place as an economic leader — according to the comptroller’s office, an astonishing 10 percent of all local bridges in the state are rated “poor” as of last year, and the Reason Foundation’s 27th Annual Highway Report ranks our system at 49th in the nation— strengthening our infrastructure is going to be an uphill battle unless we take some drastic measures to right the ship.

The Assembly Minority Conference has been advocating for investment in infrastructure for years. In 2019, we published our Task Force on Critical Infrastructure and Transportation report that focused on fortifying our roads, bridges, and water systems. We continue to push for a greater investment to address shortcomings in these areas. Poor infrastructure is costly to New York drivers who are forced to make expensive repairs to their vehicles due to poor road conditions. In contrast, Gov. Kathy Hochul inexplicably proposed cutting
$60 million from the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) during the most recent budget negotiations.

For our part, we called for an increase in CHIPS base aid and for future funding to be tied to the rate of inflation to account for increasing material costs. We also suggested establishing a companion program to CHIPS to offer financial assistance to local governments for drinking, storm and sewer water infrastructure.

One major part of New York’s problem is its sprawling budget that eats up enormous amounts of resources without delivering tangible improvements to our quality of life. For example, New York State has already spent several billion dollars supporting undocumented migrants, and another $2.4 billion is earmarked to do so in the most recently passed spending plan. Unfortunately, there are no long-term plans to sustainably accommodate these migrants, and additional spending will likely be needed to mitigate the crisis. This puts an enormous strain on our finances at a time when we are facing severe infrastructure deficiencies along with myriad other cost-of-living challenges.

The good news is that it is not too late to correct our course and make the necessary adjustments to navigate these economic conditions. For one, we must not fall into the trap of cutting spending in the wrong places. We need to properly balance and distribute our resources. Improving New York’s roads and bridges will be expensive, but it is necessary. Hardening our infrastructure is a precursor to future economic success; without a sturdy and resilient transportation network, our economy simply won’t work. While it might seem obvious, we need to make massive adjustments, New York leadership seems confusingly unwilling to commit to what is necessary.

William (Will) A. Barclay, 55, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.

OPINION: Trump shooting was shocking but not surprising

Opinion, Subscriber Only

The recent [July 13] attempt to assassinate Donald Trump was shocking. The former president and Republican presidential candidate was struck in the ear [and inches from certain death] when a gunman [Thomas Matthew Crooks] fired shots at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. One person in the audience [Corey Comperatore] was killed and two people [David

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But we can’t really say the shooting was surprising. We ought not to fool ourselves: We live in a violent time when people quite often try to achieve their objectives through force. Politics reflects the wider society, and we’ve seen a disturbing rise in shootings in schools, workplaces, and other locations. We need to recognize that these acts will keep happening.

I don’t believe Americans are more violent than other people, but there are elements of our history and culture that align with violence. We celebrate the mythology of America’s settlement and western expansion, when force was used to drive Native Americans from their land. Today, our country is awash in guns, making it easy for disputes to escalate. Gun dealers have exploited political distrust to drive sales, including sales of deadly AR-style rifles like the one used against Trump [and the other victims]. By many estimates, there are more guns than people in the U.S.

Shootings are so common they can leave us feeling numb. As Jay Caspian Kang writes in the New Yorker about the Trump shooting, “A loner with an AR-15 commits an act of violence, and we typically have nothing to say except that this seems to happen all the time in America.”

Of course, political violence is not new. Four of our presidents — Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy — were assassinated. Kennedy’s death stunned me personally. His 1960 campaign and election were among the factors that inspired me to get involved in politics.

Political violence seemed to peak in 1968, when Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated within a two-month period. Like the current time, it was an era of passionate divisions in American society.

Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan survived assassination attempts while in office. Reagan was shot and, fortunately, recovered quickly, but his press secretary, James Brady, suffered life-altering injuries. Two members of Congress, Gabrielle Giffords and Steve Scalise, were seriously injured by would-be assassins in the past few years.

Meanwhile, distrust of government has grown dramatically. Sixty years ago, when I was first elected to Congress, I was impressed by the civility I encountered from Republican and Democratic colleagues and from most constituents. I recall only one truly threatening incident. I was riding in a convertible in a parade in a small town in Indiana when a man came running toward me. I don’t believe he had a gun, but I remember seeing a knife. A sheriff’s deputy was riding in the car behind me; he stepped in and saved me, I’m sure, from an attack.

Today, public officials (and even volunteer election workers) often receive hateful messages on social media, sometimes escalating to death threats. This undermines our democracy and puts a real burden on law enforcement to determine which threats to take seriously.

