Job Growth in the Hudson Valley? by Ken Mahoney

JOB GROWTH IN THE HUDSON VALLEY?

According to the state department of labor, 5500 jobs were created in the Hudson Valley Last year.

The education, health and business sectors showed some growth while the unemployment rate crept up by 0.6 percent.

The statistical area of Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam counties ranked four out of 10 in the state while Orange and Dutchess ranked 8th.

ROCKLAND RECEIVES HUD GRANTS

ROCKLAND RECEIVES HUD GRANTS

The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has allocated over 875 thousand dollars in funding for seven towns and villages here in Rockland County. Included in this years Community Development grants is 250 thousand dollars for the reconstruction of the Jay Street and Kennedy Drive Parks in Spring Valley. The town of Haverstraw and the Village of West Haverstraw have been awarded 100 thousand dollars a piece to replace and install sidewalks and lighting. Haverstraw will also receive 75 thousand dollars for improvements to Bowline’s pool. South Nyack, Hillburn, Suffern, and Piermont will also receive funding for various infrastructure improvements

Tappan Zee Bridge, Do you have an idea that will work? by Ken Mahoney

Tappan Zee Bridge deadline for comments fast approaching.

Options range from an entirely new span with a commuter rail to a completely renovated bridge with rapid bus lanes. Detailed descriptions and sketches of each alternative are available for public viewing at the state’s DOT community project office at 203 Main Street in Nyack.

Your comments can be submitted online at www.tzbsite.com or through the mail.

Written statements should be sent to the attention of Michael Anderson with the New York State Thruway Authority at 660 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591. Indicate on the envelope as reference: Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Environmental Review.

Rockland County has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the State, by Ken Mahoney

Rockland County has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the State, by Ken Mahoney

Rockland is showing resiliency in the face of a down turn in the national economy. That was the feeling shared last week by County Executive Scott Vanderhoef as he presented data during a Rockland Business Association forum.

He reports our county has retained the third lowest unemployment rate in the state coming in at 4.3%.

According to Vanderhoef, the county has responding to lower sales tax revenues by cutting 100 jobs and operating on 1985 staffing levels.

PATERSON BECOMES NEW YORK’S NEW GOVERNOR by Ken Mahoney

PATERSON BECOMES NEW YORK’S NEW GOVERNOR by Ken Mahoney

New York will have a new Governor by day’s end. Eliot Spitzer’s resignation takes effect at noon making David Paterson our state’s 55th Governor. Paterson will be sworn in during a ceremony before the joint session of the Legislature in the Assembly chamber. He will be filling the remainder of Spitzer’s term after only fourteen months as Lieutenant Governor. Paterson does, however, bring to office twenty-three years worth of experience as a democratic senator representing Harlem and the Upper West Side. The inevitability of Spitzer’s resignation came last Monday when he publicly apologized for patronizing an international prostitution ring. Since then, Paterson has repeatedly vowed to work through party politics to bring New York back on track with an on-time budget.

We hope that Mr. Paterson is 'pro business'.

TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL TARGETS TEN “GROWTH AREAS” by Ken Mahoney

TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL TARGETS TEN “GROWTH AREAS”

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council on March 13 outlined ten desired “growth areas” for strategic transportation investments in the Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island.

Officials talked about developing along the Interstate 287 corridor in Rockland and Westchester. During their annual meeting at NYU’s Kimmel Center in Manhattan, council members discussed their plan to address the population “boom” and related traffic congestion expected over the next two decades. NYMTC members believe there will be two million more people calling the metro area home by the year 2030.

Highlighted at the meeting was the importance of making mass transit work with smart land use.

Details of the agency’s plan are available online at www.NYMTC.org.

Important RBA Meeting on March 20, by Ken Mahoney

General Membership Breakfast

Topics:

Ramifications of Albany budget discussions as they pertain to counties

Legislation attacking Industrial Development Agencies and Empire Zones

The need for new Article X legislation

Crossroads Mall project and its potential affect on sales tax revenues

The County Executive will provide updates on the Tappan Zee Bridge project, the county's WiFi Initiative, the Population Projective Initiative, and the Downstate Suburban Workforce Housing for Economic Stability Initiative.

Thursday March 20, 2008 8:00 - 9:45 am

Casa Mia Manor House 577 Route 303 Blauvelt, NY

call 845-735-2100 to sign up