ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CITIES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE NOTE NEW DATES AND LOCATIONS!
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BUFFALO |
SYRACUSE |
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The City Summit
The Cities Committee is holding City Summits throughout the State to open a new line of communication between the State Legislature and New York's sixty-two cities. The Committee is seeking testimony describing efforts made by local governments to strengthen and to enrich New York's cities. The Committee recognizes ongoing efforts to invigorate local communities through tourism, small business growth, home ownership and other areas, and the goal of these hearings is for the Assembly and city officials to share information regarding the strengths and weaknesses of existing programs, as well as inventive initiatives designed to empower our cities. These hearings will also explore ways in which the State Legislature can continue to support New York's cities in their efforts to develop and to grow through new and innovative legislation.
Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony, and for a description of the bills which will be discussed at the hearing.
Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.
Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.
Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.
In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.
SCOTT STRINGER
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Committee on Cities
SELECTED RECENT PROBLEMS TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:
The following issues represent the primary focus of the upcoming public hearings. In your testimony about these topics, please address the extent to which the State plays an integral role in your efforts and the ways in which the State can better address your concerns and assist you in the future.
- Affordable housing is recognized as the cornerstone of a strong community. What have been your most successful strategies in supporting creative investments and offering affordable housing to your city's residents? What are your greatest areas of improvement? To address affordable housing, certain cities have offered incentives such as grants, and innovative loan programs designed to make home ownership possible for lower-income residents. Has your city been able to offer these or similar incentives to residents? Which programs have been the most successful? What obstacles have you faced in providing incentives to homebuyers or developers of affordable housing?
- A vital economy is essential to the strength of cities. Certain cities have created incentives for job growth, supports for small businesses, and other methods to spur development of different sectors and maintain a healthy industrial mix. What efforts have you undertaken to promote job growth and economic health of your city? How successful have you been in these efforts, and what obstacles have you experienced? To what extent do you connect affordable housing goals with your development plans?
- Many communities have invested significantly in Central Business District (CBD) revitalization efforts. What has your city done to maintain or revitalize your CBD area and to encourage the growth of small business there? How have you encouraged potential residents to move into the area? What barriers have you encountered? How effective have your efforts been in strengthening your city?
- Community building has become an increasingly important means to revitalize urban areas. Has your city engaged in significant community building projects? Who is involved, and how helpful have these strategies been in strengthening your city?
- Cities offer a number of social services that support residents in times of need, such as the administration of TANF and other children and family services. Has your city developed innovative programs to address the needs of these residents? What administrative and implementation methods have been most effective for creating, delivering, and evaluating these services?
- Vital transportation systems connecting cities to surrounding areas are essential to maintaining a city's growth and prosperity. How have you made highways, public transportation, and any other means of transport more efficient and beneficial to your city?
- Cities often face significant environmental pressures, such as poor air and water quality, skyrocketing rates of childhood asthma, and the prevalence of polluted former industrial sites such as brownfields. What environmental issues are facing your city, and what strategies have you employed to enhance the environment for your residents? What obstacles do you face in doing so?
- In February of this year, the Attorney General issued a report outlining strategies municipalities could use to reduce operating costs. Has your city considered any of these alternatives to providing services? Are there other methods you have used to streamline your public management practices? What level of success have you experienced?
- Investing in the development of both children's skills and level of participation in their communities is of paramount importance to today's cities. What has your city done to promote a strong educational system, worthwhile after school programs and other venues for investing in your youth and promoting their civic involvement?
- Promotion of the arts and cultural events are essential to attracting visitors and potential residents to cities. What has your city done to promote development in these areas?