President Joe Biden, speaking after the Trump rally shooting, said we all should “lower the temperature” of political rhetoric. That’s essential, but it only goes so far.

We have to accept that we’re living in dangerous times. We need to be sure our security forces are well equipped and properly trained. Lapses, like the failure to stop the gunman who fired at Trump, need to be investigated and remedied. When crowds gather, at rallies, parades, and elsewhere, authorities will have to be on the lookout.

One thing we know about violence is that it generates more violence, and that’s especially true of political violence. We need to do all we can to prevent it.

Lee Hamilton, 93, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.

Ask Rusty: Will My Wife Get a Spousal Benefit from Me?

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

Dear Rusty: I will be turning 70 this coming November. I will begin taking my Social Security (SS) benefit at that time. My age 70 SS benefit will be about $4,500 per month. My spouse (who is currently 74) began receiving her SS benefits about 10 years ago — before her full retirement age (FRA).

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Dear Rusty: I will be turning 70 this coming November. I will begin taking my Social Security (SS) benefit at that time. My age 70 SS benefit will be about $4,500 per month. My spouse (who is currently 74) began receiving her SS benefits about 10 years ago — before her full retirement age (FRA). She receives about $1,900 per month.

My question is, based on my expected SS monthly benefit of about $4,500, would my spouse be eligible for an increase in her monthly SS benefit? I’ve read some articles about this topic, but none of them seem to be on point — so I thought I’d reach out to you.

Signed: Seeking Answers

Dear Seeking Answers: Congratulations on choosing a claiming strategy that will maximize your Social Security. Waiting until age 70 to claim guarantees you will get the most you can personally receive for the rest of your life, along with annual cost of living adjustments (COLA). But the spouse benefits available to your wife when you claim are not based on your age 70 amount. Rather, spouse benefits are calculated using full retirement age (FRA) amounts. Here’s what that means:

If your age 70 benefit will be about $4,500 then your FRA amount was likely around $3,450. If your wife claimed at, say, 64, then her FRA entitlement would probably have been about $2,200. Your wife will only get a spousal boost if 50 percent of your FRA amount (not your age 70 amount) is more than her own FRA entitlement. From what you’ve shared, 50 percent of your FRA amount would be about $1,750, which is less than your wife’s FRA entitlement (and her current age 64 amount), which means that she would not be eligible for a spousal boost to her own amount from you.

Spouse benefits can be tricky, because they’re based on FRA entitlements, regardless of the age at which benefits are actually claimed. That is not so, however, for surviving spouse benefits. If you were to predecease your wife, her benefit would be your entire $4,500 amount, instead of her own smaller current amount. Surviving spouse benefits are based on the amount each of you are currently receiving, not on your amounts at your full retirement age.

I hope this answers your question, but we’re always here if you need any further assistance.

Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.

State awarding up to $18 million for next two phases of Oakdale Commons project in Johnson City

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Education & Training, Health Care, Law, Accounting & Taxes, New York News, Nonprofits, Southern Tier, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. — New York State is providing up to $18 million for the next two phases of the project to renovate the former Oakdale Mall into a mixed-use development in Johnson City. Now known as Oakdale Commons, the project’s second and third phases will include the construction of an 85,000-square-foot, regional medical campus,

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JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. — New York State is providing up to $18 million for the next two phases of the project to renovate the former Oakdale Mall into a mixed-use development in Johnson City.

Now known as Oakdale Commons, the project’s second and third phases will include the construction of an 85,000-square-foot, regional medical campus, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.

The phases also include the construction of a new 22,000-square-foot child-care center, administered by Broome County and operated by a contracted provider. The center will serve up to 208 children — including infant, toddler, preschool, Pre-K and school-age slots — and the creation of up to 45 new jobs, Hochul’s office said.

The project will also involve the construction of 125 residential units, located on the adjacent parcel, that will cater to the projected job growth in the Greater Binghamton Area.

Empire State Development is providing up to $18 million through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The total project cost is $200 million. Now underway, construction is expected to be completed in early 2026.

The first phase involved the redevelopment of the former Sears store into the Lourdes Pavilion, which included a health, wellness and fitness center, physical therapy, primary care, a drive-through pharmacy, and lab services. Other projects involved an aquatic swim center featuring three pools and group studios, among other things.

Also included was the addition of the two-story Beer Tree restaurant and brewery, and Broome County is utilizing on-site office space, with more than 200 employees working at the location. All told, the redeveloped building now has over new 500 employees and “attracts thousands of daily visitors.”

Still home to several successful retail outlets, the former Oakdale Mall, which opened in 1975, has close to 964,000 square feet of usable space.

Johnson City, which was also a round six winner in the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and was among the first communities to be certified under the governor’s Pro-Housing Communities program, Hochul’s office noted.

