FARRELL, JR.
Member of Assembly
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HERMAN D. FARRELL, JR. Member of Assembly |
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| Reports to the 71st Assembly District | ||
| Winter 2006 | ||
| Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year | ||||
In more ways than one, it’s a new year, one I trust will mean promising new beginnings for our State, our Assembly District, and every family in New York. Much has been made in the past several months about change in Albany, and I want to bring you up to date on some of the changes you can expect. First among them are the elections of a new governor and attorney general, as well as a new term for our state comptroller – all of whom are members of the political party I chaired through the end of 2006. I have decided to step down from the state party Chairmanship, but I will remain your Assemblyman – a seat I’ve proudly held for many years – as well as Chair of my county party. I look forward to working with newly-elected Governor Spitzer, Attorney General Cuomo, and all of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in the Legislature to keep our government open and fair, and improve our economy to provide jobs and keep taxes low. And we will continue to work to create jobs, enhance access to quality affordable health care and ensure our schools have the resources they need to prepare our children for a successful future. This includes meeting the requirements of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit. Please keep in mind that my work in the Assembly is not limited to my time in Albany. A regular feature of my newsletters is updates on improvement projects happening around the district. Many are of a fairly large scale, and require constant attention to keep moving forward. Therefore, a good deal of my time – during both the Legislative session and the break – is spent meeting and working with agencies like the Departments of Transportation and Parks and Recreation to help speed along renovations being done in our community. In a city like New York, construction poses challenges unlike most anywhere in the world, and understandably, delays crop up from time to time. However, as a senior assemblyman and chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Ways and Means, I am in a position to help ensure important improvements in our community are funded, and to smooth the way when they encounter obstacles to their completion. And it’s because of these obstacles that certain items recur in the newsletter. I would also like to address some of the criticism in the past months of the Legislature’s local initiative funding, sometimes called member items. These funds, set aside in each year’s budget for every legislative district, provide funding directly to district-specific projects that would otherwise likely go without, and perhaps even be discontinued. These funds are many communities’ only direct link to the state budget, and are administered by those who have the best understanding of what is needed in that community – its elected officials. To read more about how I’ve used my member item spending to improve quality of life for the residents of Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood, please see the following section on member items. As we head into the new year, I’ll wish you and your family all the best, and invite you, as always, to please feel free to contact me if ever you have questions or concerns.
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Chairman Farrell Reports: 2006-2008 New York State Budgets |
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As Chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Ways and Means, Assemblyman Farrell is charged with the oversight of the state’s budget, which last year was nearly $116 billion. From analysis and review of the governor’s proposals to the drafting of the Legislature’s budget, Mr. Farrell and his staff oversee every aspect of the state’s business. This includes negotiating important public issues involving education and health care – like CFE and hospital closings – as well as more technical aspects of state financing in a global market economy. Three-quarters of the way through the 2006-2007 State Fiscal Year – which runs from April to the end of March – growth in state revenue is outpacing expectations. This trend, which is forecasted to accelerate through year’s end, has caused an upward adjustment – a surplus – of $1.1 billion above the budget’s estimates. As you hopefully know, the Assembly’s plan to eliminate sales tax on clothing costing $110 or less has been phased in. This progressive-minded tax cut, coupled with several other reductions as well as economic trends beyond state control, will slow the growth in state revenues in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. However, the forecasted 6.4 percent overall growth during fiscal year 2007-2008 remains slightly above the state’s long-term average revenue growth rate. According to Assemblyman Farrell, this relatively healthy financial picture will allow for the continued improvement of our state’s health care and education systems. In the past, differences between the Executive and Legislative budget proposals have at times been significant, and have hindered consensus on spending decisions. Of course, this is a new year, and as always, Assemblyman Farrell will be working to ensure the sick and elderly receive the care they need, and our children get every bit of the leg up on the prosperous futures they deserve. |
Recently, Assemblyman Farrell spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for the David and Joyce Dinkins Gardens housing complex, which will be built at 263 West 153rd St. The new building will provide 85 units of affordable housing for families and youth aging out of foster care. It will also provide a community garden and classroom space for HCCI’s Construction Trades Academy, which prepares 18-25-year-olds for careers in the building industry. An exciting feature of the new building will be its innovative “green” design. Incorporating elements such as non-toxic materials, rainwater collection for irrigation, and energy-efficiency measures including passive solar design, the building will not only serve as a living, learning and community space, but will help improve health and quality of life for residents and neighbors alike. |
| Farrell Takes the "A" Train |
In his role as Chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Ways and Means, Mr. Farrell is charged with protecting the health and vitality New York’s economy. This includes both ensuring the state budget is responsible and sound, and staying in touch with the New York business community. One such business is Alstom Signaling, Inc. in Hornell, New York, a company that makes subway cars and control systems for the city. In this picture, Assemblyman Farrell talks with some Alstom employees inside a car bound for either the 1 or the 3 subway lines that serve our district. Perhaps your next subway ride will be aboard this very car! |
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Strengthening Our Community: Member Items Benefit Us All |