Kris-Tech Wire donates $500,000 to YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley

Manufacturing & Engineering, Mohawk Valley, New York News, Nonprofits, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Technology

ROME, N.Y. — Kris-Tech Wire celebrated its 40th anniversary in a big way by presenting a big check to the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley

Asteri Ithaca affordable-housing development and conference center formally opens

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ITHACA, N.Y. — A new $96 million affordable-housing development and conference center in downtown Ithaca is complete, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the building on Aug. 12. Asteri Ithaca, developed by the Vecino Group, is a 12-story, all-electric structure at 166-118 East Green St., with 181 apartments,

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Asteri Ithaca, developed by the Vecino Group, is a 12-story, all-electric structure at 166-118 East Green St., with 181 apartments, including 40 units with on-site support services for people struggling with homelessness. The 55,000-square-foot Ithaca Downtown Conference Center includes bookable function space including an executive board room, grand ballroom, breakout rooms, pre-function space, and a full production kitchen.

“Asteri Ithaca is a transformative development that combines quality affordable, sustainable, and supportive apartments for those who need them the most, with a state-of-the-art conference center that will energize and elevate the entire city,” Hochul said in the announcement. “This mixed-use development was carefully planned as a live, work, play destination that promotes economic growth and addresses a critical need for housing. It is a shining example of our commitment to investing in projects that strengthen communities and change lives.”

The residential portion of Asteri Ithaca comprises the top nine floors of the building includes 78 studio apartments, 87 one-bedroom units, eight two-bedroom units, and eight three-bedroom units with rents considered affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the area’s median income.

Residents receive free internet service with each unit hardwired for 5G access. Other amenities include a top-floor sky terrace, outdoor space, a fitness center, and a community room. Each floor has a laundry room and there is bike storage on the ground floor. The Green Street Parking Garage includes 350 parking spaces for building tenants to lease.

Apartments have low-flow plumbing fixtures along with Energy Star-rated windows and appliances. The building meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Multi-Family High-Rise Programs standards, as well as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) New Construction Housing Program standards.

State and federal funding for the residential portion of the project includes $11 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate $36.3 million in equity, and $19.8 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. NYSERDA’s New Construction Housing Program provided more than $650,000 in funding.

Tompkins Community Action, Inc., received an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative grant for the supportive apartments. The state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance will administer it. Support services are designed to promote self-sufficiency in areas including life skills, financial literacy, job preparation, skill building, and family reunification.

The conference center is expected to host more than 50,000 attendees and spur $50 million in new visitor spending, along with millions in state and local taxes, over the next 20 years. It anticipates drawing in 6,500 new visitors, resulting in more than 3,300 room nights. The center is hosting the finals event for the Grow-NY food, beverage, and agribusiness competition this fall.

Empire State Development provided a capital grant of up to $5 million for the $34 million conference center. U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say they helped deliver $2 million in federal funding under an omnibus funding package for fiscal year 2022.

The City of Ithaca, Tompkins County Tourism Program, the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, and four hotels — Ithaca Marriott on the Commons, the Canopy Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, and Hotel Ithaca — via the Tompkins Chamber Foundation provided financial support for the conference center and renovation of the remaining portion of the parking garage.

“We are proud to celebrate the completion of Asteri Ithaca and the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center,” Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo said. “This unique partnership brings affordable housing to the heart of our community, highlighting our city’s deep commitment to equity and inclusion. This project is anchored by North America’s first all-electric conference center, a testament to this community’s investment in a green, sustainable, and welcoming future.”

Mohawk Valley fund accepting applications for grants to women-owned businesses

Mohawk Valley, Education & Training, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Insurance & Financial Services, New York News, Nonprofits, Small Business, Technology

The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties — in cooperation with Baird Private Wealth Management, UpMobility Foundation, and the Griffiss Institute — is accepting

Mary Rouse

People on the Move

HUNT Real Estate has announced the appointment of Mary Rouse as regional VP for its Central New York region. Rouse, who has been with HUNT

State has $200 million available for DRI, NY Forward community revitalization programs

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Manufacturing & Engineering, New York News, Nonprofits, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State announced it has $200 million in funding available through its two downtown-revitalization and economic-development programs The dollar amounts include $100 million each for the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and the third round of the NY Forward program, which focuses on revitalizing smaller and rural downtowns.

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Syracuse to host Le Moyne to open the 2024-25 men’s basketball season

New York News, Education & Training, Featured, Nonprofits, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University (SU) will host Le Moyne College to open the 2024-25 men’s basketball season on Nov. 4. Le Moyne will be

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