Though member items, or “pork,” have made for sensationally clever headlines in the press, few have proved to be anything other than what they are intended to be: local initiatives to benefit people who need it. And you can see that for yourself. The Assembly has made available on its Web site complete lists of member item spending going back to 2003. You can view the lists at http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/Reports/. Listed below are a few of Assemblyman Farrell’s member item grants. Clearly, each recipient serves an important role in our community. Future newsletters will also provide information on new grantees. |
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Career Bridge Family Day Care, Inc. Job training for youth and young adults |
Women’s Project and Productions, Inc. Theater repairs |
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UBA/Mary MeLeod Bethune Senior Center Office equipment and computer training for seniors |
Intercession Community Services Council Community House renovations |
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International Arts Relations, Inc. Equipment for teaching and marketing Enhanced services for the Latino theatre and visual arts community |
Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center, Inc. Mental health and social services |
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New York Public Library Washington Heights and Macomb’s Bridge branch libraries Washington Heights branch - for adult literacy, teen after-school programs |
Research Foundation of the City of New York Public Service Scholar Program, which trains students – especially women and minorities – for leadership positions in public service |
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Seaman North Block Association – Inwood Patrol Civilian patrol and crime prevention initiatives |
Intercession Community Services Council Renovations to community activities building |
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Seniors Helping Seniors Intensive care assistance for 80 mentally impaired senior citizens |
SUNY University Center for Academic and Workforce Development Equipment for use at Polo Grounds ATTAIN lab |
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Seventh Avenue Center for Family Services Vision screening and an art program for Head Start children Dance and movement program for Head Start |
Washington Heights-Inwood Preservation Restoration Corp Social services for the needy, elderly and immigrant population of Washington Heights-Inwood |
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Chama Society, Inc. Computers and classroom equipment |
Frederick Douglass Academy Culinary arts program |
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St. Luke A.M.E. Church Electrical and safety upgrades |
Lower Washington Heights Neighborhood Association Air quality/asthma monitoring |
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Wilson Major Morris Nutrition program – hot meals for seniors and shut-ins |
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Around the Community Repairs and Renovations |
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145th St. Harlem-Bronx Bridge This bridge has been undergoing a complete renovation, which is expected to be completed by Summer 2007. During the process, neighbors were complaining about noise during the night resulting from the demolition of the bridge’s concrete. To remedy this, Assemblyman Farrell, through negotiations with the city Department of Transportation, helped encourage the use of a sound-dampening tent to curb the noise. More recent reports from neighbors suggest the tent is helping. The work appears to be continuing according to schedule. In the mean time, Assemblyman Farrell is working to get a traffic control installed at 147th and Lenox Ave. to help with the resulting traffic concerns. Pedestrian Ramp to Riverside Park at 158th St.
As you may have read in newsletters past, Assemblyman Farrell has been working to improve the safety and quality of access to Riverside Park from its adjoining neighborhoods. This includes improving existing sidewalks, stairs, ramps and landscaping, as well as constructing new access points. The pedestrian bridge at 151st - 153rd St., for which Assemblyman Farrell helped secure state funding, has just completed the design phase, and will shortly begin construction. As shown in the picture above, construction has already begun on the pedestrian ramp into the park from 158th St. By Spring, neighborhood families should be able to enjoy this valuable recreation resource in comfort and safety without the need to use a car. Retaining Walls Due to Manhattan’s hilliness, we rely on many retaining walls to keep roads and buildings safe and sound. The 2005 collapse of a wall along the Henry Hudson Parkway underscored the importance of maintaining these structures, a point that was not missed by Assemblyman Farrell. As part of two ongoing projects – the renovation of Edgecombe Ave., and the construction of pedestrian access to Riverside park – Mr. Farrell has secured funding to strengthen the retaining walls above Jackie Robinson Park, and below Riverside Drive at 153rd St. He is also working closely with state and city Departments of Transportation to reach a speedy and equitable solution to the Henry Hudson Parkway collapse. |
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Town Meetings In keeping with my desire to inform you about legislative and community issues, as well as an opportunity for you to share your opinions and concerns with me, I have scheduled the following town meetings throughout my Assembly District. I hope you will be able to attend at least one of these meetings:
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Assemblyman Farrell’s Community Office Information
I maintain full-time bilingual offices to serve you.
2541-55 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. • 212-234-1430
751 W. 183rd St. • 212-568-2828
450 W. 155th St. • 212-234-1430 Rm. 923 Legislative Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12248 • 518-455-5491 |
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Back |
Assemblyman Farrell at the groundbreaking ceremony for the David and Joyce Dinkins
Gardens housing complex. Mr. Farrell is joined (Left to Right) by: Councilmember Robert
Jackson; Jonathan Rose of Jonathan Rose Companies, co-developer with HCCI; F. Barton
Harvey III, Chairman, President and CEO, Enterprise; Lucille L. McEwen, President, HCCI.;
Mark Willis, Executive Vice President, Chase; Congressman Charles Rangel; former Mayor
Dinkins; Rev. Jeffrey Crenshaw, Senior Pastor of Greater Tabernacle Baptist Church and
HCCI Board member; Rev. Dr. Edward Earl Johnson, Senior Pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist
Church and Chairman, HCCI.
Assemblyman Farrell gets a first look at a partially-built New York City subway car.
Assemblyman Farrell works closely with community leaders like Manhattan Borough
President Scott Stringer and District Leader Carol Rowan, pictured here, to ensure
member item funds go toward worthy projects that serve the greater good in the
neighborhoods of Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood.
Pictured here is the steel structure and newly-poured concrete of the ramp that will provide
pedestrian access to Riverside Park from 158th St.